The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun Festive programme is now open for bookings!
The winter programme will take place on 21-22 December 2023 and 2-3 January 2024.
The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun (BNHF) activity programme is run in partnership with Norfolk County Council, and provides holiday activities for children and young people aged 4 -16 in Norfolk.
These activities include multi-sports, dance, theatre, arts and crafts, and much more!
Children eligible for benefits-related free school meals can claim free spaces on the activities, whilst paid spots are available on many activities for those who don’t. Find out more about this in our FAQ section before you book.
What’s on this winter?
The festive Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme will take place on 21-22 December 2023 and 2-3 January 2024.
To find out what’s on, either visit the Every Move activity finder website and browse activities near you, or you can download one of our accessible programmes below to find out more.
Check out some of our providers from 2023
The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme is a fantastic way to encourage children and young people to try new things whilst keeping their brains and bodies stimulated over the school holidays. All children taking part will also receive a nutritious free meal as part of the offer. Check out some of our providers below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more information below by browsing our frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, you can get in touch with the team directly below.
Big Norfolk Holiday Fun is a centrally government funded three year programme aimed at Free school meal eligible and otherwise vulnerable children, aged 5-16 years. (or 4 if your child is slightly younger but in school).
It is designed to offer a safe and fun activity to get your child moving and active, eat a healthy meal, learn new skills and meet other children.
The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme runs in the Easter, Summer and Winter holidays. It will run on weekdays only, and not on bank holidays. The last holiday it is planned to run is Winter 2024.
To receive the latest updates, sign up to the BNHF newsletter here.
Free spaces are available for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. Please note, this is not the same as universal free school meals (see FAQ below)
However, those not eligible for a free space will be able to secure a paid space on most activities. Simply check the description for how to book on and pay for an activity.
Remember, you may be eligible for meals tested Free School Meals even if you do not claim for them. Check and apply here.
Bookings will be taken directly through the Every Move activity finder. When signing up, you’ll be asked to confirm whether your child is eligible for a free space, and this will be automatically checked against our database once the booking is complete.
Please note, if you claim a free school meals place when not eligible, your child’s space on activities will be cancelled.
Those not eligible for a free space will be able to secure a paid space on most activities.
Most parents will be aware if their child is eligible as they will be receiving free meals.
However, if you think you might be eligible and not receiving benefits-related free school meals, check with your child’s school, or via the council website.
If you are not eligible for means-tested free school meals, but think your child should get a free space, see FAQ “I think my child should get a free space, but doesn’t get means-tested free school meals.”
Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme is funded by the Department of Education and targets children who are eligible for means-tested free school meals.
Funding is also available for Awarded Places. These places are offered to children the County Council considers particularly vulnerable in Norfolk. This includes refugees, excluded children, socially isolated individuals, young carers, victims of domestic abuse or exploitation and children in care.
To apply, you need to request a professional working with the child, such as a youth or social worker, or teacher to use our referral form. Please note, self-referrals from parents or guardians are not accepted.
Big Norfolk Holiday Fun activities will be listed on the Every Move activity finder approximately 5 weeks before the start of the holidays.
The total maximum sessions per child is 4 in Easter holidays, 4 in Winter holidays and 16 in Summer holidays.
Occasionally, a provider may offer a continuous programme to attend over 5 days, and on such activities attendees will be expected to attend all 5 sessions. The length of a session can vary between providers.
We aim to make the programme as inclusive as possible.
Please always contact your chosen activity provider and discuss if they can accommodate your child’s needs and can offer suitable additional 121 before you book. Their contact details will be on Every Move.
If your child has a Personal Assistant and receives means-tested free school meals, you can arrange for your PA to be reimbursed at no cost to yourself, in order to support your child at an activity. For further details on this scheme see here.
If the activity staff are unable to provide the necessary support, and you don’t have a PA, but your child receives 121 support at school, you can ask your child’s school or any other professional working with your child to request additional assistance. They need to complete this referral form as soon as possible.
We do not have funding for transporting children to or from BNHF activities, unless it has been arranged as part of the activity by the provider.
There are very particular and exceptional circumstances, when we may be able to support families. Each situation takes into account whether or not they have access to transport of their own, public transport, alternative family transport or options to lift share, the specific needs of the parent and the vulnerability of the child.
If you feel your child fits this criterion, please ask us via email on [email protected] or ask a professional to refer the child via our referral form.
There are two types of free school meals.
One is called universal free school meals and is for all children from Reception – Year 2 inclusive.
The other type is called means-tested or benefits-related free school meal, and is based on your income.
Children who receive means-tested free school meals are eligible for Big Norfolk Holiday Fun spaces, whilst unfortunately children who receive universal free school meals are not.
You can check if your child is eligible and apply for means tested free school meals here.
The BNHF is part of a country wide programme called Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) funded by the Department of Education.
Active Norfolk and Norfolk County Council administer the programme in Norfolk. The way we do so is determined by the funding requirements of the Department of Education. For more information, please see the gov.uk website.
If you have a question about the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme, please contact [email protected] where a member of the team will get back to you.
If you have a question about an existing Every Move booking, please contact the provider directly. Their details will be listed at the bottom of the activity.
Safety assurances around Big Norfolk Holiday Fun sessions
Children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount. Norfolk County Council and Active Norfolk, which jointly deliver Norfolk Big Holiday Fun, require all participating providers to have relevant and appropriately inclusive policies and procedures in place. This is in relation to safeguarding, health and safety and accessibility.
Children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount. Norfolk County Council and Active Norfolk, who jointly deliver Norfolk Big Holiday Fun, require all participating providers to show their supporting documentation around safeguarding, health and safety, and public insurance. These are checked when the provider applies and monitored to be kept up to date throughout their delivery time on the programme. All providers must be Safer Programme members and have their staff and volunteers work under their Safeguarding policy.
In addition, it is a requirement of the programme we conduct a quality assurance visit to every provider at least once a year and ideally every delivery period. Any issues arising on these visits is immediately dealt with by the Active Norfolk and Norfolk County Council teams as appropriate.
The team at Big Norfolk Holiday Fun always want to be made aware of anything troubling you at a provision, so please email in at [email protected] if you see or hear anything that worries you.
Contact the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun team
If you still have a question after reading the FAQs, click the button below to get in touch with the BNHF team. Please do not email Active Norfolk as this is a separate team.
Contact us