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FUEL is the holiday activity and food programme is funded by Department of Education and aims to provide children who are eligible for benefits related free school meals (FSM) with free access to enriching activities, nutritious meals and healthy eating information during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays.
The HAF programme is delivered in Wiltshire using the brand FUEL (Food, Unity, Energy, Laugher) and the programme is a direct response to the growing issue of holiday hunger.
FUEL Summer provision update 1 June 2023
The FUEL programme in Wiltshire has provided hundreds of children with activities and nutritious meals during school holidays.
One of the key partners has recently advised they have ceased trading and therefore will not be able to provide the activity programme in the school holidays.
This unexpected development means we have had to rapidly review what is possible for the summer holidays in extremely short timescales.
We know how important this programme is to families so we have considered all options and have come up with a plan which we hope will ensure a range of activities at venues this summer. We have bought together different sections of the council to respond swiftly to this and turn a potential crisis into a positive.
We are asking providers to come forward with a costed plan to provide activities for the summer holidays and we will provide funding for this. We are proactively contacting a range of established providers but equally asking any registered activity providers, schools, children's centres and other appropriate community organisations throughout the county to come forward and advise if they can put on activities during the summer holidays.
We request any community providers that have capacity to work with us this summer to read and complete the FUEL community funding information pack and application form by Friday 16 June 2023. See FUEL community funding information section below.
See the FUEL community funding information section for the funding application, the deadline for applications is Friday 16 June 2023.
We will update schools and participants with further details as soon as possible. Meanwhile our FUEL web page will be regularly updated with latest news.
When will you be able to share details of summer activities?
We are asking providers to come forward now and we'll then work with them to map out the details. We will then be able to go out with more information on where activities are taking place and how to book up. It's difficult to give firm guidance at the moment but we're doing everything we can and will keep this page updated as well as working directly with our schools to keep them informed.
Is there a possibility you will not be able to put any activities on?
The range of provision may be different to previous years but we're working hard and proactively going out to potential providers and groups. We appreciate these are very short timescales but we will keep everyone updated.
Did you know this company was going to cease to trade?
We have regular meetings with the company and there was no indication whatsoever that this was going to happen. Our focus isn't to dwell on that for the time being as we are putting our energy into looking at alternative arrangements and ensuring we have provision this summer.
Have any providers confirmed yet they can work with you?
We're already having conversations with a range of providers. Once we have firm details we'll be sharing with schools and adding them to this webpage so we'd encourage people to keep looking here.
Why are you asking for several providers to come forward - why not go with one?
Unfortunately due to time constraints, and the requirement to have a provider in place by the middle of June, it's not feasible operationally to contract a single organisation ahead of the summer offer. This new option means we can provide one off funding to a range of providers to provide services.
I know a community group which would be able to provide activities. How should they get in touch?
We request any community providers that have capacity to work with us this summer to read and complete the FUEL community funding information pack and application form by Friday 16 June 2023.
Designed to award funding through Wiltshire Council's Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) allocation from Department of Education (DofE) to community organisations to provide eligible young people aged 4 - 17 years from disadvantaged backgrounds with access to enriching activities and nutritious meals during school summer holidays.
Wiltshire Council are keen to work with a variety of providers including:
