HAF Plus at Northumbria University

Since 2024, Northumbria University has partnered with local authorities to support the HAF Plus programme, delivering a wide-ranging schedule of free activities for 13–16-year-olds across multiple locations and formats. On-campus, participants took part in sports, entrepreneurship, skills development, wellbeing sessions, and Afternoon Tea with Big River Bakery. Off-site at the Metrocentre Hub, University academics used state-of-the-art medical simulation and virtual reality equipment to deliver interactive health education sessions on vaping, alcohol awareness, and mental wellbeing — reaching both HAF Plus attendees and the wider public in partnership with Gateshead Council and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. Our most recent HAF Plus took place in Blyth in partnership with Northumberland County Council. The films below bring these programmes to life.