The Essex ActivAte (HAF) programme delivers funded Holiday Clubs across Essex and Thurrock for children on income related free school meals.

As part of the programme they are able to use a small amount of the funded spaces for children who fall outside of the FSM eligibility requirement, yet would benefit from attending a club to support their wellbeing.

In the past, they have worked with the parents directly to allocate these spaces but have learnt that this doesn’t always mean the right families are given the opportunity of the funded space. Therefore, they are looking to change this process by using a referral process, working with our Child and Family support services who are in direct contact with those children who would benefit.

If you work with children of school age who you believe would benefit from attending a club over the Summer Holidays where they will receive a nutritious meal, you are able to refer them using the link here – https://forms.office.com/e/7kmgfcXAwq

The link to the referral form will be live from 9am on Monday 16^th June 2025 for Summer Holiday Provision. 

For example:

• Vulnerable child / Child in Need (CiN) Plan
• Care experienced child/ previously care experienced child
•  Transition phase between nursery/primary or primary/secondary (access to the programme for the holiday before your child starts school)
• Education, health and care plan (EHCP)
• Young carer
•  Child protection plan / known to social services
•  At risk of school exclusion or Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA)
•  Lives in an area of high deprivation / from a low income household not in receipt of income related free school meals
• Refugee status / asylum seeker

Once they receive your referral, they will check the eligibility against the list highlighted above and then raise a unique code for the child with 20 credits for the Summer provision. A unique code will be sent direct to the parent / or the referral partners in order to make the booking.

Due to a number of vouchers being ordered and not used during the last holiday period, please ensure the families are able to attend the clubs on offer so that funded places are not left unfilled.

A list of all of the clubs on offer (on our Activity Finder from Friday 20^th June) and further details can be found on our website here – https://tinyurl.com/Activity-Finder

Referral codes will be released from 12 noon on Monday 23^rd June, but can take up to seven days from your referral being made.