The Mayor's Executive Decision Making committee was scheduled to consider the allocation of grant funding for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme for Summer 2026. The report pack detailed the process for awarding these grants, including the criteria for applicants and the proposed funding distribution.

Holiday Activity and Food Programme Grant Funding 2026/2027 (Summer)

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the allocation of grant funding for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) for Summer 2026. This programme, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), aims to provide enriching activities and nutritious meals to children eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals during school holidays.

The report pack outlined that £1,615,580.00 had been allocated by the DfE to Tower Hamlets for the HAF programme in 2026/27. For the Summer 2026 programme, a budget of £840,000.00 was earmarked for grants. The report detailed the competitive application process undertaken by local organisations to secure this funding. Key criteria for applicants included having a registered address in Tower Hamlets, meeting the DfE's minimum standards for provision, and demonstrating experience in delivering similar programmes.

The report indicated that 40 organisations were recommended for funding, with a total of £744,039.00 to be awarded. These grants are intended to provide approximately 29,150 places over the summer period. The report also noted that one organisation, Capital Kids Cricket, had its funding application rejected due to underperformance in previous programmes.

The HAF programme has specific requirements set by the DfE, including:

• At least six weeks of provision throughout the year, with a minimum of one week at Easter, four weeks in Summer, and one week in Winter.
• An offer of at least four hours of activity per day, four days a week.
• Provision must be free for children eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals.
• At least one meal must be provided daily, meeting school food standards and Natasha's Law¹ requirements.
• Clubs must provide enriching and fun activities, alongside physical activities.
• Provision should increase awareness of healthy eating and positive behaviours.
• Clubs must offer signposting or referrals to support services for families.
• Organisations must have relevant policies for safeguarding, health and safety, insurance, and accessibility.
• Sufficient high-quality provision must be available for children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).

The report also detailed the funding model, which included maximum grant amounts per child and a higher funding scale for SEND clubs due to increased resource needs. Restrictions were in place to maximise the number of organisations funded, such as a cap on places per day for mainstream and SEND provision, and limits on the number of sites and delivery days.

The report highlighted that decisions were required urgently to allow funded organisations sufficient time to mobilise before the summer holidays. Due to the timing of scheduled committee meetings, an Individual Mayoral Decision process was used. A noting report was to be presented to the Cabinet for transparency.

The report also touched upon equalities implications, stating that the HAF programme supports equality through specific provision for children with SEND and by ensuring access across all wards for those eligible for Free School Meals. While an Equalities Impact Assessment was not deemed immediately necessary due to no expected adverse impacts, one would be produced for a future report.