Community and voluntary organisations that can support struggling families by providing healthy food and activities for children and young people outside of school times, are invited to apply for funding to deliver holiday activity and food schemes, during February 2022’s half term.
Hampshire County Council’s connect4communities programme is using Department for Work and Pensions Household Support funding to provide activities and food, for school age children and young people over the spring half term. The grant is in addition to previous funding from the Department for Education which has fed and entertained those children who are eligible for free school meals during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas holidays in 2021.
Councillor Roz Chadd, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “We are very happy to be able to work with local organisations, making these much-needed schemes again available over February half term. Across Hampshire, there are over 29,000 children and young people who are eligible for free school meals who can take part in fun and healthy activities, local to them and held within a safe, warm environment. In addition, free places will be available for children with special educational needs and disabilities and other children who, because of their particular circumstances are considered to be vulnerable. Organisations providing food and activity schemes can also offer additional places to fee-paying families.
“Through our Holiday Activity and Food providers, our connect4communities programme also enables the whole family to develop an understanding of nutrition, as well as food budgeting, and links them to further support services related to health, employment or education.”
Applications for grants to fund the February schemes are now open and the form can be accessed at Healthy food and holiday activities (HAF).
The final date for applications is 23 Jan 2022.
The aim of the February Half-term programme is to provide free places to eligible children for the equivalent of at least four hours a day, four days a week during the school holiday.
This latest grant round additionally offers those providers who have not delivered schemes in previous school holidays, an opportunity to trial operating the scheme and consider becoming part of the connect4communities three-year programme commencing in Spring 2022.