Background

• As previously reported, following the Government’s extension of the holiday activities and food programme, we are now in the second year of delivering this scheme following a successful national rollout in 2021, despite the challenges of the pandemic.
• HAF funding has been allocated to local authorities to enable children aged 5-16 and who are eligible for means tested free school meals to access free holiday activities over a week at Easter, 4 weeks over the summer and a week at Christmas, with a nutritious lunch included.

• Active Norfolk is continuing to coordinate our ‘Big Norfolk Holiday Fun’ programme, working with wider NCC colleagues and providers.
• During Easter we saw 1828 children participate in BNHF activities with approximately 70 providers across the county with 21137 sessions on offer.

The Summer Offer

• The summer programme will run from 25 July to September 3 and is open to children aged five to 16 (or four if they turn five in August).
• For the summer we have places for around 3,400 children with over 95 providers offering in excess of 68,000 sessions over the 6 weeks of the holidays and activities include sport, circus skills, arts and craft, dance, music, cookery and film making and lots more!
• Booking for our Big Norfolk Holiday Fun summer programme opened on Monday 27 June, with hundreds of free activities on offer to children.
• Families can book by visiting Big Norfolk Holiday Fun – Active Norfolk or via the county council’s webpages: www.norfolk.gov.uk/bignorfolkholidayfun
• This summer we have made it simpler for families to book onto BNHF sessions and removed the need for schools to issue codes to families.  Families can book directly through the website and confirm their eligibility.
• Providers are required to ensure activities are inclusive and accessible for all children and young people. This includes those with special educational needs or disabilities. Providers are offered free workshops on inclusion, and wider SEND needs before the programme starts.  To ensure reasonable adjustments can be made, details are requested at the time of booking and providers will discuss with parents and carers any specific requirements that their children have.
• Whilst BNHF is targeted at 5-16 year olds eligible for means tested free school meals, we have some flexibility to offer a small number of free places for children who are vulnerable and might really benefit from BNHF activities.  These places are being offered on a first come first served basis and we have asked schools or services working with children to contact BNHF to request a place.
• We are encouraging providers to offer blended sessions, with eligible children accessing activities free of charge, alongside some families who are not eligible for means tested free school meals, paying for the session.
• The BNHF team at Active Norfolk has worked hard to expand the offer in rural communities, as we know it can be difficult for some families to travel.   In general, we cannot fund transport for families to access activities.  However, on an exception basis, where there are particular and exceptional circumstances, we may be able to support families.  Each situation is considered based on whether or not families have access to transport of their own, public transport, alternative family transport or options to lift share, the specific needs of the parent and the vulnerability of the child.   Families can contact the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun team directly to discuss their particular situation via [email protected]