Introduction to HAP / COMF

Gloucestershire launched its first official face-to-face programme in the summer 2021.

Following a review of the spring HAF provision, which included feedback from children, young people, and their families, we recognised that as we emerged from the pandemic and multiple lockdowns that all children would benefit from being able to access the programme.

Therefore GCC, successfully applied for a match funding bid from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) that allowed us to extend our holiday offer to all families in Gloucestershire.

The extended offer, originally named ‘COMF’ was subsequently renamed ‘HAP’ (Holiday Activity Programme) to better link the offer to the HAF programme as well as in case future additional funding comes from an alternative pot of monies.

The additional funding allowed the GCC HAF team to focus on increasing the number of providers and face to face activities, which in turn allowed us to ensure more specific provision for SEND children was widely available as well as giving HAF providers the opportunity to attend several different training sessions around making their session inclusive, safeguarding, GDPR and more.

The funding also allowed us to introduce a family support service in the winter delivery to aid families in booking provision and making sure they are aware of the full list of activities they are eligible to access.

In total, over 10,000 more children attended HAF/HAP provision due to the match funding bid.