Essex ActivAte

Funded by the Department for Education and Essex County Council through the 'Levelling Up' initiative, Essex ActivAte continues to support primary and secondary school children eligible for income‑related free school meals, as well as young people from low‑income working families, during the school holidays and beyond.

Active Essex welcomes the Government’s announcement of a three‑year extension to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and is proud to continue contributing to this vital initiative. This extension recognises the programme’s proven impact and its long‑term potential to support children and families across Greater Essex.

Alongside its mainstream offer, Essex ActivAte provides specialist clubs that support mental wellbeing, targeted youth interventions, outreach programmes, and dedicated SEND provision.

These safe, inclusive spaces deliver tailored activities that boost physical and mental health, build confidence and resilience, and strengthen social connections. By offering personalised support, the programme ensures every child,whatever their background, needs or circumstances, can access enriching and engaging experiences.

With support from Essex County Council and the Department for Education, Essex ActivAte delivered inclusive provision for young people with additional needs across the summer, offering thousands of funded activity spaces and expanding specialist SEND support across Greater Essex.

The Active Essex Foundation’s Sports and Youth Crime Prevention programme works with local sports clubs, community organisations and mentoring providers to deliver a tailored secondary and tertiary intervention offer for vulnerable young people as part of Essex ActivAte. This flexible holiday programme supports those who may not attend mainstream clubs due to personal challenges or offending behaviours.

Using the SportsPlus model, the programme blends sport, mentoring, life skills, training awards and volunteering opportunities to divert young people who are at greater risk of exploitation or criminal involvement. Many of the local providers delivering the holiday programme also run term‑time Sport and Life Skills sessions and wider community initiatives funded by AEF. This ensures young people receive consistent engagement and support throughout the year, rather than short‑term intervention.

Shorter, half‑term programmes remain essential for families who need extra support, as they offer vital help during school breaks, when many parents face food insecurity and limited access to structured activities. By providing engaging sessions, nutritious meals, routine and a safe space, these programmes help young people stay active, healthy and connected.

At the start of 2025, Essex ActivAte welcomed applications from new locally, trusted organisations to join the Essex and Thurrock HAF programme. Nearly 100 providers were successfully onboarded, each committed to embedding themselves within their communities to support families, young people and residents through physical activity, enrichment opportunities and food education, helping to boost wellbeing across the county.

The Holiday Club

The Holiday Club in Walton‑on‑the‑Naze has become a trusted community hub, offering inclusive holiday provision that boosts children’s confidence, supports families and strengthens community ties. With funding, training and SEND support from Active Essex, the club has expanded its offer, developed young leaders and introduced wider initiatives like cookery courses, adult skills sessions and local sports activities, creating nurturing, year‑round opportunities for children and families.

Rosedan

Rosedan has become a leading provider of physical activity for young people in Harlow, delivering high‑quality holiday provision with strong community and family engagement. Supported by Active Essex through strategic connections, development opportunities and alignment with local priorities, Rosedan has strengthened its offer and expanded its reach.

As part of the HAF programme, Essex ActivAte works closely with delivery partners to build strong partnerships and wider community connections that enhance the quality, inclusivity and sustainability of local provision. Through targeted support, training, and strategic networking, Active Essex helps providers expand their offer, improve practice and access new opportunities. These strengthened relationships not only enrich children’s learning and confidence, but also open valuable pathways for young people, families and local communities to benefit from meaningful, year‑round support and new experiences.

Essex ActivAte Summer Community Events

This summer, Essex ActivAte partnered with organisations across Greater Essex to host fun, family‑friendly community events in parks, town centres and local venues. From fete stalls and bouncy castles to DJs, circus skills, smoothie bikes, skate park sessions, cooking activities and teddy bear picnics, the events offered something for all ages to enjoy, whilst activating local green spaces and bringing residents together to try new activities.

Active Essex is committed to creating meaningful pathways for young people aged 12–18 year to grow as leaders, volunteers and future coaches. Through the Move With Us Leaders Academy, young people gain the confidence, experience and practical skills needed to contribute to their communities and progress in future careers. As part of this pathway, Active Essex partnered with Sports Structures to deliver the accredited Level 1 Multi‑Skills Activator course, helping participants strengthen their CVs and prepare for real leadership roles in sport and physical activity.

For many young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, achieving a recognised qualification was a transformative milestone. The course helped build confidence, leadership abilities and a clearer sense of personal progression, empowering participants to take their next steps as positive role models within their communities.

Since 2021, the Essex ActivAte programme has been breaking down barriers by offering dynamic, free physical and enrichment activities, alongside nutritious meals, family support, and food education during school holidays. This initiative has become a lifeline for children on free school meals and those from low-income families, providing robust support to local communities. The continued funding has significantly advanced the programme's impact, which was detailed in a comprehensive report commissioned by Active Essex. The evaluation during the Easter offer considered the social return on investment, impact on young people and families, local organizations, and the wider society.

The programme has proven effective in supporting children, young people, and their families, who now rely on it to feed and care for their children during school holidays. Discontinuing the funding would not only halt this progress, but also potentially reverse the remarkable strides made in fostering resilience and empowering families and communities to thrive independently.

The evaluation highlighted the social, environmental, and economic impacts of the programme, emphasizing its value in improving wellbeing, education, and community development.

The estimated social value generated by the 2024 programme in Essex is £22.5 million, with 250,000 meals provided since 2021 to reduce holiday hunger. For every £1 spent on delivery, at least £4.49 of social value was generated, demonstrating the programme's significant return on investment.