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Holiday Activities and Food Programme

In this section:

  1. You are here: Holiday activities for children Holiday activities for children
  2. You are here: Community Fun Days Community Fun Days
  3. You are here: Timetable of activities Timetable of activities
  4. You are here: Become a provider Become a provider

Holiday activities for children

Children and young people across the district may be eligible for free school holiday club places and a meal.

The government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme takes place during Easter, the summer holidays, and Christmas.

We have provided additional money so that there are further holiday activities during the February, May and October half terms.

The programme enables children and young people to enjoy fun activities with friends, and develop new skills.

Who is eligible?

The activities are for those who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

Other eligibility can include:

  • children assessed by the local authority as being in need, at risk or vulnerable
  • young carers
  • looked-after children or previously looked after children
  • children with an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • children who have low attendance rates at school, or who are at risk of exclusion
  • children living in areas of high deprivation, or from low-income households, who are not in receipt of free school meals
  • children in transition phases between nursery and primary school or primary and secondary school

If a child is not eligible, most providers offer paid for spaces.

How can I book activities?

We use the online booking system Eequ. Guardians of eligible children can book spaces for HAF activities through our Eequ profile:

Book a holiday activity online

If you have any queries, please email HAFenquiries@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk.

Contact us

If you need any support, please contact our HAF Coordinator Rachel Cattermole on HAFenquiries@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Community Fun Days

BMSDC are excited to be partnering with Abbeycroft to provide 4 amazing family days from 10am-2pm at the following locations:

  • Monday 21st July – Belle Vue Park, Sudbury
  • Thursday 24th July – New Green Community Centre, Thurston
  • Friday 25th July – Easthouse Meadow (Hadleigh Pool & Leisure), Hadleigh
  • Monday 28th July – Stowmarket Recreation Ground

There will be a wide range of FREE activities for children of all ages. Come along and bring a picnic. There will be climbing, axe throwing, bouncy castles and lots more. If your children received Means Tested Free School Meals you can pre-book a FREE Packed Lunch as well as early bird spaces on our Climbing and Axe Throwing Activities. Spaces are limited and booked on a first come first served basis.

Find out more and book your spaces here

Timetable of activities

We update this webpage with information about holiday activities available for children, as and when they happen.

Book a holiday activity online

Activities available

Please note that the table below details activities taking place in the districts of both Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

