Rotherham Health Holidays
The Rotherham healthy holidays programme is funded by the Department of Education’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
This programme was devised and developed due to recognising 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 families 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 this could lead to being socially isolated during the breaks. The programme aims to reduce this by supporting vulnerable young people and families in accessing a healthy lifestyle, activities and social inclusion. The programme offers an inclusive and non-judgemental environment that reduces stigma. Evidence suggests that the clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people.
Rotherham Council received £1,254,610 for the 2025-2026 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.
For March 2025 to March 2026 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
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 and Family Engagement Service
- Social Care Services
- School Meals Service
- Procurement
- Education
- Social Supermarkets
- Business Support
- Elective Home Education Service
- Voluntary Action Rotherham
- Voluntary Sector Providers
- Public Health
- Leisure Services
- Schools
