Provider application process

Supporting community-based organisations to provide healthy and enriching activities and healthy meals for children aged 5 to 16 years

The Department for Education (DfE) provides funding to local authorities to coordinate a programme of healthy food and enriching activities for disadvantaged children during the 2024 Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays. Hampshire County Council is delivering this through the connect4communities programme.

As a result of the programme, we want children to:

  • receive healthy and nutritious meals
  • maintain a healthy level of physical activity
  • be happy, have fun and meet new friends
  • develop a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health-related issues
  • take part in fun and engaging activities that support their development
  • feel safe and secure
  • get access to the right support services
  • return to school feeling engaged and ready to learn

Families can also benefit when HAF providers include their needs in planning and delivering their programme. This could be through:

  • providing opportunities to get involved in cookery classes
  • ensuring they are signposted towards other sources of information and support, such as health services or employment and education opportunities

Application process for organisations

Applications from new organisations to join the open framework are now closed.

In Spring 2022, we launched our open framework and invited applications from a wide network of community-based organisations. Those organisations included existing holiday care providers, schools, childminders, sports coaching, creative and performing arts providers and many others. Providers must deliver sessions which include the provision of a healthy meal and last a minimum of 4 hours a day, at least 4 days a week during

  • one week at Easter
  • four weeks in the summer, and
  • a week at Christmas

All children in Hampshire, who receive benefits-related Free School Meals will be eligible to take part in the sessions. In addition, 15% of places will be made available to other vulnerable children, as defined by the Council.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate an ability to deliver

  • high quality enriching activities
  • provide healthy meals and snack
  • signposting to other organisations that can support families
  • transfer of skills to help children and families understand healthy lifestyles
  • activities/classes aimed at helping children and their parents to make healthy and affordable food choices
  • a positive legacy that lasts longer than the experience

Priority areas and audiences

The Framework opportunity is open to all, however the Hampshire HAF programme is particularly interested in additional youth-focused organisations that can supplement dedicated secondary-aged / teen provision across all the benefits-related free school meal hot-spots of Hampshire (hot-spot maps available within tender documentation).

Specific gaps where additional organisations could support delivery;

  • Teen provision in Alton and Petersfield
  • General provisions in Lee-on-the-Solent
  • Teen provision in New Milton
  • Teen provision in Fareham
  • Teen provision in Basingstoke
  • General and teen provision in Farnborough and wider Rushmoor and Hart districts

We would particularly encourage applications from organisations with established and strong local community links that can help address the above strategic gaps.

Registering and applying on In-tend

All applications must be submitted through the Council’s e-procurement system, called In-Tend. The system enables providers to apply for tender opportunities online, by completing on-line questionnaires and by uploading any required supporting documentation.

The first step is to register your organisation on the system if you do not already have an In-tend login. To do this go to the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/hampshire/aspx/Home. From here you will be able to apply for the opportunity, which can be found by searching for key search words for example “Holiday” or by the tender reference number CS19177. This will take you to the Holiday Activity and Food schemes page. “Opt in” to be able to view the tender documentation. You can opt out at any time and doesn’t mean you have to apply. Watch a video showing you exactly what to do to register.

If you have any questions relating to tendering with Hampshire County Council please contact [email protected] or call 03707 791100.

For general questions about the HAF application process please contact [email protected]

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