Gloucestershire Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) - District Leads
Overview
Summary, notice description and lot information
Gloucestershire County Council is actively seeking providers for its Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) through an open procurement process. This initiative, funded by the Department for Education, aims to deliver activities and meals to children eligible for free school meals across six districts: Gloucester City, Cheltenham Borough, Tewkesbury District, Forest of Dean District, Stroud District, and the Cotswolds. The procurement is in the tender stage, with electronic submissions allowed until 6 February 2026.
The programme falls under the health and social work services category, focusing on delivering community, social, and personal services within the South West England region. Gloucestershire County Council, classified as a sub-central government public authority, intends to appoint one provider per district, with a contract period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. This can present significant business growth opportunities for organisations in the health and social services sectors, particularly those that operate as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs).
The focus on organising activities and engaging with local communities provides various avenues for subcontracting and collaboration. Businesses with expertise in managing large-scale community projects, especially those with capabilities to meet the diverse needs of children and families, will find this tender aligns well with their services. The programme prioritises quality and price in its award criteria, making it ideal for organisations that can deliver high-quality services cost-effectively.
The Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) is funded by the Department for Education to deliver activities and food to children and young people eligible for benefits related Free School Meals (FSM) during the three main school holiday periods. Six District Leads to cover Gloucester City; Cheltenham Borough; Tewkesbury District; Forest of Dean District; Stroud District and the Cotswolds, who will develop and deliver the programme each District. Only one provider may be appointed per district, providers can bid for more than one district.
We expect potential providers to meet a number of minimum standards; these are detailed in the ITT. We advise all interested providers to read the entire ITT and all documents referenced or linked to within the ITT carefully, to inform themselves about the opportunity and whether they would be interested in submitting a response.
The Cheltenham District Lead will be responsible for organising the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in their respective district. This includes; Organise and sub-contract an array of activity providers to form the holiday programme that adheres to the DfE's requirements and meets targets as set out by the Council Creating and following a communications schedule throughout the year to engage families, children and young people, professionals, and schools about the HAF programme. Working with the Council, other district leads and relevant stakeholders to stay up to date on information about the programme and any emerging local needs. Form a focus group to feature the voice of the young person to inform plans for HAF in their respective district. A full list of requirements can be found on the role specification.
The Cotswolds District Lead will be responsible for organising the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in their respective district. This includes; Organise and sub-contract an array of activity providers to form the holiday programme that adheres to the DfE's requirements and meets targets as set out by the Council Creating and following a communications schedule throughout the year to engage families, children and young people, professionals, and schools about the HAF programme. Working with the Council, other district leads and relevant stakeholders to stay up to date on information about the programme and any emerging local needs. Form a focus group to feature the voice of the young person to inform plans for HAF in their respective district. A full list of requirements can be found on the role specification.
The Forest of Dean District Lead will be responsible for organising the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in their respective district. This includes; Organise and sub-contract an array of activity providers to form the holiday programme that adheres to the DfE's requirements and meets targets as set out by the Council Creating and following a communications schedule throughout the year to engage families, children and young people, professionals, and schools about the HAF programme. Working with the Council, other district leads and relevant stakeholders to stay up to date on information about the programme and any emerging local needs. Form a focus group to feature the voice of the young person to inform plans for HAF in their respective district. A full list of requirements can be found on the role specification.
The Gloucester City District Lead will be responsible for organising the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in their respective district. This includes; Organise and sub-contract an array of activity providers to form the holiday programme that adheres to the DfE's requirements and meets targets as set out by the Council Creating and following a communications schedule throughout the year to engage families, children and young people, professionals, and schools about the HAF programme. Working with the Council, other district leads and relevant stakeholders to stay up to date on information about the programme and any emerging local needs. Form a focus group to feature the voice of the young person to inform plans for HAF in their respective district. A full list of requirements can be found on the role specification.
The Stroud District Lead will be responsible for organising the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in their respective district. This includes; Organise and sub-contract an array of activity providers to form the holiday programme that adheres to the DfE's requirements and meets targets as set out by the Council Creating and following a communications schedule throughout the year to engage families, children and young people, professionals, and schools about the HAF programme. Working with the Council, other district leads and relevant stakeholders to stay up to date on information about the programme and any emerging local needs. Form a focus group to feature the voice of the young person to inform plans for HAF in their respective district. A full list of requirements can be found on the role specification.
The Tewkesbury District Lead will be responsible for organising the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in their respective district. This includes; Organise and sub-contract an array of activity providers to form the holiday programme that adheres to the DfE's requirements and meets targets as set out by the Council Creating and following a communications schedule throughout the year to engage families, children and young people, professionals, and schools about the HAF programme. Working with the Council, other district leads and relevant stakeholders to stay up to date on information about the programme and any emerging local needs. Form a focus group to feature the voice of the young person to inform plans for HAF in their respective district. A full list of requirements can be found on the role specification.
Procurement Classification
Notice type, method, and CPV codes
Contract Values
Financial information and value estimates
The contract period is one year.
Key Dates
Publication, submission, and award timeline
Notice Status
Current status of tender, lots, awards, and contracts
Contracting Authority
Buyer organisation and contact details
Awarded Supplier
Supplier who was awarded this contract
Documents & Links
External resources and data downloads
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector.
Need help with your tender submission?
Our expert team can help you prepare a winning bid. Get professional support from CareSync Experts.
Get in touch with our team at Care Sync Experts today for a consultation.
Email: hello@caresyncexperts.co.uk
Phone: 0333 577 0877
Contact UsBidding for contracts like this
Other tenders in Gloucester
- Provision of Pain Management Services in Gloucester
- Gloucestershire Community Eye Health Service in Gloucester
- Lot 3: Addressing Perpetrator Behaviour - Further Competition 2022 in Gloucester
- Lot 4: Young People - Further Competition 2021 in Gloucester
- APST006 Mentoring Support in Gloucester
- Tender for Pathway 2 Beds in Gloucester Care Homes (Nursing Care) in Gloucester