Summer in the Heart of the Community: Inside Camden’s HAF Programmes

Right underneath this London landmark sits a green oasis in the heart of a community centre. Overseen by calm and inspiring grown-ups, young people play dodgeball, make each other beautiful jewellery, and eat the kind of lunch you need after a morning of explosive creativity or sport. They go home having made new connections, found new superpowers and full of ideas for their future. London is magic for this: nurturing pockets of safety and belonging in the heart of enterprise and housing.

The activities I am describing are part of HAF summer programmes - (Holidays And Food) - which are so important for households who may not be off on a holiday - who might need respite living in a small, shared space, for young people needing confidence, new friends, a connection with learning and with adults who can help keep them engaged over the holidays. Young Camden Foundation is proud to run the HAF programme with Camden Council - it is such an important part of our work supporting voluntary organisations making lives better for children and young people in the Borough. And getting to visit HAF programmes and meet the people leading them is a particular joy.....

Written by Honor Wilson Fletcher, Interim CEO of Young Camden Foundation