This funding supports the delivery of winter school holiday activities with food for children in receipt of benefit’s related free school meals across Rochdale Borough. It is part of the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, funded by the Department for Education, which has provided healthy meals and enriching activities to disadvantaged children since 2018.
Locally, the programme is coordinated by Rochdale Borough Council and Your Trust (Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust), covering Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, and Pennines.
School holidays can be pressure points for families due to increased costs and reduced incomes. This can lead to a holiday experience gap, where children from low-income households are less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, more likely to experience poor nutrition and physical inactivity, and more likely to face social isolation.
The HAF programme aims to address these challenges by offering free holiday clubs that include nutritious meals and enriching activities.
PROGRAMME AIMS
Children should: receive healthy and nutritious meals; maintain a healthy level of physical activity; feel safe, happy, and socially connected; develop knowledge of nutrition and health; take part in fun and engaging activities; return to school engaged and ready to learn.
Families should: be included in planning and delivery; receive guidance and support; be signposted to relevant services.
ELIGIBILITY AND ACCESS
The programme is for school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) receiving benefits-related free school meals. Other vulnerable children which include Cared for children, Children in Need (CIN), Children with an Early Help Assessment, or where the family have an allocated Supporting Families Keyworker
STANDARDS AND PROVISION
Food: At least one meal (preferably hot or freshly cooked) per day must be provided, compliant with School Food Standards and Natasha’s Law. Food must consider allergies, dietary needs, and cultural/religious requirements.
Physical Activity: Minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, aligned with NHS guidelines.
Nutritional Education: Daily activities to improve children’s knowledge of healthy eating (e.g., cooking, growing food).
Family Education: Weekly sessions for parents/carers on sourcing and preparing nutritious, low-cost meals.
Enrichment: Activities must support skill development, creativity, and wellbeing.
Signposting: Providers must offer referrals to services such as Citizens Advice, school nurses, housing support, and Jobcentre Plus.
WHO CAN APPLY
Eligible applicants include: voluntary and community organisations, schools and multi-academy trusts, private providers, charities, CICs, not-for-profit companies, and statutory organisations.
WHAT WILL WE FUND
Projects may include: holiday clubs with varied activities (e.g., sports, arts, drama, digital, wellbeing); specialist SEND provision (if food is provided and activities are accessible).
GRANT SIZE AND ELIGIBLE COSTS
Funding is typically around £25 per eligible child per day, assessed for value for money.
Eligible costs include: staff planning and delivery, volunteer expenses, venue hire, food and preparation, modest capital items (e.g., sports or catering equipment).
EXCLUSIONS
Funding cannot be used for: research-only activities, promotion of political or religious beliefs, retrospective costs, general organisational costs not linked to HAF delivery.
WHEN TO APPLY
Applications for Winter 2025 HAF funding are open from 1st September to 26th September 2025.
PAYMENT TERMS
Successful applicants will be notified by 11th October 2025.
Funding will be issued in two stages: 75% upfront, 25% post-delivery, upon submission of attendance records and completion of quality assurance checks.
A provider webinar is available to support use of the booking platform.
GRANT AGREEMENT AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Successful applicants must sign a Grant Agreement confirming adherence to the DfE HAF Standards Framework and the following minimum requirements:
- Safeguarding policy and recent training
- Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate where appropriate
- Relevant first aid training
- Public liability insurance
- Right to work in the UK for all staff
- DBS checks for all staff
- Plans to engage children in receipt of benefits related FSM in Rochdale Borough
- Evidence of addressing community need and programme outcomes
- Capacity to deliver during the Rochdale Borough winter school holidays