Provider application process
Supporting community-based organisations to provide healthy and enriching activities and healthy, hot meals for children in reception to Year 11, inclusive.
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 2025 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, hot 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
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, hot 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
- physical activities that engage children in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for 60 minutes per day
- 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
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 this 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]