A range of support and low-cost activities are available in Bracknell Forest this summer to help parents and carers throughout the next 6 weeks.
The Holiday and Activities and Food (HAF) scheme is available for children who are eligible for benefits related free school meals. All eligible children can attend 16 holiday club sessions over the summer holiday. These sessions provide a range of activities from football camps to cheerleading camps to arts and crafts and even musical theatre workshops. The holiday clubs provide children with free meals and snacks.
Cost of living vouchers are also available for eligible families under the Household Support Fund. This scheme provides eligible families with a one off £195 supermarket voucher per child. Residents can check eligibility and apply on the council’s website.
There will also be a free Help for Households event on Friday 4 August between 11:30am and 4pm in Princess Square. At the event, residents will find a range of local financial support services available to them.
A range of free of low-cost activities will take place across the borough over the next 6 weeks, including:
Bikeability
From learning to ride, through to more advanced level 3 courses, these sessions are for children of all ages and abilities who are looking to build their cycling confidence. Prices start from £10 and can be booked online.
Summer of Fun
These events are organised by the borough’s town and parish councils. They provide free family fun and feature stalls, games and activities. They will run from 11am to 3pm at:
- Warfield Memorial Ground - Wednesday 26 July
- Great Hollands recreation ground - Wednesday 2 August
- Sandhurst Memorial Park – Friday 4 August
- Locks Ride recreation ground, Winkfield - Thursday 10 August
- Morgan recreation ground, Crowthorne - Tuesday 15 August
- Farley Wood community centre, Binfield - Thursday 24 August
- Braybrooke Recreation Ground, Priestwood - Wednesday 30 August
Family Hubs Summer of Fun
Free sessions at the borough’s 4 family hubs will complement the Summer of Fun main events. Activities, ranging from singing, cooking and play sessions are aimed at families with small children but are suitable for the whole family. The full schedule can be found on the Family Hubs webpage.
Summer Reading Challenge
The borough’s libraries are running the free challenge until 9 September. This year it’s all about games and sports. Children read 6 or more library books of their choice and receive incentives along the way to encourage them. This year, youngsters will join a fictional team (and their animal mascots!) as they use their skills to weave their way through a summer obstacle course.
Libraries’ activities
The borough’s libraries will be running a range of free or low cost activities from garden games to summer arts and crafts to coding sessions. Visit the library events page for details.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road performance
The council, The Lexicon and South Hill Park have teamed up to bring the first ever two-site promenade performance to Bracknell Forest. Starting at South Hill Park and finishing at The Lexicon, the audience will move through several different locations. The Follow the Yellow Brick Road performance will combining storytelling, participatory theatre and visual arts.
This family friendly show is suitable for all ages and performances run at 11am from:
- Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 August
- Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 August
- Saturday 19 and Saturday 26 August (SEND sessions)
Follow the Yellow Brick Road activities
A series of free activities will take place in The Lexicon until 2 September to complement the Follow The Yellow Brick Road performance. These include a trail, colouring competition and snap, tag and share competition. Craft sessions starting from £2 per child will also take place until 2 September with SEND sessions available.
Parks, playgrounds and countryside walks
There are 30 free play areas across the borough managed by the borough council with another 50 managed by town and parish councils. Additionally, there are a number of beautiful parks to explore with a range of suggested walking routes for all abilities.
Cllr Roy Bailey, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said:
“The summer holidays are a great time for families to relax and recharge after a busy school year but we know that keeping youngsters entertained isn’t always easy and can work out very expensive.
“Therefore, there is a whole host of free or low-cost family-friendly activities taking place across the borough over the next 6 weeks. From theatre performances to arts and crafts to reading challenges and from football to paddle sports – there really is something for everyone.
“The Holiday and Activities Food scheme also helps those in receipt of free school meals by providing free activities and food and snacks – this is really important as we know some families really struggle with the cost of food during the long summer break.
“If you are finding it difficult financially, please take a look at our webpages and see if you are eligible for support or come and talk to us at the help for households information event on 4 August. No need to book, just turn up.”
More information about activities and events in Bracknell Forest can be found on the What's On directory.
