Issue - decisions

Christmas HAF 2024/2025 – additional approval

The Holiday Activities and Food programme provides support to school-aged children in receipt of free school meals through school holiday periods. The Department of Education allocates funds to local authorities to commission providers to delivery enriching activities and healthy meals. This funding is for the Easter, Summer, and Christmas school holidays, with each child being entitled to four hours for four days for each week of that school holiday.

This holiday provision is for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. The free holiday club places must be targeted at children who are eligible for and receiving benefits-related free school meals.
As a result of this programme, we want children who attend provision to:
• eat more healthily over the school holidays
• be more active during the school holidays
• take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character, and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
• be safe and not to be socially isolated
• have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
• be more engaged with school and other local services

We also want to ensure that the families who participate in this programme:
• develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting
• are signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment and education

Free places available to children eligible for free school meals for the equivalent of at least four hours a day, four days a week, for four weeks over the summer holidays. Or at least one activity day that also delivers take home provision such as food bags and activity packs that will cover the week.
Provision is to be aimed at all school age children 4-16 years old. Consideration will be given to flexibilities in how the programme can be delivered to older children or delivered in areas with greater need.

Decisions were made to ensure there is a range of activities across the city. Data mapping was completed, and then the panel prioritised wards with the highest numbers of free school meal eligibility. It was also important to provide a range by age (primary versus secondary), SEND needs, along with an array of activities (sports, arts, drama, etc).

Providers were not considered if they have not submitted all previous reporting data as requested and outlined in their grant agreement.

In total, 17 applications for funding were received. The total amount applied for was £51,275.00. Not all applications fully met the criteria, and some awards were reduced/modified in line with the criteria set and £45,752.00 is the total to be awarded spread across a total of 14 projects.

The Director of Customer and Communities approves the use of external funding to support the delivery of the Holiday Activities and Food programme in York in accordance with the attached report and grant application programme.

The awards are as follows:

To approve the following grants:
Organisation Final Amount Approved
Premier Education £2,162.00