Essex ActivAte

Winter Holidays – Free School Meals Eligibility

The Essex ActivAte Winter holiday programme, funded by the Department for Education, is part of the national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

Free places are available for children who are eligible for Income-Related Free School Meals (FSM).

If your child receives Free School Meals under the Universal Offer, please ensure you are registered for Income-Related FSM via the government website to qualify for a voucher code: Apply for free school meals – GOV.UK

Holiday vouchers will be sent directly to the registered email address and/or mobile number of eligible families.

You will need a voucher code for priority booking on the Essex ActivAte programme this winter.

Professional Referral and Discretionary Places
Due to the high volume of self-referrals for a limited number of vouchers, we will be implementing a phased approach in collaboration with professional referral services. This will help ensure that funded places are allocated to children who are most at risk of experiencing food poverty without access to a supportive environment.

Vouchers will be distributed to families from professional referral services from Wednesday 19th November.

Parent self-referral applications will be open from Friday 14th November to Friday 28th November.

Each application will be assessed individually, and vouchers for successful self-referrals will be issued starting from Friday, 21st November, one week after the release of voucher codes to children on income related Free School Meals.

Active Essex is thrilled to hear about the three-year extension of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme from Government this morning and is proud to continue to be a part of the vital initiative. The extension reflects the programme’s proven value and long-term potential to support children and families across Greater Essex.

Delivered locally as Essex ActivAte in Essex and Thurrock, the HAF programme has had a transformative impact over the past four years, as over 30,000 children eligible for income related school meals have accessed high-quality holiday provision, combining physical and enriching activities with nutritious meals in safe, inclusive environments. These opportunities have helped improve overall wellbeing, reduce social isolation, boost skills and confidence, and provide valuable childcare and respite for families during school holidays.

Thanks to the strong partnerships with local organisations, schools, and community groups, Active Essex have established a trusted and resilient delivery network, which will continue to educate and empower young people to lead active, healthy lives during the school holidays and beyond.