Free and cheap activities for families with children | Tenant news

The summer holidays can be a welcome break for children, but for many families they also bring added financial pressure.

More time spent on outings and activities, childcare needs and preparing for the new school year can quickly increase costs.

The good news is there are plenty of free activities and practical support options available to help families enjoy the break without overspending.

Summer activities for children

Across the UK, local councils and community organisations run a range of free or low-cost activities during the school holidays. These are designed to help children stay active, social and engaged, and often include sports sessions, arts and crafts, cooking workshops and organised trips.

Local parks, nature reserves and beaches offer plenty of opportunities for free days out, from walking trails and wildlife spotting to picnics and simple games. Even a local green space can become a place for scavenger hunts, ball games or homemade obstacle courses using items from home.

Outdoor adventure attractions can also be an option during the summer. Places such as Go Ape provide treetop courses, zip lines and forest trails. While these activities usually charge for entry, they often run seasonal discounts or family offers that can help reduce the cost of a day out.

Libraries are another valuable free resource over the summer holidays. Many run reading challenges, storytelling sessions, crafts and coding clubs, all aimed at keeping children learning in a relaxed and fun way.

Where to find support

The best place to start is your local council website, where you can search for holiday activities, youth clubs and community events running in your area.

Families can also check with their child’s school or local council for funded places or vouchers to help cover the cost of after-school and holiday clubs.

Schools can also be useful source of information about trusted providers and free programmes.

Libraries, leisure centres and community hubs also regularly host free summer reading challenges, sports sessions and creative workshops, many of which are open to all ages.

You can find your local council at www.gov.uk/find-local-council.

Help with school uniforms

Many councils offer school uniform grants or vouchers to eligible families, often linked to benefits such as Universal Credit or Income Support.

Some schools and parent groups also run second-hand uniform sales or swap events, where families can pick up good-quality items for free or at a low cost. It's worth checking with your child's school to find out what support may be available locally.

Habinteg’s Tenant Support Fund may also be able to help with the cost of school uniforms. The fund is a limited pot of money available to tenants experiencing exceptional financial hardship.

To apply, speak to your Neighbourhood Coordinator. They'll ask about the items you need to buy and your financial circumstances as part of the application process.

If you're not sure who your Neighbourhood Coordinator is, contact our Customer Services Team on 0300 365 3100 or email direct@habinteg.org.uk.

For more information about the Tenant Support Fund, visit www.habinteg.org.uk/tenant-support-fund.

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