Grant funding for activities during school holidays

Grant funding

Organisations can apply for funding to run activities for children and young people with disabilities or additional needs.

Activities take place during school holidays. They must be open to all children with SEND who live in Somerset. Activities can last from a few hours to a full day.

You can find full details in the holiday activity grant funding guide.

Criteria for Holiday Activity Grant Funding

Specification for the provision of school holiday activities for children and young people with a disability or additional need in Somerset.

PDF, 148 KB

Apply for funding

To apply, fill in the correct form:

• New providers should use the new provider application form
• Existing providers should use the returning provider application form

Holiday activity grant application for new providers

Application form for new providers applying to the CIA Team 2026

DOCX, 139 KB

Holiday activity grant application for providers who have previously applied

Application form for providers who have previously applied to the CIA Team

DOCX, 131 KB

When you apply for the first time, you must send copies of your policies. You must update these each year.

These include:

• Insurance Certificate – to cover the period of activity delivery
• Risk Assessment
• Equality and Diversity Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Safeguarding or Child Protection Policy
• DBS Check Confirmation
• Volunteer Policy (if applicable)
• Behaviour Management Policy
• Organisation’s Constitution Document
• Photography Consent Form

Application dates

Applications open about 11 weeks before each school holiday.

Key dates include:

• Easter 2026 – apply from 5 January, deadline 2 February
• May half term 2026 – apply from 2 March, deadline 30 March
• Summer 2026 – apply from 27 April, deadline 25 May
• Term time clubs 2026 to 2027 – apply from 22 June, deadline 20 July
• October half term 2026 – apply from 3 August, deadline 31 August
• Christmas 2026 – apply from 28 September, deadline 26 October

To get email updates, contact ciateam@somerset.gov.uk.

Reviewing applications

After the deadline, a panel reviews all applications.

They look at:

• How accessible the activity is
• Where it takes place
• Cost and value for money
• The range of activities offered

The grant panel includes people from:

• Community Inclusion and Activity Team
• Early Support Team
• Somerset Supporter Service
• Commissioning
• Engagement and Participation
• The Unstoppables
• Somerset Parent Carer Forum

There is a limited budget. This means:

• You may receive less funding than you asked for
• Your application may not be successful

Find out more in the grant panel Terms of Reference below.

Community Inclusion and Activity Team Grant Panel

Terms of reference for allocating funds to providers for inclusive activities for children with additional needs during school holidays and clubs during term time

PDF, 130 KB

You will be told the outcome and the reasons for the decision. If your application is successful, you will:

• Sign a grant agreement
• Complete a short report after your activity

Your activity will be promoted online and in the CIA Team pdf and online activity calendar. This is shared widely and can be accessed on the Local Offer website and Somerset’s SEND Local Offer Facebook page.

Finding funded activities

Families can find funded activities on the activities for families and young people page.

You can also search the Local Offer SEND Events Calendar and use the Community Inclusion and Activity Team filter.