Purpose

The Department for Education
confirmed on 20 January that funding has been secured to extend the
Holiday Activity and Food Programme into 2025, although the exact
sum has not been confirmed.
 
Based on previous awards and
initial indications, it is expected that the grant will be more
than £1,000,000. In 2024, the award was for
£1,128,750.
 
This report seeks approval for Wiltshire
Council to accept the grant and for the Director – Leisure,
Culture and Communities to be authorised to sign the acceptance
form issued by the Department for Education, providing that the
terms and conditions of the grant can be met.
 
The report also seeks approval for the
Director – Leisure, Culture and Communities to be authorised
to agree contracts and grants awarded that relate to the grant
funding from the Department for Education.
 
This will enable plans for the 2025 Programme
commencing at Easter to be progressed and published in time for
families to secure places. The Easter holiday programme should
commence on 14 April 2025 and will require the grant to be accepted
and the programme to be published in good time to allow families to
secure spaces for their children.
 

Content

I approve acceptance of the
grant and authorisation to the Director of Leisure, Culture, and
Communities, as set out in the report.
 
This decision was published on
25 February 2025 and will come into effect on 5 March
2025.