To seek approval for Herefordshire Council to accept the Department for Education (DfE) grant to continue coordinating the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, and to confirm the proposed allocation of funds, including authorisation to award grants to successful delivery organisations.

That:

a)     That Herefordshire Council accepts the Department for Education (DfE) grant to deliver the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme across Herefordshire for 2026/27.

b)    The scheme criteria is set out in paragraphs 2 to 19 of this report to be approved and;

c)     The Head of Communities be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the programme in line with the grant conditions.

1.              Not to accept or part accept the grant. This option is not recommended. Failure to accept the funding would significantly reduce the availability of holiday activities and nutritious food for eligible children and young people. This could increase the risk of isolation, reduced wellbeing and limited access to healthy meals during school holidays. The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provides structured activities and nutritious food, and without this support children may experience less healthy holiday periods and fewer opportunities for social engagement.