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Case Study

FUEL - part of the national Holiday Activity and Food programme

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Project Summary

We have worked alongside Wiltshire Council to deliver their holiday activities and food programme (HAF) since the summer of 2020 and on an ongoing basis. HAF is a government funded scheme that provides support to children in receipt of free school meals through holiday periods in England. We have worked with Wiltshire Council on their offering since summer 2020 and on an ongoing basis.

Overcoming Challenges

We designed a menu that was accessible to children while encouraging them to try new, nutritious foods like different vegetables that they may not have come across before. We used innovative ‘hidden veggie’ recipes and worked collaboratively with the facilitators to serve food at mealtimes that featured the ingredients they had learned about in the day’s activity session.

Our unique system allows children to learn about and enjoy food in a relaxed environment. They eat together, and actively participate by setting the table and serving each other which encourages table manners, sharing and other key social skills. Conversations about food were stimulated with accompanying materials like fun facts and quizzes.

Pots of food at the serving pass

Working Together

“All of my dealings with Faye, David and the team have been open and transparent, while there has been a commitment to overcome challenges and obstacles and to be solution focused. At no point did profit ever appear to be the primary driver and focus for involvement. Instead the team focused on providing the best possible service to our clients. This in my opinion reflects that a key focus for Always Cooking is to ensure they operate ethically and with passion”

Paul Pritchard, Leisure, Culture and Community Manager, Wiltshire Council

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“It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Always Cooking team on delivery of the national Holiday Activity and Food programme in Wiltshire. From the outset it was clear that we had appointed a food supplier who were passionate about ensuring the programme was a success, that programme targets were met and that delivery focused on the needs of target beneficiaries, children who are eligible for benefits related free school meals.”

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Positive Results

Wiltshire Council evaluated the outcomes of their HAF programme via a feedback survey and here are just some of the 2022 results:

  • 86% found having a hot meal provided everyday beneficial.
  • 89% enjoyed taking part in the activities provided on the FUEL camp.
  • 98% found the FUEL camp had been beneficial to the children and the families over the holiday period.
  • 71% have had ‘happy and full tummies’ as a result of being part of the FUEL camp
  • 79% saw an improvement in their children confidence levels since attending FUEL camps in the holiday period.
  • 83% saw an improvement in their children attitude towards food after attending FUEL camps in the holiday period.
  • 78% saw an improvement in their children food choices after attending FUEL camps in the holiday period.