Rotherham Healthy Holidays
The Rotherham Healthy Holidays Programme is funded by the Department of Education’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
This programme was developed as it was recognised that school holidays can create pressure for some families due to the increased costs such as food, activities, childcare and reduced incomes. This can lead some children to experience a gap where they are less likely to access out of school activities and are more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ regarding physical health, nutrition and are more likely to become socially isolated. The programme aims to reduce this by supporting vulnerable children and young people in accessing a healthy lifestyle, activities and social inclusion. The programme offers an inclusive and non-judgemental environment that reduces stigma and has a positive impact on children and young people.
Rotherham Council received £1,233,510.00 for the 2024-2025 school holidays (Easter, Summer, Winter). The Council allocated this funding across the holiday periods by issuing small grants to various organisations and providers who applied to run holiday activities. Organisations from the public, private, voluntary, community and faith sectors and schools are all eligible to apply for healthy holidays funding.
The Department for Education allows for a small proportion of the funding to be allocated to other vulnerable groups of children and young people, as well as those eligible for benefit-related free school meals.
Rotherham’s eligibility cohorts were:
- Benefit Related Free School Meals
- Looked After Children
- Electively Home Educated Children
- Asylum Seekers
- Any child receiving support from the Early Help Service
- Any child receiving support from Children’s Social Care
- Children accessing a Pupil Referral Unit or Alternative Provision
- Ukrainian Refugees accessing the Home for Ukraine Scheme
The programme has been supported by various departments across the council and community partners, who have come together to develop and steer an effective programme.
These have included:
- The Early Help & Family Engagement Service
- School Meals Service
- Procurement
- Education
- Social Supermarkets
- Business Support
- Elective Home Education Service
- Voluntary Action Rotherham
- Voluntary Sector Providers
- Public Health
- Leisure Services
- Schools
