Free summer holiday clubs 2026: does your child qualify?

If your child receives free school meals, they could be entitled to free holiday clubs this summer, with activities and a nutritious meal provided every day at no cost to you. The scheme runs through every local council in England and places are limited, which means the time to find out what is available and book is right now, not when the school holidays have already started.

The programme is called the Holiday Activities and Food scheme, or HAF for short, and it is one of the most consistently underclaimed pieces of support available to families on low incomes in the UK. Scottish schools break up around 26 June 2026 and most English and Welsh schools finish between 17 and 24 July, so for Scottish families the need is immediate, and for families in England and Wales the booking window is the next few weeks.

Who qualifies for free summer holiday clubs in 2026?

Free summer holiday clubs through the HAF scheme are available to school-age children in England who receive benefits-related free school meals. Following the expansion of free school meals eligibility from September 2026, this includes every child in a Universal Credit household regardless of earnings, as well as children whose families receive Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Child Tax Credit below the £16,190 threshold, or the Guarantee element of Pension Credit.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive Universal Infant Free School Meals automatically, but eligibility for free summer holiday clubs is based on benefits-related free school meals specifically, not the universal infant entitlement. If you are not sure whether your child qualifies, ask your school directly — they will have your child's eligibility on record.

The HAF scheme is funded through local councils in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent schemes, covered at the bottom of this article.

What do free summer holiday clubs include?

Each eligible child can attend up to four weeks of free holiday provision across the Easter, summer and Christmas breaks combined, with the summer allocation typically being the largest. What is on offer varies by council but generally includes:

• Sports, arts, music, cooking and outdoor activities

• A free nutritious meal every day of attendance

• In some areas, additional wraparound care and day trips

Activities are delivered by schools, community groups, sports clubs and youth organisations across every local authority in England. The quality and variety has improved significantly since the scheme launched, and many children attend repeatedly across multiple school holidays.

Why you need to book now rather than wait

This is the part most parents leave too late. Places in the free summer holiday clubs scheme are finite and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Summer bookings open in June in most areas, which means right now is when the best provision fills up. Waiting until the school holidays have started is the most common reason eligible families miss out year after year.

For Scottish families the urgency is greater still. Scottish schools break up around 26 June 2026, which is just ten days away. If you are in Scotland and your child qualifies, today is the day to look.

For families in England and Wales, most schools break up between 17 and 24 July, giving you around five weeks. That sounds like plenty of time, but popular activities at well-regarded providers book up weeks before the holidays start, and the best slots for younger children go first.

How to find and book free summer holiday clubs near you

Free summer holiday clubs are organised locally, which means there is no single national booking system. Here is how to find what is available:

• Search your council name alongside "HAF summer 2026" or "free holiday clubs summer 2026"

• Your child's school should have sent home information about local providers — if you have not received anything, contact the school office directly this week

• The gov.uk HAF page lists all local authority contacts at gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-programme

• Some councils issue a voucher code through the school that you use to book directly with providers — if your school has not sent one, ask for it now

Once you have found your local providers, book as soon as you can. Most ask for confirmation of your child's free school meal eligibility or a voucher code at the point of booking.

What if there are no places left?

If places near you are already full, it is worth checking back regularly as cancellations do happen. Contact your council directly to ask whether additional provision is being added - some councils run multiple rounds of bookings through the summer.

In the meantime, there are other free and low-cost options worth knowing about:

• Most local libraries run free summer reading challenges and holiday events for children

• Many museums, galleries and leisure centres run free or discounted holiday activities for children, particularly for families who can show eligibility for free school meals or benefits

• The VAT cut on family activities from 25 June to 1 September 2026 means entry to zoos, theme parks, soft play and cinemas is cheaper than usual - see our full guide for details

• Free bus travel for children aged 5 to 15 runs throughout August 2026 on local bus services in England, making day trips more accessible without travel costs

Free summer holiday clubs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own equivalent schemes separately from the English HAF programme.

In Scotland, holiday food and activity provision is run by local councils under the Scottish Government's holiday hunger framework. With Scottish schools breaking up around 26 June 2026, provision should already be bookable in most areas. Contact your local council directly or search your council name alongside "holiday activities summer 2026."

In Wales, the Healthy Holidays programme provides similar free holiday provision for eligible children. Contact your local authority or search your council name alongside "Healthy Holidays 2026."

In Northern Ireland, contact your local Education Authority for details of holiday provision available in your area this summer.

Useful contacts

• Find free summer holiday clubs in England: gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-programme

• Find your local council: gov.uk/find-local-council

• Free benefits check to confirm eligibility: moneywellness.com

• Citizens Advice for help with free school meals applications: citizensadvice.org.uk or 0800 144 8848