Hundreds of thousands of pounds will be spent providing healthy meals, enriching activities and free childcare on the Isle of Wight this summer.
Where the money is going
County Hall’s director of children’s services Ashley Whittaker has signed off £200,362.80 in grants to a host of activity providers such as the Island Riding Centre, Quay Arts, Aspire Ryde and West Wight Nursery.
More than 5,000 places across the Island
A minimum of 5,071 spaces across 29 sites will be provided and a further £4,000 is allocated for SEND support.
There is in addition £18,681.20 for extra spaces, as demand rises.
About the HAF programme
The funding is from the government’s Department for Education (DfE) as part of the Summer 2026 Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF).
Whitehall has supported the delivery of the HAF programme since 2018, financing English local authorities to coordinate free holiday provision during the main school holidays: Easter, Summer and Christmas.
Tackling the holiday experience gap
A council decision report says,
“The HAF Programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places for children from low-income families to benefit their health, wellbeing and learning.
“School holidays can be particularly pressurised for some families because of increased costs (such as food and childcare) and reduced household income in some circumstances.
“For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap with children from low-income families less likely to access organised out-of-school activities and more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health, this can also mean they are more likely to experience social isolation.”
How providers are held to account
All providers are monitored through the HAF delivery team, including through onsite visits, the report says.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
