Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bd0-9970-7036-bc2c-afbfc358cc4d/activate-essex-holiday-activity-and-food-haf-2026-2028 awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) 2026-2028 [Essex County Council](https://tendernation.io/buyers/essex-county-council) Estimated value £15,000,000 Published 10 Apr 2026 Deadline Closed 6 Jan 2026 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender 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. ## CPV classification Holiday centre and holiday home services Source Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-05ed1e-2026-04-10T15:35:17+01:00 [View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-05ed1e-2026-04-10T15:35:17+01:00) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. [Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register) [Buyer profile Essex County Council: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/essex-county-council) [Sector More Hospitality, catering & hotel services tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/hospitality-catering) ## More tenders like this [Bar management services – Procedura aperta per l'affidamento in concessione, ai sensi degli artt. 176 e ss. del d.lgs. n. 36/2023, del servizio di ristorazione mediante bar, ubicato presso la sede dell’Istituto scolastico Virgilio (c.f. 80100080631) · Comune di Pozzuoli · 35 days left · 23 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156aa-27d1-70f4-a0ad-6d0c6c5d2a48/italy-bar-management-services-procedura-aperta-per-laffidamento-in-concessi) [Meal delivery service – Zajištění stravování zaměstnanců Moravskoslezské nemocnice Opava · Moravskoslezská nemocnice Opava, příspěvková organizace · 31 days left · 20 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-8e5b-7329-a804-c49c5a8839ec/czechia-meal-delivery-service-zajisteni-stravovani-zamestnancu-moravskoslezs) [Meal-cooking services – Παροχή υπηρεσιών Σίτισης του Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Αθηνών ‘’ Η ΕΛΠΙΣ’’. · ΓΝΑ «Η ΕΛΠΙΣ» · 46 days left · 4 Dec 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-63b8-72bb-98fa-81b90cc50471/greece-meal-cooking-services-parokhi-ipiresiwn-sitisis-toy-genikou-nosokomio) [Canteen and catering services – EA Cateringvoorzieningen · Yonder · 46 days left · 4 Dec 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-8c21-707f-b053-fa5764f83d05/netherlands-canteen-and-catering-services-ea-cateringvoorzieningen) [Meal-preparation services – 2026 - (2) Przygotowanie i dostarczanie posiłków (usługa cateringowa) dla pensjonariuszy Dziennego Domu Pomocy Społecznej ul Kozielska 71 i DD "Senior +" ul. Partyzantów 30 w Gliwicach · Ośrodek Pomocy Społecznej W Gliwicach · 13 days left · 2 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-89c7-7379-998c-86aaa2112bd2/poland-meal-preparation-services-2026-2-przygotowanie-i-dostarczanie-pos) [Cafeteria services – Concesión de servicio de bar al Polideportivo municipal Teresa Maria Roca de Mataró · Ayuntamiento de Mataró · 15 days left · 3 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-92e5-7199-8192-2a1bd6777f9d/spain-cafeteria-services-concesion-de-servicio-de-bar-al-polideportivo-munic)