Bid to extend holiday food and activities programme
Plans to extend a scheme that provides free activities and meals to children during school holidays have been recommended for approval. North Northamptonshire Council will
Plans to extend a scheme that provides free activities and meals to children during school holidays have been recommended for approval. North Northamptonshire Council will discuss re-commissioning the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme at a meeting on 11 August. Paid for by the Department for Education (DfE), it is aimed at children and young people aged five to 16 who receive benefit-related free school meals. Elizabeth Wright, executive member for children, education and families, said recommissioning would "build on the success achieved so far" and "continue supporting vulnerable families" as well as "work alongside our excellent local voluntary, community and sports organisations".
Last year, the government announced a three-year extension for the scheme as part of a £600m investment nationally. In 2023 the council awarded the contract to Northamptonshire Sport to run the service initially for two years with two optional extensions of 12 months each. The authority said both of these extensions had been used and the current contract would lapse in March 2027. In summer 2025, more than 2,100 children participated, a slight drop on the attendance in the two previous summers - with 2,630 recorded in 2024 and 2,250 in 2023.
In a report to executive, external, the fall in numbers had been attributed to a change in booking system which officers said would "require further monitoring". In previous years, North Northamptonshire Council has been awarded about £1.1m for administering the scheme. The sessions ranged from drama to computer programming - but they all included some physical exercise. If approved, North Northamptonshire Council will tender the contract and anticipate awarding it in November. West Northamptonshire Council's arrangements for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme beyond March 2027 are due to be considered by cabinet in September.
The unitary authority said: "As this process is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this stage." Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.
The BriefWire