The Playschemes Fund offers grants of up to £8,000 to support summer playschemes for children and young people across Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The fund helps organisations provide meals and activities for children who may otherwise miss out on holiday provision.
The fund supports play schemes that cannot access government funding, as well as schemes that already receive government support but need extra resources to include children who might otherwise be excluded. Because demand is high, the fund gives preference to projects in areas with above‑average deprivation. It also favours schemes that offer nutritious food and a mix of educational, leisure and physical activities.
Projects that follow the 4x4x4 model—four hours a day, four days a week, across four weeks—will receive the highest priority. This model helps to reduce holiday hunger and supports children to stay engaged and ready for the new school year. Applications that offer less than this level of provision are unlikely to be successful.
Applicants must explain their delivery plan, including daily hours, total weeks, and the activities and meals they will offer. They must also include three SMART objectives:
- The total number of children and daily attendance
- The total number of delivery days and activity hours
- The total number of meals provided.
Applicants should separate their Playschemes Fund budget and objectives from other funding sources and show how much additional funding has been secured. The fund also welcomes photos and feedback from participants and their parents or carers for monitoring.
Deadline: 27 April 2026.
Apply at Supporting Summer playschemes to address school holiday hunger – Community Foundation