Free activities this Easter for children from families in need support

09 Mar 2026

Free school holiday activities including roller skating, pony riding, and archery are on offer to help children from families in West Suffolk who need support.

The Easter holiday programme of activities is Government funded and has been coordinated by West Suffolk Council on behalf of Suffolk County Council.

It is part of the national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme which is primarily aimed to support children who receive benefits related free school meals. It was set up to help support them during the school holidays when they may not otherwise get a hot meal.

But there are also free discretionary places being made available to the children of other families in need of support who would otherwise be ineligible for HAF. These discretionary places are limited and will be decided by Suffolk County Council on a first come first served basis.

As well as roller skating, Newmarket pony riding, and archery, the Easter HAF programme includes rugby, swimming, gym sessions for teenagers, outdoor cooking, nature walks and more.

In total, West Suffolk Council is working with 19 providers to offer over 2,000 places across more than 150 sessions to children up to and including the age of 16. If transport is an issue, Suffolk County Council may be able to help - families are asked to contact HAFenquiries@suffolk.gov.uk  

Families with children on benefits related free school meals should have already received information through their school or college about HAF. Booking is through an online platform called Eequ at Search learning experiences · Eequ which details all the HAF activities across Suffolk. Schools have also been given information to help any parents who cannot access online to book.

Other families in West Suffolk who are ineligible for HAF but who need support, should contact the activity provider for the activities that they are interested in to ask about discretionary places. Contact details can be seen on the same Eequ link.

Cllr Donna Higgins, West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet Member for Families and Communities said: “There are people in our communities, including families, who are struggling with the cost of living. Opening up the availability of HAF places is part of our wider work to help people in our communities who are in need of support.”

“We are committed to helping people, including working households. Our Financial Inclusion Service is working with families, pensioners and other households to help them both save money and maximise their income.”

“Following public engagement, we are continuing to provide council tax relief to some of the lowest income households in West Suffolk.”

“Through our grant agreement with Citizens Advice West Suffolk, we are continuing to work together to support people who struggling with money, heating costs, poor quality housing, health and more.”

“We are also backing community led projects with grants from our Thriving Communities Fund to enable them to provide local cost-of-living support including work to help them improve residents’ finances, cut bills and negotiate on debts.”

 

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