Holiday Activities and Food Programme

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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 the Holiday Activities and Food Programme Team

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.

Dates	Summary	Provider	Venue	Contact	Booking Link
20th July - 14th Aug	Holiday club involving multi-sports, arts, and crafts. 9am – 5pm (early drop-off and late pick-up available)	Kicks and Tricks	Grace Cook Primary School, Stowmarket IP14 1XJ	Visit Kicks and Tricks’ website Email info@kicksandtricks.co.uk Phone 01449 401630	Kicks and Tricks Grace Cook, Stowmarket with Kicks and Tricks Ltd · Eequ
4th - 27th Aug	Holiday club involving multi-sports, arts, and crafts. 9am – 5pm (early drop-off and late pick-up available)	Kicks and Tricks	Debenham Sports and Leisure Centre, IP14 6BL	Visit Kicks and Tricks’ website Email info@kicksandtricks.co.uk Phone 01449 401630	Kicks and Tricks at Debenham Sports Center with Kicks and Tricks Ltd · Eequ
20th Jul - 21st Aug	Holiday club involving multi-sports, arts, and crafts. 9am – 5pm (early drop-off and late pick-up available)	Kicks and Tricks	Beaumont Primary School, Hadleigh IP7 6GD	Visit Kicks and Tricks’ website Email info@kicksandtricks.co.uk Phone 01449 401630	Kicks and Tricks at Beaumont, Hadleigh with Kicks and Tricks Ltd · Eequ
21st, 28th July & 4th August	Sports, arts and crafts, workshops on bricklaying, mechanics and carpentry, music and performance, gardening and outdoor learning	ReConnect Programme	Billingford Thurston Park, Thurston, IP31 3RN	Visit ReConnect Programme’s website Email harry@reconnect1-1.com Phone 07359 884717	ReConnect - Summer Sessions with Harry Gathercole · Eequ
21st July - 26th August	Multi-activity courses including a range of sports, activities, arts and crafts. For 5-12 year olds	Premier Education (Eye)	St Peter's and St Pauls Primary School, Church Street, Eye, Suffolk IP23 7BD	Visit Premier Education's website Email info@premier-education.com Phone 01953 499040	Premier HAF Camp - St Peter and St Pauls, Eye with Premier Education · Eequ
27th July - 13th August	Multi-activity courses including a variety of sports, enriching activities, and arts and crafts.	Premier Education (West Suffolk & Essex)	Thurston Academy Primary School, Pond Field Road, Thurston, Bury St. Edmunds, IP31 3FT	Visit Premier Education's website Email info@premier-education.com Phone 07500 301043	PREMIER EDUCATION - THURSTON ACADEMY with Premier Education West Suffolk (OP19) · Eequ
10th - 20th August	Multi-activity courses including a variety of sports, enriching activities, and arts and crafts.	Premier Education (West Suffolk & Essex)	Woolpit Primary Academy, IP30 9RU	Visit Premier Education's website Email info@premier-education.com Phone 07500 301043	PREMIER EDUCATION - WOOLPIT PRIMARY ACADEMY with Premier Education West Suffolk (OP19) · Eequ
22nd, 29th July, 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th August	Multi-activity courses including a variety of sports, enriching activities, and arts and crafts.	PE Shed	St Botolph's Primary School, Diss, IP22 1DW	Visit PE Shed’s website Email ross@thePEshed.co.uk Phone 07964 094433	St Botolphs Primary - Summer Multi Sports with The PE Shed · Eequ
23rd, 30th July, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th August	Multi-activity courses including a variety of sports, enriching activities, and arts and crafts.	PE Shed	Stradbroke Primary School, IP21 5HH	Visit PE Shed’s website Email ross@thePEshed.co.uk Phone 07964 094433	Stradbroke Primary - Summer Multi Sports with The PE Shed · Eequ
20th July - 2nd Sept	Family swim session, and Playworld. Gymnastics, Roller Disco, Climbing and Junior Gym memberships	Everyone Active	Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket IP14 1LH	Visit Everyone Active's website Email trinityrose@everyoneactive.com Phone 01449 674980	Everyone Active Holiday Activities – Stowmarket – Eequ
