Want to provide holiday activities for schoolchildren? Find out more

Charities, schools, and local businesses are being asked to come forward to provide school holiday sessions for children and young people in Southend-on-Sea.

A collage of children being creative and active.

The Holiday, Activities and Food programme (HAF) is funded by the Department of Education and has been backed by funding for the next two years. Southend-on-Sea City Council is looking for local providers to run the sessions, and create a tailor-made programme, which includes a wide range of fun and engaging activities, alongside healthy meals.

A drop-in session has been arranged so you can find out more about the council’s procurement process and the HAF programme. It is being held on Friday 3 February between 10am and 1pm at Committee Room 2 in the Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea.

Providers will run sessions for school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits related free school meals. Our next HAF programme will be Spring HAF, this will take place over the Spring holidays in April.

Cllr Laurie Burton, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “We understand that the school holidays can bring additional difficulties to families, and we have the opportunity to provide those eligible families with extra support during this time.

“Once again, we are looking for local providers to give the children and young people access to fun and active activities along with healthy meals over the school holidays.

“I hope that our community providers, schools and charities will get involved in order to increase diversity of the activities and be part of this great programme for Southend-on-Sea.”

There are several ways local businesses, schools and charities can get involved, from delivering the session to providing the venue. If you would like to know more about our HAF programme, please email our HAF team.

If you want to submit a tender to be an approved HAF Provider in Southend-on-Sea follow this link: Please view the documents here with the reference DN610396. The third round will close on 12 Noon on Friday 17 February 2023.

The APL will remain open for providers to join, but evaluations will be carried out before the next term commences.

If you would like to speak to the procurement team about the procurement process, please email: procurementadvisors@southend.gov.uk

Published: 27th January 2023

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