The long summer school holidays can be hard to juggle because of increased food, energy and childcare costs, as well as helping your children to have fun on a budget.
Buckinghamshire Council offers a range of support for children and their families during the school holidays, including food vouchers, holiday clubs and nutritious meals for eligible families. There is also support available to help families in need this summer, including those not already receiving support.
Free digital food vouchers for eligible families
What digital food vouchers are on offer?
Buckinghamshire Council’s Helping Hand scheme provides eligible families with a digital food voucher code to use during school holidays.
- Summer Holidays = £50 voucher code
You are eligible to receive the vouchers if your children receive:
- free school meals
- early years’ pupil premium
- 2-year-olds who are eligible for funded education places because the parent is in receipt of some sort of additional government support (disadvantaged 2-year-old funding)
These digital voucher codes will be issued directly by schools and Early Year settings ahead of the school holidays. The vouchers can be used in most major supermarkets in Buckinghamshire and instructions will be provided when vouchers are issued. Read more about the free digital food vouchers.
This scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions Household Support Grant.
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme
HAF offers funded Summer, Winter and Easter holiday activities and healthy meals to children in Reception to Year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals.
What activities are on offer?
- thousands of free HAF holiday club places
- 40 providers offering holiday club places in 65 locations across Bucks
- a range of high-quality activities for all ages and interests including day trips, sports, dance, STEM, cookery and more
- each child or young person can attend up to 16 HAF sessions over the Christmas holidays
- a nutritious meal is provided at each activity
Parents and carers of eligible pupils will receive an email or text message from HolidayActivities.com which will contain a HAF voucher for each child. Find out more and how to book onto HAF clubs on our HAF booking page.
The HAF programme is funded by the Department for Education and coordinated by the council.
Take a look at our Easter 2024 HAF highlights video below, or click to watch our football highlights video or SEN highlights video.
View more information on the HAF web pages.
Holiday support, free and low-cost activities
There is support and free or low-cost activities available to all families during the school holiday including those not eligible for free school meals.
Holiday support
If you're struggling to afford or access food:
- the Helping Hand team can offer support and refer you to a local food bank
- search the Buckinghamshire Online Directory for organisations in your area who can provide emergency food support, including local food banks. Many of these organisations provide food and meals during the school holidays
- view the kids eat free offers.
Find out more about the wider cost of living support available:
Holiday activities
Search for all school holiday activities and things to do near you on our directory.
Our Family Information Service web pages and directory include information on local activities, and attractions including free or low-cost options:
- school holiday activities
- free and low cost activities
- things to do
- free activities
- discounts for families
- parks and outdoor spaces
- country park events
- childcare and holiday clubs
- tips to keep school holiday costs down
- kids eat free
- Help for Households free activities map
View free and low cost activities outside of Buckinghamshire on Visit England's guide.
Leisure centres
Leisure centres across Bucks have a wide variety of activities taking place:
- family swimming sessions
- swimming crash courses at Swan Pool in Buckingham
- soft play at Swan Pool in Buckingham, Chesham leisure centre, Chilterns Lifestyle Centre in Amersham
- adventure climbing at Wycombe leisure centre, Chilterns Lifestyle Centre in Amersham
Find your local centre and see what’s on.
Libraries
Visit your local library website or social media channels to view events at your local library, including the Summer Reading Challenge.
Love Exploring
Explore the great outdoors right here on your doorstep, using the free and interactive Love Exploring app. There's a range of games to play, activities and guided trails to do throughout the year, when visiting parks and open spaces around the county.
Search Love Exploring in your app store to start exploring.
Museums
From stately homes to ancient monuments, Buckinghamshire has many historic buildings and places of interest to discover.
Travel
The ‘Get Around for £2’ bus fare scheme will continue until 31 December 2024, so it is a great way to explore Bucks at low cost with bus journeys from £2.
Explore other public and community transport options in Buckinghamshire.