20th July - 28th August	Multi-activity holiday camp including sports, arts & crafts, nature, and team games.	Tayplay	Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket IP14 1LH	Visit TayPlay's website Email info@tayplayactivitycamps.co.uk Phone 01284 757495	Tayplay - Multi Activity Camp Mid Suffolk with TayPlay Activity Camps · Eequ
20th July - 28th August	Holiday club involving football, multi-sports, arts and crafts, mini chefs, dodgeball.	Anglia Sports Management	Brantham Leisure Centre, Brantham CO11 1RZ	Visit Anglia Sports Management's website Email info@angliasportsmanagement.com Phone 01206 392506	HAF activity days at Brantham with Anglia Sports Management · Eequ
23^rd July, 24^th July, 6^th Aug	Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities.	Abbeycroft	3^rd Sudbury Scout Hut, 6 Quay Lane, Sudbury, CO10 2AN	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Adventure Days Sudbury with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
28^th July	Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities.	Abbeycroft	Hadleigh Sea Scouts, Osborne Hall, Layham Road Sports Ground, Hadleigh	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Adventure Days Hadleigh with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
13^th & 14^th August	Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities.	Abbeycroft	1st Combs Scout Hut, Combs Wood Drive, Stowmarket, IP14 2RJ	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Adventure Days Stowmarket with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
21^st & 22^nd July	Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef.	Abbeycroft	3^rd Sudbury Scout Hut, 6 Quay Lane, Sudbury, CO10 2AN	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Family Park Cooking Sudbury with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
19^th & 20^th August	Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef.	Abbeycroft	Stevenson Centre, Great Cornard, CO10 0WD	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Family Park Cooking Gt Cornard with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
3^rd & 25^th August	Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef.	Abbeycroft	Hadleigh Sea Scouts, Osbourne Hall, Layham Road Sports Ground, Hadleigh, IP7 5NE	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Family Park Cooking Hadleigh with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
27^th, 28^th July, 11^th & 12^th August	Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef.	Abbeycroft	1st Combs Scout Hut, Combs Wood Drive, Stowmarket, IP14 2RJ	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Family Park Cooking Stowmarket with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
6^th August	Family Park Cooking- outdoor activity, and an outdoor cooking lesson using recipes from a top local chef.	Abbeycroft	1st Eye Scout Group, Wellington Road, Eye, IP23 7HF	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	Family Park Cooking Eye with Explore Outdoor (Abbeycroft) · Eequ
20th July - 28th August	Swimming Family Offer & Teen Offer	Abbeycroft	Hadleigh Pool & Leisure Centre, Hadleigh, IP7 5BH	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	HAF Hadleigh- Free swim and lunch with Abbeycroft · Eequ
20th July - 28th August	Swimming Family Offer & Teen Offer	Abbeycroft	Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury, CO10 2SU	Visit Abbeycroft's website Email HAF@acleisure.com Phone 01284 757495	HAF Sudbury Kingfisher- Swim & Lunch with Abbeycroft · Eequ
28th July - 26th August	Multi-sports, nerf, football, and dance camps	Maxim Sports	Wells Hall Primary School, Great Cornard, CO10 0NH Cornard Leisure Centre, Great Cornard, CO10 0JU	Visit Maxim Sport's website Email info@maximsportscoaching.co.uk Phone 07973 885971	Maxim Sports Activity camps - Great Cornard - Eequ
6th, 21st Aug	Football Development Day, for skill development, fitness and team-based fun	Maxim Sports	AFC Sudbury, CO10 7HN	Visit Maxim Sport's website Email info@maximsportscoaching.co.uk Phone 07973 885971	Football Development Day with Maxim Sports Coaching · Eequ
