The summer holidays have started and so have hundreds of completely free activities for children and young people! With the cost of living crisis continuing to affect thousands of families across Hull, the council’s Healthy Holidays programme ensures everyone can have a summer to look forward to.
Healthy Holidays, which has run for several years, is back and bigger than ever, with exciting new activities and events added to this year’s schedule. Unlike programmes in other areas, there are no restrictions on who can attend, and all sessions include a free, nutritious food offer.
All age groups are catered for, from reception-age through to year 11, with a dedicated SEND programme. Activities and sessions on offer range from popular sport sessions like netball, football and rounders, to fishing, rock climbing, drama, dance, swimming, performing arts, wellbeing sessions, digital design, big events and much more.
This summer will see the first ever young people’s Beat the Heat event take place on July 26 in Zebedee’s Yard, city centre, 2pm to 6pm, open to 11- to 16-year-olds. It will kick off the holiday period in style, with local bands, circus skills workshop, glitter bar, silent disco, clothing swap and more. Young people can drop in any time, free entry – keep an eye on the council’s Instagram, Facebook and Threads channels for more information.
Cllr Linda Tock, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Families and Learning, said: “The Healthy Holidays programme has been a staple of Hull summers for several years now, but it has never been more important. We know that the cost of living crisis is continuing to affect thousands of people in our city. While we have been clear that this is a national problem and action is still desperately needed from the government, we have also done all we can as a council to help and support local people.
“Healthy Holidays enables thousands of children and young people to have a summer full of fun and activity. Activities are open to all families – in some places you need to be in receipt of specific benefits, but that’s not the case here. There’s a truly huge range on offer – all ages, all interests, and so many chances to try something new.
“We’ve got large-scale fun days, our young people’s Beat the Heat event, rock climbing, sport, dance, drama, arts, rewilding, swimming, music, ice skating, trips out and so much more. Every session also includes nutritious food and snacks.
“It’s important to recognise that Healthy Holidays is created with fun and excitement at its heart, the programme critical in addressing the issues caused by inequalities we see in Hull, including food poverty and inactivity. More parents and carers than ever will be worrying about buying lunches and entertaining children and young people over the summer break. Healthy Holidays takes some of that pressure off and gives everyone something to look forward to”.
Visit healthyholidayshull.org to find activities – the site has hundreds of activities listed already, with more added every day. Find the council and Healthy Holidays Hull on social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and Threads.
Just a taster of activities and sessions includes:
- Play Days
- Beach Days
- Rock climbing
- Swimming
- Performing arts
- Drama
- Dance
- Ballet
- Rapping
- Days out, including trips to attractions and seaside locations
- Digital art
- fishing
- Sports including football, netball, rounders and more
- Wellbeing sessions
- Full and varied SEND programme
Healthy Holidays in numbers
Across the summer 2022 programme:
- 20,940 attendances at sessions by primary age pupils
- 11,001 attendances at sessions by secondary age pupils
- Six large scale community events, attended by 13,600 people
- Three large Play Day events attended by 22,000 people.
