Autumn School Holiday Food and Activities Fund Open

The 2023 Autumn School Holiday Food and Activities Fund is now open for applications, with funding of up to £2,000 available for projects.

The Fund aims to support local organisations to deliver activities and food to children and young people from low-income families across Falkirk District during the autumn school holiday (taking place Monday 9^th October – Friday 20^th October). The funding is aimed at those most likely to be experiencing disadvantage due to continued poverty.

Projects must have activities that cover a minimum number of 2 days throughout the autumn holiday. This year’s fund features a new application form (including guidance on completing the form), along with restrictions to the funded activities.

Who is the Funding Intended to Reach?

Funding is aimed at school-aged children aged 5 – 14 years old who are most likely to be experiencing disadvantage due to continued poverty.

Around 9 in 10 children living in poverty are from households with one or more of the priority family characteristics identified in the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan; as a result, 85% of this funding is to be targeted at children and young people from the priority family groups below:

• children from lone parent families
• children from families of ethnic minority backgrounds and communities
• children from families with a disabled adult or child
• children from families with a young mother (under 25 years old)
• children from families with a child under one year old
• children from larger families (with 3 or more children)

The remaining 15% of the funding can be used flexibly to reach other children, including children under 5 years old, and older children, who would benefit from access to free holiday clubs, food, and activities that could include, but are not limited to:

• children from other low income families
• care-experienced children and young people
• young carers
• children in need of protection
• children supported by a Child’s Plan
• children with additional support needs
• children who have undergone significant transitions, for example, starting in ELC, primary or secondary school

Restrictions Applied to Funded Activities from Autumn 2023

In order to support as many children as possible, Fairer Falkirk has set restrictions to some types of activities. These limitations involve the funding of these activities, not their execution; groups can still include them in their holiday programme, and Fairer Falkirk may be able to fund the accessorise expenses (such as food, staff costs, or venue hire).

For further information, including a full list of what activities will be and will not be considered for funding from the Autumn Fund and onwards, please view or download the information document as a pdf.

How to Apply and Deadline

• Deadline and Timelines

The deadline for applications is Friday 1^st September, to ensure funding is processed in time for the school autumn holiday.

Applications will be assessed by the panel over 2 weeks, Monday 4^th September – Thursday 14^th September. Applicants will be notified of their project’s outcome during the week commencing Monday 18^th September. Funding is expected to be with successful applicants by Monday 2^nd October.

• Applying

To apply, please download and complete the new online application form (linked for your convenience).

Please note that this is a new application form, with new guidance, which can be viewed or downloaded as a pdf via the CVS Falkirk website.

Support Available

For help with the application form, or any questions about the application or the process, please contact Tatjana Sandon, Fairer Falkirk Development Officer, by email:  tatjana.sandon@falkirk.gov.uk

For support around applying for this or any other fund, or capacity building and governance support, please contact our team at CVS Falkirk by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk

Support on completing your application (including how you can promote food and activities towards the target groups) is also available from the Fairer Falkirk team, via email: fairerfalkirk@falkirk.gov.uk

Alternatively, for advice on how to organise activities for children and young people, contact Cameron Reid by email: cameron.reid@falkirk.gov.uk

Menu ideas, portion guidance, resources, and training to support the fund’s food provision element are available via the NHS Forth Valley website, or by contacting the Community Nutrition team: fv.fvcommunitynutrition@nhs.scot