Organisations across Reading are being invited to bid for funding to provide activities for disadvantaged children throughout the summer holidays.

Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), which provides education and children’s services in Reading, is co-ordinating the programme as part of the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

The company is interested in hearing from a range of providers who could offer enriching activities and healthy food for young people who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

The Department for Education is making up to £220m available to local areas to deliver the HAF programme over the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021.

BFfC is looking to work with a range of providers across the borough, including community-based and voluntary organisations, existing holiday care providers, schools, childminders, sports clubs and creative and performing arts groups.

Funding will be considered for organisations that can prove they can deliver:

  • High quality enriching activities which includes at least one hour of physical activity
  • A healthy, nutritious meal
  • Skills, activities/classes aimed at helping children and their parents to make healthy and affordable choices
  • A positive legacy that lasts longer than the experience

Deborah Glassbrook, Reading’s Director of Children’s Services, said: “The Holiday Activity and Food programme is an important scheme for children and young people who have some disadvantages, so we want to make sure we can offer the best possible range of activities.

“We are looking for local organisations that are able to provide fun and enriching activities and nutritious food which will allow children and young people in Reading to be more active and eat more healthily over the summer break.

“I know there is a huge variety of organisations in Reading that would be able to provide excellent activities for our young people and I would urge them to contact us now.”

Further information for potential providers of holiday activities can be found at: https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/about/holiday-activities-and-food-programme/

Any organisations interested in working with the HAF progamme, please contact: Ciaran.delaney@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

Note to editors

For more details about the Holiday Activities and Food programme, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-programme/holiday-activities-and-food-programme-2021