North Northamptonshire Council will discuss re-commissioning the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme at a meeting on August 11. The programme provides free activities and meals to children who receive benefit-related free school meals, aged five to 16. Last year's participation numbers saw a slight drop from previous summers, with 2,100 children participating in summer 2025 compared to 2,630 in 2024. If approved, the council will tender the contract and anticipate awarding it in November.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
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Story summary
North Northamptonshire Council will discuss re-commissioning the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, which provides free activities and meals to 2,100 children aged 5-16 who receive benefit-related free school meals, at a meeting on August 11th. The programme is paid for by the Department for Education (DfE) and has been extended for three years as part of a £600m investment nationally. If approved, the council will tender the contract and anticipate awarding it in November. The current contract with Northamptonshire Sport, which was awarded in 2023, is set to lapse in March 2027. Elizabeth Wright, executive member for children, education and families, said recommissioning would "build on the success achieved so far" and continue supporting vulnerable families.
Written for “Holiday Food Programme Extension” on 2026-08-31,
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- Published
Plans to extend a scheme that provides free activities and meals to children during school holidays have been recommended for approval.
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that → publish → approval
North Northamptonshire Council will discuss re-commissioning the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme at a meeting on 11 August.
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Council → discuss → 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.
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who → pay → 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".
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Last year, the government announced a three-year extension for the scheme as part of a £600m investment nationally.
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government → announce → investment
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.
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council → award → months
The authority said both of these extensions had been used and the current contract would lapse in March 2027.
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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.
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children → participate → 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".
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officers → attribute → monitoring
In previous years, North Northamptonshire Council has been awarded about £1.1m for administering the scheme.
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The sessions ranged from drama to computer programming - but they all included some physical exercise.
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they → range → 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."
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