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Fuelled Holiday Activity and Food Programme Annual Report 2024

Contents

Children at sporting activity

Background

The Holiday Activity and Food Programme is funded by the Department for Education to provide activities and food for young people in receipt of benefits-related free school meals during the 3 main school holidays (Easter, Summer and Christmas).

Rolling out nationally in 2021, the programme sets out to relieve some of the pressure points that low-income households may face during the holidays. Examples of these being that they are more likely to experience unhealthy holidays and social isolation.

North Lincolnshire’s programme is called the Fuelled Holiday Activity and Food Programme.

Easter set up and highlights

  • The short turnaround between Winter and Easter only allowed for small changes to be implemented. The teams focused on making changes to both the application process and the system.
  • Easter was the first full holiday for the Participation & Engagement Officers. In the run up to Easter, the officers were in contact with every school in North Lincolnshire.
  • Schools were encouraged to take part in one of three ways:-
    • Become a provider
    • Open their school as a venue
    • Actively promote and engage with the programme to ensure their pupils in need were able to access HAF.
  • A localised advertising campaign took place which included placing banners outside schools with a high-density of Free School Meal (FSM) children.
  • The FSM reach for Easter (4 days) exceeded that of the previous Summer’s reach (16 days).

Parent’s comments:

“I really think HAF have got this right. The Fuelled sessions feel like safe spaces. My child is very anxious about leaving me, even when she goes to school. She goes to Fuelled sessions and is really happy. She settles straight away with a smile on her face. Can you tell the team well done. The programme has made a difference to me as I feel less stressed in the holidays. It’s made a difference to my children who love coming to the different activities”

Easter statistics

The majority of attendees were free school meal eligible with 816 children attending primary school compared to 355 from secondary school. There were also 74 children attending through our non-free school meal eligibility criteria and 82 non-eligible children who attended either through a free or paid place.

70% of attendees were primary-school age with the rest being of secondary-school age.

The largest number of places were in the Scunthorpe area, due to the density of FSM-eligible children in Scunthorpe. The lowest number of places were in Barton.

Overall, the majority of places funded were for universal holiday clubs and sports. With a small spread of dance, childminding, horse-riding and arts & crafts.

Attendance at Easter events

1171 children and young people in receipt of benefits related free school meals attended the Easter programme. In addition to this, 74 children attended who were identified as vulnerable attended. There were 257 young people in attendance with SEND.

17,912 hours of face-to-face delivery were on offer from 41 different providers. The programme reached 17% of eligible children with them attending an average of 3 days.

Summer set up and highlights

  • Summer 2024’s FSM reach exceeded expectations, reaching more FSM children than the previous Summer
  • The Lincolnshire Co-Op donated £2000 in vouchers towards North Lincolnshire’s HAF Programme for fresh fruit and vegetables as well as nutritional education resources
  • New to the Summer, Lincs Educational Support transported a number of young people with mild to moderate SEND needs, particularly those with communication and interaction or social emotional and mental health needs to the Hykeham Sailing Club where young people learnt the basics of sailing.

Parent’s comments:

“I’ve noticed a real difference in my child’s attitude towards exercise since attending these sessions. They’re more motivated to stay active and talk about the exercises they did.”

“My son has been more open about his feelings lately, I think the sessions have helped him feel more comfortable talking about his mental health.”

Summer statistics

The majority of attendees were free school meal eligible with 1337 children attending primary school compared to 408 from secondary school. There were also 300 vulnerable children attending through our non-free school meal eligibility criteria.

76% of attendees were primary-school age with the rest being of secondary-school age.

The largest number of places were in the Scunthorpe area, due to the density of FSM-eligible children in Scunthorpe. The lowest number of places were in Axholme & The Isle.

Overall, the majority of places funded were for universal holiday clubs and sports. With a small spread of dance, childminding, horse-riding and arts & crafts.

Attendance at Summer events

1,745 children and young people in receipt of benefits related free school meals attended the Summer programme. In addition to this, 300 children attended who were identified as vulnerable attended. There were 460 young people in attendance with SEND.

65,691 hours of face-to-face delivery were on offer from 53 different providers. The programme reached 25% of eligible children with them attending an average of 6 days.

Winter set up and highlights

  • Winter saw a mixed delivery model. The usual face-to-face activities were provided, alongside pantomime tickets, activity packs and recipe packs which were very well received
  • The team worked in partnership with Active Humber to deliver activities in some rural areas through the Opening School Facilities Fund to support activities in rural areas so that all in the area can take part regardless of eligibility
  • Hundreds of children experienced the local pantomime for the first time and learnt how to cook a healthy recipe with their family.