Date of Provision Description Provider Name Site of Provision Contact  Websites:
23rd July - 29th August Swimming Family Offer
Teen Offer		 Abbeycroft (Swimming) Hadleigh Pool & Leisure Centre,, Hadleigh, IP7 5BH HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
23rd July - 29th August Swimming Family Offer
Teen Offer		 Abbeycroft (Swimming) Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury, Co10 2SU HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
26th - 29th August Singing, acting and dancing Little Voices Suffolk John Peel Centre, Stowmarket suffolk@littlevoices.org.uk
07362 429298		 https://littlevoices.org.uk/location/suffolk/
21st July - 15th August Multi sports, arts and crafts, baking, premium inflatables and more! Kicks and Tricks Grace Cook Primary School, Stowmarket info@kicksandtricks.co.uk
01449 401630		 https://kicksandtricks.co.uk/
18th August - 29th August Multi sports, arts and crafts, baking, premium inflatables and more! Kicks and Tricks Bosmere Primary School, Needham Market info@kicksandtricks.co.uk
01449 401630		 https://kicksandtricks.co.uk/
21st July - 22nd August Multi sports, arts and crafts, baking, premium inflatables and more! Kicks and Tricks Beaumont Primary School, Hadleigh info@kicksandtricks.co.uk
01449 401630		 https://kicksandtricks.co.uk/
23rd July - 29th August Multi-activity courses including a variety of sports, enriching activities, and arts and crafts.  Premier Education St Peter's and St Pauls Primary School, Church Street, Eye, Suffolk info@premier-education.com
01953 499040		 https://www.premier-education.com/
28th July - 26th August Multi-activity courses including a variety of sports, enriching activities, and arts and crafts.  Premier Education Debenham Sports & Leisure Centre, Gracechurch Street, Debenham  info@premier-education.com
01953 499040		 https://www.premier-education.com/
28th - 31st July Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities  Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Adventure Day 3rd Sudbury Scout Hut, 6 Quay Lane, Sudbury HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
19th & 20th August Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities  Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Adventure Day Hadleigh Sea Scouts, Osborne Hall, Layham Road Sports Ground, Hadleigh HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
11th - 14th August Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities  Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Adventure Day 1st Combs Scout Hut, Combs Wood Drive, Stowmarket HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
11th - 14th August Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef. Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Family Park Cooking Stevenson Centre, Stevenson Approach, Great Cornard HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
22nd - 25th July Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef. Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Family Park Cooking 3rd Sudbury Scout Hut, 6 Quay Lane, Sudbury HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
13th, 14th, 28th, 29th August Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef. Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Family Park Cooking Hadleigh Sea Scouts, Osborne Hall, Layham Road Sports Ground, Hadleigh HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
28th - 31st July & 11th - 14th August Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef. Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Family Park Cooking 1st Combs Scout Hut, Combs Wood Drive, Stowmarket HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
7th August, 21st August Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef. Abbeycroft (Explore Outdoor) Family Park Cooking 1st Eye Scout Group, Wellington Road, Eye HAF@acleisure.com
01284 757495		 https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/haf/
23rd July - 29th August Holiday camp including crafts, baking, sports, swimming, and inflatables. School's Out Activities Ipswich High School, Woolverstone, Ipswich info@schoolsoutactivities.co.uk
07931 988478		 https://www.schoolsoutactivities.co.uk/
23rd July - 29th August Mini Chef, Fun & Games, Multisports including Dodgeball, Arts and Crafts and Football  Anglia Sports Management Brantham Leisure Centre, New Village info@angliasportsmanagement.com
01206 392506		 https://angliasportsmanagement.com/
23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st July; 26th, 27th, 28th August Mario Kart, Arts & Crafts, Football, multi sports and Nerf Camps, Inflatable Fun. Prestige Sports Development Tudor Primary School, Tudor Road, Sudbury info@prestigesportsdevelopment.co.uk
07494 002352		 https://www.prestigesportsdevelopment.com/
23rd July - 29th August Multi-sports, nerf, football, and dance camps Maxim Sports Cornard Leisure Centre info@maximsportscoaching.co.uk
07973 885971		 https://www.maximsportscoaching.co.uk/
Multi-sports, nerf, football, and dance camps Maxim Sports Wells Hall Primary School info@maximsportscoaching.co.uk
07973 885971		 https://www.maximsportscoaching.co.uk/
Multi-sports, nerf, football, and dance camps Maxim Sports AFC Sudbury info@maximsportscoaching.co.uk
07973 885971		 https://www.maximsportscoaching.co.uk/
29th, 30th July, 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th August Thrill and Grills outdoor international cooking experience Food Museum The Food Museum, Stowmarket contact@foodmuseum.org.uk
01449 612229		 https://foodmuseum.org.uk/
23rd July - 29th August Playworld session, child swim and adult swim. Roller disco, gymnastics and junior gym sessions. Everyone Active Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket trinityrose@everyoneactive.com          01449 674980 https://www.everyoneactive.com/
28th July - 21st August Holiday Club for 2-12 year olds, with games from tennis, badminton and swing ball to arts and crafts and treasure hunts Sunflowers Child Care CIC The Cabin, Stone Street Road, Boxford info@sunflowers-childcare.co.uk 
01787 211363		 https://www.sunflowers-childcare.co.uk/
24th, 29th, 30th July, 4th, 13th, 22nd, 27th August Football and Inflatables Ipswich Town Foundation Stowupland Sports Centre, Church Road, Stowupland, Stowmarket community@itfcfoundation.co.uk
01473 400980		 https://www.itfcfoundation.co.uk/
22nd, 24th, 29th, 31st July, 5th, 7th, 12th, 14th August Youth Centre activities including, pool table, table football, video & board games, garden, music, dancing & chat  Eden's Project Sudbury Youth Centre, 45 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury info@edensproject.co.uk
01787 375247		 http://edensproject.co.uk/
24th, 28th July, 15th, 18th, 23rd August Woodland based activity days, including traditional crafts, green wood work, bushcraft and archery Queech Wood Queech Wood, Hemingstone, Ipswich info@queechwood.co.uk
07941 009256		 https://queechwood.co.uk/
24th, 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th August Multi-sports, nerf wars, UV dodgeball PE Shed Fressingfield Primary School, School Lane, Fressingfield info@thepeshed.co.uk
07964 094433		 https://thepeshed.co.uk/
23rd, 30th July, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th August Multi-sports, nerf wars, UV dodgeball PE Shed St Botolphs VC Primary School, Back Hills, Botesdale info@thepeshed.co.uk
07964 094433		 https://thepeshed.co.uk/
21st July - 29th August Multi-activity holiday camp including sports, arts & crafts, nature, and team games.  TayPlay Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket info@tayplayactivitycamps.co.uk
01284 757495		 https://www.tayplayactivitycamps.co.uk/suffolk
24th July - 29th August Woodland Adventure Day of outdoor activities Green Light Trust Frithy Woods, Donkey Lane, Lawshall  pecsupport@greenlighttrust.org          01284 830829 https://www.greenlighttrust.org/

Become a provider

We were allocated £134,892.59 for the 2023-2024 Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

There are 2,220 means tested free school meal children (March 2022 statistics).

How can I become a provider?

If you are interested in providing activities for us, then you will need to apply for funding by completing an online application. 

  • If you are a new provider, please complete both Form A and Form B
  • If you have previously completed Form A within the last financial year - and have been approved - please complete Form B

Please see the deadlines for each application period:

  • Easter – application deadline 10 February 2025
  • Summer – application deadline 9 June 2025
  • Christmas – application deadline 20 October 2025

If you have any questions about the application process, please email HAFenquiries@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

What are the requirements?

The requirements follow the Department for Education’s minimum standards, which include:

  • A school standard meal (ideally a hot meal)
  • Four hours of activities
  • One hour of physical activity
  • Some form of nutritional education
  • Providing signposting to families onto further services, if needed

Where can I learn more?

The Department for Education have published information about the HAF programme.

How we use your information

We will use the information you provide only for the purpose of this grant funds application. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws. Please read our privacy policy for more information.