Contract awardedFind a TenderHAF programme

Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) 2026-2028

Essex County Council
East of England
Open procedure
1 April 2026 to 31 January 2029

Delivery of holiday clubs during Easter, Summer, and Winter school holidays, providing physical and enrichment activities, nutritious meals, nutritional education, and family mentoring. The programme targets young people eligible for benefits-based free school meals and families in need, aiming to improve physical and mental health outcomes. Bidders are awarded grant funding to deliver projects across the specified regions.

Open the official notice

Awarded value: £15m; As published
Published: 2 December 2025; Find a Tender
Awarded: 31 March 2026; Thurrock Council, South East Essex Academy Trust, Everyone Active and 102 more
Contract length: 34 months; Ends 31 January 2029

What the buyer is asking for

Provision of inclusive holiday activity and food programmes for children and families across Essex and Thurrock local authority areas.

Lifecycle

Publishedon Find a Tender
2 December 2025
Contract awardedto Thurrock Council, South East Essex Academy Trust, Everyone Active and 102 more
31 March 2026
Contract starts
1 April 2026
Contract ends
31 January 2029

Similar HAF programme contracts

AT1467 Holiday Activity Food Programme for ChildrenLuton Borough Council · East of England · £5m
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) services DPS (SC240025)Kent County Council · South East · £20m
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme CAFS/2023/113Stoke-on-Trent City Council · West Midlands · £4.7m
Holiday Activity and Food Programme ManagementBIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL · West Midlands · £3.3m

See the HAF programme market: prices, buyers and who wins →

The buyer

Type: Council
HAF programme contracts, 24 months: 3
Open HAF programme tenders: 0
Typical HAF programme contract: £4.2m

See everything Essex County Council buys →

How it compares

227× the typical HAF programme contract (£66k).

Cite this contract

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/337644/activate-essex-holiday-activity-and-food-haf-2026-2028
Buyer reference: E010PA
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-05ed1e
Source: Find a Tender
Last checked: 12 October 2026

Essex County Council. Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) 2026-2028. Contract award, 2 December 2025. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/337644/activate-essex-holiday-activity-and-food-haf-2026-2028 (accessed 12 October 2026).