Parent’s comments:

“Thanks for having this programme without this I would struggle to sort childcare which may have resulted in me losing my job. Very grateful for your time and everything you provided”
“Absolutely brilliant pantomime, my daughter loved it. Pantomime is perfect for my daughter as she is SEN and doesn’t like to attend events / activities without family”

Winter statistics

The majority of attendees were free school meal eligible with 668 children attending primary school compared to 364 from secondary school. There were also 88 vulnerable children attending through our non-free school meal eligibility criteria.

66% of attendees were primary-school age with the rest being of secondary-school age.

The largest number of places were in the Scunthorpe area, due to the density of FSM-eligible children in Scunthorpe. The lowest number of places were in Barton. There were over 1000 places provided to children across the whole of North Lincolnshire using pantomime tickets and activity packs.

Overall, the majority of places funded were for universal holiday clubs and sports. With a small spread of dance, childminding, horse-riding and arts & crafts.

Attendance at Winter events

1,032 children and young people in receipt of benefits related free school meals attended the Winter programme. In addition to this, 88 children attended who were identified as vulnerable attended. There were 151 young people in attendance with SEND.

15,975 hours of face-to-face delivery were on offer from 29 different providers. The programme reached 15% of eligible children with them attending an average of 3 days.

2024 statistics

The majority of attendees were free school meal eligible with 1936 children attending primary school compared to 821 from secondary school. There were also 413 vulnerable children attending through our non-free school meal eligibility criteria.

71% of attendees were primary-school age with the rest being of secondary-school age.

The largest number of places were in the Scunthorpe area, due to the density of FSM-eligible children in Scunthorpe. The lowest number of places were in Barton.

Overall, the majority of places funded were for universal holiday clubs and sports. With a small spread of dance, childminding, horse-riding, arts & crafts and pantomime tickets/activity packs.

Attendance at events 2024

2,757 children and young people in receipt of benefits related free school meals attended the programme in 2024. In addition to this, 413 children attended who were identified as vulnerable attended. There were 645 young people in attendance with SEND.

99,578 hours of face-to-face delivery were on offer from 59 different providers delivering 146 holiday clubs. The programme reached 38% of eligible children

Survey results – parents and children

  • To track progress throughout the year, parent and child feedback is collected using the Parent/Carer Survey, carried out after each holiday
  • The number of responses received were, 47 responses in Easter, 93 in the Summer and 32 for the Winter which has provided a wider range of views. The data below is a combination of all 189 responses from parents with children who attended face-to-face activities
  • Most parents chose “Very Good” in all categories for sessions this year, with the highest praise being for the club staff and the physical activity
  • Over 50% of children said they tried something new.
    • Over 60% parents mentioned reduced stress levels.
The bar chart represents what a small sample of children mentioned in the survey. From how they tried new activities to the fact that they felt safe during the sessions.

There was an increase this year in the number of children rating their school holidays as amazing thanks to the HAF programme, with the number reaching 60%. There was only one child surveyed that rated their school holidays as not very good.

Survey results Providers

As demonstrated in the charts above, each holiday saw improvements in the ratings from providers with only one rating of fair and no ratings of poor across the whole holiday in regard to the application process and the support received.

Overall, the majority of providers rated the 2024 programme excellent, with 19% rating the programme good and 1% rating it as fair.

How the funding was spent

The Fuelled team spent a total of £723,770.32 with 84% of the funds being used directly on face-to-face provision which includes £28,900 on SEND specific provisions. A further £25,079 was spent on delivering remote provision such as pantomime tickets, activity packs and recipe packs.

North Lincolnshire Council were provided a grant of £723,830 to implement the HAF programme in 2024.

In addition to face-to-face provision, SEND specific provision and remote provision, funding was also spent on:

  • Letters, text messages and flyers to publicise the scheme
  • Booking systems
  • Staff and provider training
  • Management and administration of the programme.

Key highlights and good practice

In 2024, the programme saw significant advancements through effective partnership working. Collaborations with schools, the Lincolnshire Co-op, Humberside Fire and Rescue Prevention team, School nurses, Community Dental Service, and The Dogs Trust greatly enhanced the programme’s reach and impact. These partnerships facilitated a comprehensive approach to supporting children and families.

There was a notable increase in participation from children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), thanks to the introduction of SEND-specific provisions. This inclusive approach ensured that more children could benefit from the programme’s offerings.

Remote provision was also a success, providing flexible engagement options that were well-received by children and families. This adaptability allowed the programme to reach a wider audience and cater to diverse needs.

The programme achieved its highest-ever number of children attending, marking a significant milestone. This record attendance is a testament to the programme’s growing popularity and effectiveness.

