The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Sean Gaul, approved the extension of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme's Open Framework Agreement until December 2029. This decision ensures continued support for eligible children and families during school holidays and allows for necessary updates to the programme's specifications.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)

Councillor Sean Gaul, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, approved the extension of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme's Open Framework Agreement until 31 December 2029. This decision, detailed in the Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 15.00 Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Children, will maintain a compliant, flexible, and grant-funded commissioning route for the programme. The extension utilises an existing option to extend the framework to 31 December 2028 and adds a further 12 months through a variation. Additionally, the specification and call-off process will be updated to align with changes in the Department for Education's grant criteria from September 2026.

The HAF programme, funded by the Department for Education, provides safe, structured activities and nutritious food for children aged Reception to Year 11 who are eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals during school holidays. The programme aims to address food insecurity, social isolation, and limited access to enrichment activities for low-income families. Demand for the programme has been increasing, with 31,473 places booked in 2025/26.

The decision to extend the framework was made to ensure continuity of delivery, retain provider capacity, and allow for the implementation of updated grant criteria without a full re-procurement. The preferred option, extending the framework to December 2029, was chosen as it offers the best balance of service continuity, affordability, provider stability, value for money, and flexibility during the upcoming local government reorganisation. The programme is funded through a ring-fenced Department for Education grant, with confirmed funding from April 2026 to March 2029, and no additional Council core funding is required. The Council manages financial exposure through seasonal call-off awards.

Risks identified include future funding uncertainty, provider capacity, demand management, inclusion, and service continuity during local government reorganisation. These are considered manageable through the existing call-off process and continued engagement with providers. The extension supports the Council's priorities to reduce inequalities and improve children's health and wellbeing. The decision was made by Councillor Sean Gaul, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, and will become effective on 18 September 2026 unless called in.