Grant funding

Providers offering inclusive activities for children with a disability or additional need are encouraged to apply for grant funding to run these activities during school holidays. Activities must be open to all children with Special educational needs and disabilities who live in Somerset, and can last from a few hours to a full day.

Please see the full specification for applying below.

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

To apply for funding, please fill out the appropriate application form:

Holiday activity grant application

Application form for new providers applying to the CIA Team in 2024

DOCX, 141 KB

Holiday activity grant application

Application form for providers who have previously applied to the CIA Team in 2024

DOCX, 134 KB

Providers must send copies of the following policies with their first application, and annually after that:

• 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 deadlines

Applications open around 11 weeks before each school holiday.

The dates are:

Easter and May half term 2025

• Date applications are invited: 6 January
• Deadline for submission: 3 February

Summer 2025

• Date applications are invited: 21 April
• Deadline for submission: 19 May

Term time Clubs and October half term 2025

• Date applications are invited: 9 June
• Deadline for submission: 7th July

Christmas and February half term 2026

• Date applications are invited: 29^th September
• Deadline for submission: 27^th October

If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive invitations to apply for funding, please email ciateam@somerset.gov.uk.

Reviewing applications

A week after the deadline, the grant panel meets to review applications. We consider factors such as accessibility, location, cost, value for money and variety of activities.

The grant panel has representatives from:

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

They decide how best to allocate the funds to reach as many children with disabilities or additional needs across Somerset as possible, offering a variety of enjoyable and inclusive activities.

There is a limited budget available, so this does mean that some providers may not receive the full funding requested or may be turned down and advised to apply for funding from alternative sources. 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

Following grant panel, providers will be told the outcome and the reasoning behind the decision. Those that are successful will be emailed a grant letter agreement to sign and return, as well as an activity report template to complete and return after the activity has been delivered. Activities will be advertised in a pdf and online activity calendar which is shared widely and can be accessed on the Local Offer website and Somerset’s Special educational needs and disabilities Local Offer Facebook page.

Finding funded activities

See the activities for families and young people page and use the Community Inclusion and Activity Team filter on the Local Offer SEND Events Calendar.