20th July - 21st Aug	Holiday camp including crafts, baking, sports, swimming, and inflatables	School’s Out Activities	Ipswich High School, Woolverstone, Ipswich, IP9 1AZ	Visit School’s Out Activities’ website Email info@schoolsoutactivities.co.uk Phone 07931 988478	School's Out Activities - Ipswich Summer 26 with School's Out Activities · Eequ
23^rd, 26^th July, 6^th & 13^th August	Woodland based activity days, including traditional crafts, green woodwork, bushcraft and archery	Queech Wood	Queech Wood, Hemingstone, Ipswich, IP6 0QF	Visit Queech Wood’s website Email neil@queechwood.co.uk Phone 07941 009256	Archery, Rifles food and fires with Queech Woodland Activities · Eequ
20th July - 28th August	Mario Kart, Arts & Crafts, Football, multi sports and Nerf Camps, Inflatable Fun.	Prestige Sports Development	Pot Kiln Primary School, Butt Road, Great Cornard, CO10 0DS	Visit Prestige’s website Email info@prestigesportsdevelopment.co.uk Phone 07494 002352	Summer HAF Mega Sports Camps -Pot Kiln Primary with Prestige Sports Development · Eequ
10th - 14th August	Theatre Workshop - "Show in a Week" - Performing arts and professional production training, join the cast or production team	Little Voices	Stowupland Sports Centre, Church Road, Stowupland, Stowmarket, IP14 4BQ	Visit Little Voice’s website Email evie@littlevoices.org.uk Phone 07362 429298	Show in a Week - Stowupland with Little Voices Suffolk · Eequ
25th, 26th, 27th, 28th August	Summer Theatre Week - creative workshops and performing arts training for 4-13 year olds	Little Voices	Stowupland Sports Centre, Church Road, Stowupland, Stowmarket, IP14 4BQ	Visit Little Voice’s website Email evie@littlevoices.org.uk Phone 07362 429298	Little Voices Theatre Week - Stowupland with Little Voices Suffolk · Eequ
31st July, 13th, 27th, 28th August	Football and inflatables	Ipswich Town Foundation	Stowupland Sports Centre, Church Road, Stowupland, IP14 4BQ	Visit Ipswich Foundation’s website Email community@itfcfoundation.co.uk Phone 01473 400980	Soccer School Stowupland with Ipswich Town Foundation · Eequ
22nd, 29th July, 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th August	Creative workshops	Creation Station	Capel St Mary Primary School, The Street, Capel St Mary, IP9 2EG	Visit Creation Station’s website Email fran.aldous@thecreationstation.co.uk Phone 07525 467007	Create Club Holiday Camps with The Creation Station South and East Ipswich · Eequ
21st July - 20th Aug	Holiday Club with games from tennis, badminton and swing ball to arts and crafts and treasure hunts	Sunflowers Childcare	The Cabin, Stone Street Road, Boxford, CO10 5NP	Visit Sunflower Childcare’s website Email info@sunflowers-childcare.co.uk   Phone 01787 211363	Sunflowers Holiday Club with Sunflowers Childcare C.I.C · Eequ
28th July - 26th August	Thrills and Grills: outdoor cooking experience	Food Museum	The Food Museum, Stowmarket, IP14 1DL	Visit the Food Museum’s website Email David.Thomson@foodmuseum.org.uk Phone 07912 110435	Eequ · After school. In place of school. Beyond school.
21st, 28th July, 4th & 8th August	Multi-activity holiday camp including sports such as street golf, boxercise, archery and more	Footstars CIC	Copdock Primary School, School Hill, Copdock, IP8 3HY	Visit Footstars website Email Guy.Hayes@Footstars.org.uk Phone 07963 560439	Copdock Activity Days with Footstars C.I.C · Eequ

Become a provider

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

There are 2,349 means tested free school meal children in the district (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.

Suffolk InfoLink provide county HAF information
Search for a local food business
Planning and providing healthy food with School food standards
The government have published physical activity guidelines

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.