North Northamptonshire families await holiday support vote

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-04 13:59 3 min read

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By the Beehive Web newsroom

Eligible families across North Northamptonshire could retain access to free meals and organised activities during the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays under a proposal awaiting approval.

North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive is due to consider the plan on 11 August 2026. Approval would allow the council to procure a provider for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme after the existing Northamptonshire Sport contract ends in March 2027.

The programme is funded entirely by the Department for Education, so qualifying children attend without charge. The proposed decision concerns how the service will be delivered from March 2027; it is not yet a final contract award.

Children aged five to 16 would remain eligible

The Holiday Activities and Food Programme supports children and young people aged five to 16 who qualify for benefits-related free school meals. Other vulnerable children may also be included, with the council specifically identifying children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Participation by children with SEND has increased since the programme began locally in 2021. That makes accessibility a significant part of the proposed recommissioning, alongside the continued provision of meals and activities.

North Northamptonshire families await holiday support vote

The announcement does not set out new booking dates, referral routes or application instructions. Families therefore do not yet have a new process to follow as a result of the proposal.

Free meals are paired with structured activities

Sessions combine nutritious food with sports, arts, cultural and educational activities during three main school holiday periods. The aim is to give eligible children structured experiences outside term time while helping families affected by food insecurity and social isolation.

The support can also give children opportunities to build confidence and spend time with others during longer breaks from school. Similar publicly funded provision is available elsewhere, including holiday activities and meals for eligible Milton Keynes families.

North Northamptonshire’s programme has operated since 2021. It received the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Award for Community Project of the Year in 2024.

More than 2,600 children joined the summer programme

Council figures show that more than 2,600 children participated during summer 2024, accounting for over 24,000 activity days.

Feedback reported by the council found that 95% of responding parents and carers said their child enjoyed the sessions. A further 93% agreed that attendance improved their child’s wellbeing, while 90% said it increased confidence and 96% felt their child was well cared for.

Those percentages indicate strong satisfaction among respondents, although the council’s announcement does not provide the number of families surveyed or further detail about how the feedback was collected.

The current contract ends in March 2027

Northamptonshire Sport’s existing contract will finish in March 2027 after all available extension options have been used. The Executive is being asked to authorise a competitive procurement process rather than extend that agreement again.

If approved on 11 August, procurement is expected to begin later in August 2026. The proposed timetable calls for a contract award in November 2026 and the replacement service to start in March 2027, when the current arrangement ends.

The recommended contract would initially run for two years, with options for two further years. The Department for Education has confirmed programme funding until at least the 2028/29 financial year, covering the proposed initial contract period. The next confirmed milestone is the Executive’s decision on 11 August 2026.

Source: North Northamptonshire Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report uses the council’s published proposal and distinguishes confirmed programme details from decisions that remain outstanding.

Checks

Executive approval is scheduled for 11 August 2026.
The current Northamptonshire Sport contract ends in March 2027.
Department for Education funding is confirmed until at least 2028/29.
Eligibility includes children aged five to 16 receiving benefits-related free school meals...

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