North Northamptonshire Council is planning to re-commission the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, a scheme that provides free activities and meals to children during school holidays. Plans to extend the service have been recommended for approval, with the council due to discuss them at a meeting on 11 August.
The programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and is aimed at children and young people aged five to 16 who receive benefit-related free school meals. If the plans are approved, the council will begin the process of tendering the contract and expects to award it in November.
Why is the council seeking a new contract?
The council said the current arrangement is due to expire in March 2027 after both of its available extensions have been used. In 2023, North Northamptonshire Council awarded the contract to Northamptonshire Sport to run the service initially for two years, with two optional extensions of 12 months each.
Elizabeth Wright, executive member for children, education and families, said recommissioning would
"build on the success achieved so far"and
"continue supporting vulnerable families"as well as
"work alongside our excellent local voluntary, community and sports organisations".
How has the scheme performed so far?
Attendance has remained strong, although numbers fell slightly in summer 2025. More than 2,100 children took part, compared with 2,630 in 2024 and 2,250 in 2023.
In a report to the executive, external, the drop was linked to a change in the booking system, which officers said would
"require further monitoring". The council said the sessions offered a range of activities, from drama to computer programming, and that all of them included some physical exercise.
In previous years, North Northamptonshire Council has been awarded about £1.1m to administer the scheme. Last year, the government announced a three-year extension for the programme as part of a £600m investment nationally.
What happens next in Northamptonshire?
If the recommissioning plan is approved, North Northamptonshire Council will tender the contract and expects to award it in November. West Northamptonshire Council is also considering its own HAF arrangements beyond March 2027, with cabinet due to discuss the issue in September.
The unitary authority said:
"As this process is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this stage."
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Key Facts
- The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is funded by the Department for Education.
- It is aimed at children and young people aged five to 16 who receive benefit-related free school meals.
- North Northamptonshire Council will discuss recommissioning the scheme on 11 August.
- More than 2,100 children attended in summer 2025, down from 2,630 in 2024 and 2,250 in 2023.
- The current contract is due to lapse in March 2027.