Our strengths and developments

Strengths

  • Continued increase in FSM-reach ensuring the most vulnerable children in North Lincolnshire are accessing activities and food during the school holidays
  • Vast increase in the number of clubs offering breakfast as an additional meal due to children attending hungry, something that has been made possible due to the Lincolnshire Co-Op vouchers
  • For the first time, there was a comprehensive SEND offer with a mix of accessible mainstream provision and specialist-SEND provision that offered smaller numbers as well as 1-1 support.
  • Providers continue to feel supported through the application process.

Developments

  • Moving to a brand-new booking system, the EEQU booking system with the aim of improving parent and provider experiences
  • Improving provider application form with clear guidance and expectations to ensure high quality applications and delivery
  • Streamlining the process for providers from start to finish with clear deadline dates and expectations of provision and the Fuelled Team at all stages of the application
  • Continue to expand teenager and SEND provision.
collection of images depicting healthy lifestyles

Ambition for 2025 and next steps

  • Increase School awareness/participation – particularly Secondary schools
  • Increase SEND provision
  • Increase number of case studies
  • Increase provision/raise awareness for teenagers
  • Engage with supermarket champions for additional funding
  • Engage with national charities to bolster the fuelled offer
  • Plan a celebration event for providers/schools
  • Increased visibility and promotion.

Thank you to everyone involved – Steering Group

  • NLC Youth & Positive Activities
  • NLC Early Years Sufficiency & Quality
  • NLC Community and Family Engagement
  • Humberside Fire & Rescue
  • Humberside Police
  • RDaSH NHS Foundation Trust
  • Westcliff Community Works
  • Active Humber.

Thank you to everyone involved – Providers

  • 780 Coaching
  • Acorns Childminding
  • Act Fast NL
  • After Bell Club
  • Althorpe & Keadby Primary School
  • Amanda’s Childminding
  • Avalon Mill Equestrian
  • Barrow Upon Humber Preschool
  • Barton Community Band
  • Broughton Primary School
  • Coneygarth Farm Day Nursery
  • Connect Church
  • Cook Stars Lincoln North
  • Coritani Creative
  • Creative Kids
  • Engineering UTC
  • Epworth Colts
  • Fantastic Faces
  • First Step Sports
  • Fred Gough
  • Genius Tuition
  • Hall Farm
  • Happy Days Day Nursery
  • Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
  • Inspiring Families
  • Karen Tidmarsh
  • Koku-Ryu Martial Arts
  • KPAC
  • Lincs Education
  • NL Active
  • Oasis Parkwood
  • Ongo Communities
  • Premier Education
  • Priory Lane Community School
  • Red Everywhere
  • SAFE Equestrian
  • Scunthorpe Theatres
  • Short Breaks
  • Sportsability
  • SportsCool Doncaster
  • STEMPunx Lincs
  • Stepping Stones of Scawby
  • Street Beat
  • Study United
  • TAMNET
  • TC1 Coaching
  • Teach Lincs
  • The Dancing Tiger Scrapstore
  • The Happy Homestead
  • The Iron Foundation
  • The MoveMENt with New Beginnings
  • The Rabbit Hole
  • Tsunami Allstars Cheer
  • Twin Tigers
  • Ulceby Preschool
  • Westcliff Community Works
  • Your Wellbeing

Provider Case Studies

Barton Community Band

“My name is Jay Guy and I am a member of the Barton Community Band in Barton-upon-Humber. I am also a member of the SBPlayers community drama group and this is where my Fuelled HAF programme journey started. I initially ran a summer activity programme with our drama group just after we were coming out of Covid and could see how important this programme was in engaging children to be able to access a variety of activities and provide them with a good healthy meal. As the drama group were unable to commit to running another activity session, I approached the band who were interested in continuing this work and provide activities and so I continued to take charge of this area of our community work.

For me, I can see that one of the issues in our community is that there a number of children who are unable to access additional music lessons to the general token lesson they receive in school as part of the national curriculum. For some of these children they are naturally gifted and talented, but unable to access the support to flourish, for others it is a good mental health opportunity where they can do something they enjoy and network with other children with similar interests, building relationships and a strong supportive network.

We have been able to capitalise on this opportunity through this programme by being able to get young people into the band room and introduce them to various instruments, mainly brass and percussion and have a go. We have also had ukeleles, boom whackers, singing, drama, arts and crafts and a voiceover expert to do podcasts and radio advert workshops with them, as well as a variety of other games and activities for them to develop skills, confidence and leadership roles.

The impact of this in the community is that we have secured additional funding from an anonymous donor who has provided funding for 8 children who meet the FSM criteria to be able to learn an instrument with one of our teachers, loan of the instrument, be able to join the training band and loan of band uniform for band performances. The funding is initially for a year with a review and possible further funding if this programme is successful for the children and allowing them to access music which they wouldn’t normally be able to do without the financial backing.

