GrantRadar

Oldham Council (funded by the Department for Education)

Oldham Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provider grant

Oldham Council funds providers to run Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) sessions in the Easter, summer and winter school holidays for children aged 5 to 16 on targeted free school meals. Each day must include a hot healthy meal, an enriching activity, at least 60 minutes of physical activity, healthy-eating learning and signposting for families. Funding is per place: the council expects an average of about £20 per child per session, with no more than £4.50 per head on food. The current application form closes at 9am on Monday 19 October 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
From £10,000,000
Closes in
1 day left
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Organisations delivering holiday activities within the Oldham borough at an accessible venue (activity centres outside Oldham are not sought)
  • Providers must commit to registering every HAF attendee on the Eequ booking system, serve hot meals meeting school food standards (meals may be delivered in if the venue has no kitchen, but a caterer must be secured before applying), and make provision inclusive for children with SEND
  • Required: public liability insurance of at least £10 million and employer's liability of at least £5 million, a safeguarding/child protection policy, enhanced DBS certificates for staff, equality and diversity and health and safety policies, risk assessments, and Food Hygiene Level 2 if preparing meals
  • Partnerships between organisations are encouraged
  • The council's HAF page labels the application form 'Expression of interest form (Existing provider)', so organisations new to Oldham HAF should check with OldhamHAF@oldham.gov.uk before applying

What it funds

Holiday provision in Oldham for children and young people aged 5-16 in receipt of targeted free school meals, meeting all of these standards on every day of provision:

  • A healthy and hot meal
  • An enriching activity (one that helps develop new skills or knowledge, consolidates existing skills and knowledge, or tries new experiences)
  • A physical activity, moderate to vigorous, for at least 60 minutes per day
  • An opportunity to increase awareness of healthy eating, healthy lifestyles and/or positive behaviours
  • Signposting and referrals to support families

the council is particularly interested in providers offering four days of at least four-hour sessions over the winter and Easter holidays and 16 days over the summer holidays, but fewer days are welcome. Transport can be considered for a group trip to a cultural or enriching activity. Relevant and essential equipment can be considered.

What it will not fund

  • Capital costs (the grant is not intended to cover them, though relevant and essential equipment/resources can be considered)
  • Places for children not in receipt of targeted free school meals (these must be paid for or funded from other sources)
  • Food costing more than £4.50 per head
  • Late applications

How to apply

  1. Read the DfE HAF guidance and Oldham's FAQs and application guidance
  2. Download and complete the HAF budget proforma
  3. Complete the online application form (it times out after 30 minutes of inactivity) by 9am on Monday 19 October 2026
  4. A panel of representatives from a range of organisations assesses applications and decides how funding is allocated
  5. 50% of the agreed amount is paid before delivery; the rest is paid per attended place after delivery, up to 100%

late applications cannot be accepted, and incomplete applications (for example without caterer details) will not go to panel.

Have ready

  • Detailed budget proposal on the council's HAF budget proforma
  • Detailed timetable of activities
  • Caterer details, including food hygiene star rating
  • Public Liability (minimum £10 million) and Employer's Liability Insurance (minimum £5 million)
  • Safeguarding/Child Protection Policy
  • Staff Enhanced DBS Certificates
  • Equality and Diversity Policy
  • Health and Safety Policy
  • Risk Assessments for all relevant activities
  • Food Hygiene Level 2 Certificate (if preparing meals yourself or by an external provider)

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