Free HAF places at Robocode

Over a day at a Robocode camp, children build robots, write code and print in 3D. They will leave with something they made, and would be proud to share. A HAF place covers the day and the meal, funded by your local council, and it needs a valid HAF code at booking.

What HAF is

The Holiday Activities and Food programme funds free holiday club places for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. Councils run it locally and issue the codes. Robocode delivers the camp. We do not decide who qualifies, and we cannot issue a code.

What a day looks like

Every day runs robotics and coding. Depending on the venue, children also work on game design, electronics, 3D printing, AI and cyber security. Mentors change the content between camps, so a child who comes back gets something new rather than a repeat. Groups are small and sorted by age, so your child works alongside children at their level. There is physical activity every day, and camps sometimes include a short supervised walk to a local park. We ask your permission for that when you book, and you can change your answer at any time from your booking page.

Food

A hot meal, fruit and vegetables come with every HAF place. Tell us about allergies and dietary requirements while you book.

Ages, times and drop-off

Camps take children aged 6 to 17. Some venues fund HAF places for a narrower age range, and the venue page says which. Session times vary by venue and are shown while you book. Drop-off opens 15 minutes before the session starts.

Getting a code

Codes come from your local council, and many councils send them out through schools. Your child needs to live in that council area or attend school there. A few councils take HAF bookings through their own portal instead, and the venue page links you across when that applies.

What the form asks for

For each child we ask for a name, a date of birth, a school and school year, and the HAF code. We also ask whether the child receives benefits-related free school meals. At Birmingham venues the council asks for ethnicity and gender as well. Each child needs their own code, and you can book brothers and sisters in the same visit.

Safeguarding

Robocode is Ofsted registered. Every member of staff holds an Enhanced DBS check. Our Mentors are used to supporting children with SEND, and we welcome every child. Put the detail in the booking form so the team can make the right adjustments before the first morning.

If the funded places have gone

Councils set how many funded places each venue receives. When that allocation is used up, the booking form says so and offers you the waiting list. We email you the moment a place opens.

Common HAF questions

Where do I get a HAF code?
Your local council issues HAF codes, and many councils send them out through schools. Robocode cannot issue one. If you are not sure whether you have one, ask the school office or look up the holiday activities programme on your council website.
My child gets free school meals. Does that mean we have a place?
Not on its own. The council decides who qualifies and issues the code, and the place is confirmed when you book with a valid code. Eligibility depends on your circumstances, and your council is the one who can confirm it.
Can two children share one HAF code?
No. Each child needs their own code, entered on their own line in the booking form. You can still book brothers and sisters together in one visit, with a code for each of them.
What does the form ask for?
For each child: a name, a date of birth, a school and school year, and the HAF code. We also ask whether the child receives benefits-related free school meals. At Birmingham venues the council asks for ethnicity and gender as well.
Is the meal included?
Yes. A hot meal, fruit and vegetables come with every HAF place, at no cost to you. Tell us about allergies and dietary requirements while you book.
What happens if the funded places have already gone?
Councils set how many funded places each venue receives. When that allocation is used up, the booking form says so and offers you the waiting list. We email you the moment a place opens.
Do you take HAF bookings for every venue?
Most of them, but not all. A few councils run their own booking portal, and HAF places at those venues are booked there instead. The venue page and the booking form both say so and link you across.
Does my child have to live in the same council area as the camp?
They need to live in that council area or attend school there. The funding comes from the council, and each council funds its own children.

When bookings are open, you pick your venue and days at the top of this page, and enter a code for each child. You can browse every venue and date on the homepage.