Summer Fun, Activities and Support for Families

Summer can be a challenging time for families, particularly those living in unsuitable, unstable housing. We know that children living in temporary accommodation, or any unsuitable housing, struggle with long, isolating days indoors during school holidays. For parents, summer holidays mean stretching food costs and increasing childcare costs which cause financial strain, disrupt routine and stability and often worsen mental health.

What Type of Support is Available?

Across London, local authorities and partner organisations are offering practical support for families with food, activities, and support services that ease pressure around the summer holidays.

Significant support is available in each borough via the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. The HAF programme is a government-funded initiative designed to provide free activities and healthy meals to children and young people during the school holidays. Children who receive benefits related to free school meals (FSM) are eligible to sign up for free or low-cost HAF programmes.

Children and young people can attend up to 16 days at different holiday schemes at no cost and receive a free balanced meal as part of their day.

Each borough also offers various schemes and support beyond the HAF programme, which may include free activities and childcare, food vouchers, help with debt or bills and more.

In this Resource

This resource shares practical support available in boroughs that report high levels of housing need*. This includes: Bexley, Buckinghamshire, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Havering, Lambeth, Merton, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and West Berkshire.

The resource lists what’s available under the HAF programme, how to contact/enquire about the programme in your borough and additional support available during the summer for all families (including those not eligible for the HAF programme).

See what’s available in your borough:

Southwark

Activities offered in Southwark under the HAF programme:

A variety of activities are available in the programme locations spread across Southwark.
See what’s available near your area through this website: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/public-health-and-safety/health-and-wellbeing/staying-healthy/healthy-eating/food-and-fun-holiday
Or use this interactive map

You can check your eligibility for the HAF programme here: https://pps.lgfl.org.uk/?hafchannel=0

Beyond HAF: What’s Available?

Adventure Playgrounds

50 fun things to do for children between 0-11: https://50thingstodo.org/download

Summer Reading Challenge: sign up here https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/#online

Youth Clubs

SEND local offer for people under 25

Lambeth

Activities available under the HAF programme:

Youth Clubs

Sports camps

Contemporary arts

Nature gardens

Performing arts

Theatre

Read more about the HAF programme and book activities here: Eequ · After school. In place of school. Beyond school.

Beyond HAF: What’s available?

Summer Camp

Creative Careers Accelerator

Kids for a Quid@ Florence Nightingale Museum

Free Summer Play

Drama Camp

Sports Camp

Performing arts

SEND targeted activities

Read more about what’s available in Lambeth here: Activities and play schemes | Lambeth Council

Bexley

Activities offered under the HAF programme:

Soccer

Fun days

Bubble football

Theatre groups & music sessions

Creative arts projects

Cook on a budget (with parents)

Activities for disabled children and young people to socialise

Workshops for girls 11–16 on haircare, braiding and character development

Gymnastics, trampoline, team sports

Sports, arts and crafts activities for children with SEND and more

Contact organisations based on the activities that are of most interest to you:

Holiday activities and food programme | London Borough of Bexley

Buckinghamshire

Activities under the HAF programme:

Activities include sports clubs, drama, dance, arts & crafts, farm & animal centres, museums, swimming, gymnastics and much more.

Search for HAF activites (and HAF SEND activities) via postcode: https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/advice-and-support/buckinghamshire-haf/haf-information-for-families/

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

In addition to HAF, the council provides £50 digital food vouchers to eligible families, sent via schools.

Holiday support include:

Food banks, emergency food support

Kids eat free offers

Help with bills & home essentials

Benefits, debt and money advice

Tips to keep school holidays costs down: https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/things-to-do/holiday-activities/keeping-school-holiday-costs-down/

Childcare options: https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/childcare-and-early-years/holiday-childcare/

Read more about this here: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/campaign/school-summer-holidays-support/#holiday-support-free-and-low-cost-activities

Holiday activities:

Free activities: free activities

Discounts and concessions for families: https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/advice-and-support/money-and-benefits/discounts-for-families-and-young-people/

Libraries: Bounce and rhyme, explore learning workshops, Duplo and LEGO play sessions, Summer Reading Challenge: free & fun

Trains: 50% off train travel for Universal Credit recipients

Read more about this here: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/campaign/school-summer-holidays-support/#holiday-support-free-and-low-cost-activities

Camden

Activities under the HAF programme:

Activities include sports, summer camp, photography, yoga & wellness, fashion upcycling, dance, designing an animal enclosure and much more.

