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Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) 2026-2028

Essex County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

10 Apr 2026 at 15:35

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

30 Mar 2026 at 16:40

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

02 Dec 2025 at 14:55

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council, with an address at County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, is spearheading the Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme for 2026-2028. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Essex County Council, Active Essex, and Thurrock Council to deliver holiday activities and food programmes across Essex and Thurrock, primarily targeting young people and families eligible for benefits-based free school meals. The procurement process followed an open procedure, tagged as 'lightTouch', with Essex County Council in the role of the buying organisation. The tender process was completed, with significant activities having transpired from December 2025 to January 2026, ahead of the programme starting in May 2026.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the services sector, particularly those offering holiday centre and holiday home services. With an overarching budget of £15,000,000, the programme is set to provide numerous grant-funded projects across the county, offering scopes for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger organizations. Companies engaged in educational, leisure, or nutritional services are well-suited to apply, with a chance to contribute to community well-being while expanding their operational footprint. The grant funding nature of this tender means that a wide array of service providers can benefit, providing diverse business growth opportunities through multi-supplier awards.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) 2026-2028

Notice Description

The Department for Education has provided Essex County Council with funding in order to deliver the holiday activity and food programme (HAF) across Essex during the Easter, Summer and Winter school holidays. Active Essex will be managing the programme on behalf of Essex County Council. Active Essex and Essex County Council will also be managing the HAF programme on behalf of Thurrock Council. Across Essex and Thurrock the programme is called Essex ActvAte Essex ActivAte will engage and support young people and families who are eligible for benefits based free school meals and families most in need. The programme will provide free and inclusive holiday clubs across the county that will include a range of fun physical and enrichment activities, a free nutritious meal, nutritional education and mentoring and support for the young person and whole family. The programme aims to improve health generally, including, crucially, mental health and aim to provide the families with the knowledge and support to live healthier, happier lives. Bidders will be awarded funding from the overall grant fund to deliver their projects.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ed1e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032922-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

55240000 - Holiday centre and holiday home services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Apr 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
6 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Jan 20268 months ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 31 Jan 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Essex County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Postcode Area
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
105
Supplier Names

3food4u

ACE MUSIC THERAPY CIC

A Q BASKETBALL CIC

ARTS OUTBURST LTD

ATF Southend

Braintree District Museum Trust

BURNHAM RAMBLERS FOOTBALL CLUB LTD

Butterflies Club C.I.C

BWild Adventures

Camp 4 Champs

Cast A Thought

Chafford Tots to Teens Childcare Services Ltd

Changing Lives Community Services

Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre

Chelmsford City Football Club Foundation

CHILD & PROVIDE COMMUNITY C.I.C.

CMXSC

Colchester United Community Foundation

SOUTH EAST ESSEX ACADEMY TRUST

Crafty Katie Ltd

Disability4Sport

Essex Boys and Girls Clubs

Essex Elite Sports Academy ltd

Essex Kids Camp

Essex Music Service

Essex Professional Coaching

KWH FFF COACHING LLP

Wealden Leisure Ltd

Futures-Essex

Get With The Kids VIbe

Go Bananas Colchester Limited

GOLF IN THE COMMUNITY CIC

Thurrock Council

Happy Healthy Minds

HCL ACTIVITY CAMPS LIMITED

Holistic Education and Sport Support Services CIC

Jack Of All Sports

JTD ARTS LTD

Kidbusterz ltd

Kinetix Academy CIC

LEGENDS LEARNING CENTRE LTD

Let's Get Out C.I.C

M.R.F.A.

Making It Mindful

MALEARN LIMITED

MEGA CAMPS LTD

Mushroom Theatre Company Ltd

MiniMe Mindfulness

Mistley Kids Club Ltd

Wellbeing 4 Life

MultiCoach LTD

Next Thing Education Camps Ltd

Nurture Den

Olivers Lodge

OFJ SPRING TOPCO LIMITED

PARAGON TRAINING FACILITY C.I.C.

Parents Dream

Playpalz Party and Softplay Centre ltd

POP Essex

PREMIER SCHOOL LIMITED

PROSPORTS HOLDINGS LIMITED

RAINBOW CHILDREN'S CORNER LTD.

Rise Sports Ltd

Robwhen Coaching LTD

ROSEDAN LOMO LIMITED

School's Out Activities

SILVERBIRCH ANIMAL THERAPY S.A.T CIC

SIMMPLY ACTIVE GROUP CIC

SKILLS LINK PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT C.I.C.

The SLM Community Leisure Charitable Trust

Southend United Community and Educational Trust

Sports Coaching Specialists Ltd

SCWE CIC

SSS Education Group LTD

STING PERFORMING ARTS LIMITED

STRIKE ACADEMY LTD

The Active Wellbeing Society

The Ark Family Resource Centre

The Future of Sport CIC

The Holiday Club

THE LIGHTHOUSE SPORTS AND SOCIAL HUB ESSEX LIMITED

ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)

THE PE SPECIALISTS LTD

TIME FOR CHANGE AM LTD

TINY SPORTS SCHOOL LTD

Whipper-snappers Daycare Nursery and Kids Club

Xtra Time Sports Development LTD

YMCA Essex

Active Essex Foundation

C KNIGHT DANCE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED

GJLWSPORTS LIMITED

INDEPENDENCE PROJECT LIMITED

FRY SPORTS HOLDINGS LTD

COLCHESTER MERCURY THEATRE LIMITED

KidzActive

EAST ANGLIA COACHING LIMITED

FUTURES CHANGING LTD

InterAct Chelmsford Ltd

LEAP AND LEARN SPORTS LTD

Maldon and District Community Voluntary Service

Blackwater Gymnastics Club

PRECISIONMULTISPORTS LTD

PRESTIGE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT LTD

South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre

Premier Sportscoach Solutions

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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