We have currently filled 5 of the 8 places and the children so far are really enjoying their respective instruments and lessons and are looking forward to joining in the training band and playing in events with us soon.

As a group, we are delighted to have been able to offer this opportunity to these children and feedback from parents has been amazing. All of them have my contact details and will keep in touch with me, asking when the next events are going to be and if there are spaces for their children to attend, which proves to me that this is a vital service which need to continue to provide the enrichment opportunities that these children need in order to fulfil their true potential.

We would like to continue to build on this to ensure positive engagement with these youngsters within our community as ultimately, they are our future and we don’t want them to be disadvantaged and miss out on the opportunities that we, and other groups can offer.

If I had to give my 5 top tips to providers it would be the following:

  • Plan your sessions carefully with a variety of activities to engage all youngsters.
  • Make sure you have briefing sessions / debrief sessions for your other adult workers/volunteers in the group who are helping so that everyone knows what their roles are and what to do if they are unsure at any point.
  • To cater for SEN students, this can be as simple as a ‘quiet corner’ with activities such as colouring and jigsaws. Not all children enjoy a noisy environment and can become overwhelmed. A simple time out in a quiet corner will help them.
  • Spend time liaising with the parents too! They also need support and by involving them can be really helpful as they may be able to help back in other ways, eg volunteer or promoting your events with their friends and family.
  • Finally – go with the flow! Even the best laid plans sometimes need to change depending on the students you’ve got and their interests and abilities. When running these events you are faced with a room full of young people who often won’t know each other, we don’t know them, so we work together to create that happy, safe and fun environment where they can flourish and grow.

Thank you for letting us be a part of this programme and I am more than happy to be contacted for any further support and advice that I can give from my experiences of running these programmes.”

The Winterton Federation

“The Winterton Federation consists of Winterton Junior School and Winterton C of E Infants’ School. Obviously, the age range for our children are from 3 years old to 11years old. We are based in the small and rural town of Winterton. Winterton is an area of high deprivation. At the Junior school we have 211 children on roll and at the Infants school we have 152 children on roll.

The Fuelled HAF Programme have been a real life-line for many of our families. Being able to access free activities on most days during the school holidays has helped to keep the children occupied, active, learning and having fun whilst parents have a worry-free day knowing their children are being kept safe. These activities are also very inclusive with trained staff who understand and differentiate for these children’s needs.

The children are also being fed a lunch and they learn about healthy eating too, which is an added bonus. They are also given leaflets that signpost parents to different organisations for support in many forms.

The feedback from parents and children who have accessed this provision has been so positive and I am concerned that when this provision stops, children will have very little to keep them occupied during the holidays; we may also see an increase in anti-social behaviour in our community. There is also the concern that children will not get three meals a day when they are not at school as many of our families in the community are struggling financially.”

Inspiring Family Solutions

“As a result of running HAF sessions, we have gone on to develop further community food projects like:

Riddings Community Pantry –

We have set up our own food bank. Local families have been really struggling during the pandemic. With families working from home, children being at home more, furloughed parents. It has hit the poorest most. Food is donated from locals or left-over food bank resources. As a Community Interest Company, we have had to change with what our families need most. This continues.

We have progressed onto Fareshare. So have food that is good quality and in date but near the end of shelf life. Costs with delivery is £1,700 a year. Delivered from a warehouse in Hull to us every Friday morning. 15 trays of food, but we do not know what is coming. We charge £3.00 for ten items to our clients. This has being going on for just over a year now. We have 65 registrations for this and the food is normally gone within 1 hour. Take 2 staff and 4 volunteers to sort the food out into the fridges on arrival but very successful.

Air fryer training over the summer –

Clients went home with a new air fryer, cookbook and a £30 voucher for food resources. Clients learnt how to cook healthier meals and the benefit of using less energy in the home. This is associated with lower risk of heart disease.

IFS will continue to build on this with future opportunities for families and food. It has been calculated that for every £1 invested into IFS, we have provided £12.54 back in social value.”

Testimonials from children, parents and providers

Parents

“My children have enjoyed numerous workshops put on from the Fuelled HAF programme, these are a great help to provide an activity whilst I am working during the holidays and my children get to make new friends, have tasty lunches and try something different. Thank you”

Children

“I’ve had the best day ever’

‘I’d be so bored if I couldn’t come here’

‘I’ve never tried food like this before'”

Providers

“Thanks to the programme, we have also now set in motion a CIC which we hope will help us finance beyond HAF on a regular basis.”

“Amazing support and additional services such as the fire service attending were a great addition”

Contact/follow us:

X – @NorthLincsCNews
Facebook – www.facebook.com/PositiveActivitiesNorthLincs
Instagram – @NorthLincolnshireCouncil
Email – Fuelled@northlincs.gov.uk