Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bdd-b5b9-700d-8fa9-a14d6c40646d/fun-and-food-programme-for-children-in-receipt-of-benefits-related-free-school-m

awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs

# Fun and Food Programme for Children in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals (Summer 2026)

[Durham County Council](https://tendernation.io/buyers/durham-county-council)

Estimated value

£600,000

Published

5 Aug 2026

Deadline

Closed

5 Jun 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.
- Below-threshold contract

    Buyers cannot shortlist bidders on suitability before tenders are in, so everyone gets to submit a bid (except some larger works contracts).

    [Procurement Act 2023, section 85](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/85)
- 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 Council wishes to seek multiple Providers to deliver the Fun and Food programme to Children in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals within the boundaries of County Durham.

This project utilises Department for Education (DfE) funding which is for school aged children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.

All providers must meet DfE framework of standards as below:

- Food Provision
- Enrichment Activities
- Physical Activities
- Increasing Awareness of Healthy Eating, healthy lifestyles, and positive behaviours
- Signposting and referrals and supporting families
- Safeguarding
- Policies and Procedures

Please note - sessions do not need to be exclusively for children in receipt benefits-related Free School Meals, alternative funding may be sourced by the organisation to fund children ineligible for DfE funding i.e parents/carers may be charged for sessions by the activity organisation.

Providers will be asked to bid and submit a proposal for the Summer Holidays 2026.

Successful Providers' contracts, as delivered under the Summer 2026 holiday provision, may be extended/varied to cover delivery in the Christmas school holiday period. At the sole discretion of the Council, providers will be identified and approached for Christmas delivery, this is likely to be dependent on successful achievement from Summer 2026 delivery under this contract and Commissioners professional judgement.

If Successful Providers meet the threshold that the Commissioner deems as successful delivery, they will be emailed a proposal form for completion for the next school holiday period. The same evaluation criteria will be applied to the subsequent proposals.

There is also a possibility that DCC may acquire funding from different sources that may be used for main school holidays, half term holidays or funding for participants to attend that are not in receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals. Where this is the case successful providers will be updated regarding the scope of delivery.

Read full description

## CPV classification

Education and training services Health and social work services Recreational, cultural and sporting services Other community, social and personal services

Source

Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-0694db-2026-08-05T16:53:59+01:00

[View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-0694db-2026-08-05T16:53:59+01:00)

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