Find out more and book places : https://youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk/haf

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

CARIS Camden provides structured holiday trips and activity ideas for families in temporary accommodation.

What's Available:

Day trips for parents and children

Ideas for low and no-cost activities across London

Contact them via this form: CARIS contact

Croydon

Croydon Council offers summer support for families through its Move-On Team and Family Hubs.

Contact to inquire: HAFprogramme@croydon.gov.uk

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

Affordable Family Fun: £5 tickets for family films. Book here: David Lean Cinema Listings
Free cricket coaching for children throughout summer. Email: familyhubs@croydon.gov.uk
Family Hub Fun Day: Woodlands Family Hub, 30th July

No booking needed

Read more about other programmes available in Croydon: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/family-hubs/affordable-family-fun-croydon-summer

Ealing

Activities under HAF:

Football

Gymnastics

Dodgeball

Arts and crafts

Drama

Music and circus skills

Book an activity: Ealing HAF

Enfield

Activities under the HAF programme:

Contact: haf@enfield.gov.uk to inquire about the HAF programme or if you did not receive a voucher.

Haringey

Activities under HAF:

Football, art, drama, performing arts, summer camp, boxing and more.

HAF Booking Form

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

Park Lane Children’s Centre:

Various activities for children 0–4 years (including messy play, trip to fire station, sports day and more) Programmes

Email/call to book: parklane.childrenscentre@haringey.gov.uk

Phone number: 020 8489 4945

Other Offers:

£1 swimming for under-16s

Youth centre activities, sports camps and more

Havering

Activities under the HAF programme:

Activities include trampoline parks, ice skating and more

Email: haf@havering.gov.uk

HAF | Havering Directory

Merton Council

Activities under the HAF programme:

Multisport

Activity camps

Football, basketball, watersports

Coding clubs and arts clubs

Performing arts

Targeted SEND HAF programme

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

Families eligible for Universal Credit can claim up to 85% of childcare costs back: More Info

Redbridge

Activities under HAF:

Physical activities including multi-sports

Creative sessions (music, drama, arts and crafts)

Nutritional workshops

Trips and fun days out

Tower Hamlets

Activities under HAF:

Activities include sports, crafts, photography, STEM activities, entrepreneur workshops, female only sports sessions and much more.

Email: HAF@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

Holiday childcare scheme (ages 3–13): holiday.childcare@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Let’s Make a Choir (ages 7–12): Event link

Get Ready for School (18 months – 5 years): Event link

Interactive workshops (ages 12–17): East Summer School

Read more about activities: Tower Hamlets Summer Events

Waltham Forest

Activities under the HAF programme:

Activities include multi-sports camps, NERF battle camps, gymnastics & trampoline camp, cinema trip, design a tote bag, and much more.

Read more about HAF activities: https://eequ.org/hafwalthamforest

HAF Contact: wfholidayactivityprogramme@walthamforest.gov.uk

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

Activities:

Free family sessions (ages 5–11): https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/schools-education-and-learning/schools-and-colleges/family-sessions-5-11-years

SEND family sessions

Play bus sessions

Space4All (ages 11–25) https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/events?events_category=446&events_location=All

Games and activities

Music and podcast production

Sports and fitness

Health services and advice

West Berkshire

For questions or to book a space, email: hannah.lee1@westberks.gov.uk

Beyond HAF: What's Available?

Families eligible for Universal Credit can claim up to 85% of childcare costs back: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/universal-credit

*Housing need is determined by taking into consideration the housing register list, homelessness applications and the number of residents in temporary accommodation in each borough.

Please note: This list reflects publicly available programmes as of July 2025. This list is not comprehensive or exhaustive and may be updated regularly. For questions about this resource, please contact info@kineara.org.uk.