FAQs

The holiday activities and food programme (HAF) is funded by the Department for Education. The aim of the programme is to make free holiday places available to children receiving benefits-related free school meals throughout the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. to find out more, please visit the Government HAF site linked here.

MedwayGo has funding to provide sessions for children in receipt of the following benefits. If you are unsure if your child is eligible for a free place, please contact the team at go@medway.gov.uk

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit – but no element of Working Tax Credit – and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) that does not exceed £16,190
• If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work less hours per week
• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (as from 1 April 2018)

If you are not in receipt of any of these benefits, you may still attend for a fee. Contact the provider directly for further details.

If you are unable to bring your child to a booked session, we ask that you inform us with at least 48 hours’ notice. This is to allow us to offer this space to another child.

To do this, follow these steps. Log in and access your account from the ‘Book Activities’ tab the top right-hand corner. As you scroll down, you will be able to see a list of all activities. Please Note – this is in order of when you made the booking, not for when the booking is. Select ‘View Details’ on the booking you wish to cancel, then click on the red box in the top right corner that says, ‘Cancel Booking’. You will be able to see all dates you have booked for that event, select which dates you wish to cancel and choose to cancel selected session or the entire booking.

If you do not cancel session and do not arrive on the day, we reserve the right to cancel future bookings with MedwayGo.

We know how daunting the first day of a new activity can seem to a child, but usually within a short time they are settled, making new friends and raring to go! Our experienced staff know how to welcome new children and make them feel comfortable and confident within their group.

If you’re running late to collect your child, please call the session leader ASAP. Contact details can be found on your booking confirmation.

We do everything possible to minimise bumps and scrapes, but we have fully trained first aiders at every session. In the event of a minor accident our staff will attend to your child as necessary. For anything beyond that you will be immediately informed, and in the unlikely event of a serious accident we will inform emergency services. If your child becomes ill, we will do everything we can to make them comfortable, however it may be in their best interest to be collected early as we do not have the capacity or facilities to care for poorly children for an extended period. We do require that any child who becomes ill be kept away for the full duration of their illness and 24 hours after the end of their symptoms.

At the time of booking, please give us as much information as possible regarding medical conditions and medication for us to appropriately care for your child during their session. We may require you to fill out additional information.

The more information you provide us with, the better quality of care we can provide your child.

We aim to be as inclusive as possible with an ‘open to all children’ policy. If your child requires extra support, please email the provider, or email go@medway.gov.uk to discuss your child’s specific needs so we can ensure they are able to fit into the programme and whether any special arrangements need to be made.

We strongly advise that children don’t bring mobile telephones*, watches, computer games, tablets and similar electronic devices. There’s no real use for these items and they are often mislaid as children are busy and excited doing other things. Staff are trained not to put themselves in a difficult position by taking care of such items and we cannot accept responsibility if they are lost or stolen.

*Mobile phones: Although we understand the need for older children who make their way to and from camp to have a mobile phone, they’re not allowed to be used once on camp, during break times or for photographs. They must be always kept in personal baggage at the risk of the owner. Please make sure your child is aware of this.

Medway Council have ensured each provider working with MedwayGo has received training in safeguarding and is experienced in caring for children. In addition to this, we have a first aider available at every session.

We require 48 hours’ notice for anyone wanting to amend their booking. If you need to cancel a session, please do so as soon as possible, as this allows us to offer the place to another child. If you do not give us sufficient notice, we reserve the right to cancel future bookings.

No. Each child attending a MedwayGo session will receive a nutritious meal. Please ensure you have included any dietary requirements including allergies when you book.

MedwayGo is offering free Arriva Daily Bus Travel to children and families who will otherwise have difficulty attending a session. Tickets are limited and subject to availability.

You can request bus travel tickets by completing the form: Bus Ticket Request Form

Requests must be made from Monday 3rd July  – Friday 21st July. All tickets will be sent by Royal Mail the following week.

Please contact go@medway.gov.uk to arrange collection of tickets if the deadline has passed. Tickets will then be arranged for collection from Medway Council reception, (Medway Council – Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TR).

Tickets will only be issued for the quantity of days booked.

If tickets have been requested, but sessions not attended, you will be required to return the tickets, either in person to Medway Council reception, or posted to the same address. Failure to attend may result in tickets not being issued for future programmes.

For queries relating to Arriva Bus Travel and MedwayGo, please contact us at go@medway.gov.uk

No, however we ask that they are dressed accordingly (e.g. long sleeves, coats if the weather is cold, etc.) and ask that you apply sun cream if necessary. MedwayGo and providers accept no responsibility for any items lost. If they wish to bring a water bottle, please ensure it is clearly labelled with their name.