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Brighton Holidays Activities and Food 

Brighton & Hove’s Summer Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme offers a wide variety of FREE activities, as well as healthy snacks and a meal.

HAF is for school-aged children already in Reception to Year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals.

There’s something fun for everyone, from sports, adventurous activities, arts, drama, music, youth clubs, cycling, and more.

Each eligible child can be booked on up to 16 HAF places* over Summer HAF.                                            You can only have one HAF booking per day, which applies to sessions of any length.

Visit www.eequ.org/brightonhovehaf to book your Summer places now

 A list of all available activities/clubs Summer 2025:

Activity type: Ofsted registered. Adventure, sport, art, and nature activities.

Description: Not only will they get involved in everything from zorbing, archery, bushcraft, axe throwing, e-scooters, climbing and high rope activities. They’ll also be rewarded with the Leadership Skills Foundation 'I Can Lead Award,' as they’re guided to also lead younger participants in our outdoor and adventurous activities.

Age group: 14 to 16

Venue: Cardinal Newman Catholic School, BN3 6ND

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND BOOK

  •  Drama and Dance Club Sussex - Make My Movie *NEW activity for Summer 2025*

Activity type: Performing arts, film making, and personal development

Activity: This exciting new course offers students the chance to become Young Film Makers. They’ll learn from the professional practitioners how to make their own short film, from page to screen on a shoestring budget!

This four-day course will cover idea generation, writing, acting, filming, crewing, and editing (pre-production and post-production).

Age group: 14 to 16

Venue: BHASVIC (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College), BN3 6EG

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND BOOK

 

  •    House of Culture - Graffiti Jam with Sinnaone *NEW activity for Summer 2025*

Activity type: Youth club - arts, sports, and personal development

Activity: Step into the world of street art with Graffiti Jam – a bold and creative workshop led by Brighton’s own graffiti legend, SinnaOne! Young people aged 14–16 will learn how to use spray paint safely, explore graffiti lettering, characters, and colour, and work together to design and create large-scale murals. It’s all about self-expression, building skills, and having fun in a vibrant, supportive space.

Age group: 14 to 16

Venue: 3 Orange Row, BN1 1UQ

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND BOOK

  •   House of Culture - Print Lab *NEW activity for Summer 2025*

Activity type: Youth club - arts, sports, and personal development

Activity: Join House of Culture Brighton for Print Lab – a creative, hands-on 3D printing workshop. You’ll learn how to turn your sketches into digital designs and bring them to life using real 3D printers. No experience needed – just your imagination and curiosity. It’s fun, creative, and a great way to try something new, meet people, and learn cool skills. 

Age group: 14 to 16

Venue: 3 Orange Row, BN1 1UQ

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND BOOK

 

  •   Tarner Youth

Activity type: Youth club - arts, sports, and personal development

Activity: Activities include arts, sports, and creative outlets, to help young people develop personal and social skills. Tarner Youth Club is a vital resource that empowers young people, builds confidence, and prepares them for the future.

Age group: 11 to 16

Venue: 99 Sussex Street, BN2 9HS

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND BOOK

 

Non-teenage specific provision with availability:

 

  • ActiveMe 360 (ages 4-12) – a wide range of fun and exciting activities including dodgeball, basketball, team games, athletics and many more @ Coombe Road Primary School, BN2 4BP
  • Brighton Table Tennis Club (ages 6-16) - A carousel of sports including table tennis, football, gymnastics and cycling @ Moulsecoomb Primary School, BN2 4PA
  • B Starz Academy (ages 6-14) – Drama, confidence building games and fun movement workshops @ BHASVIC, BN3 6EG
  • Bikeability Level 1 (ages 10-16) – Carry out a simple bike check, safe start and stopping procedures, how to use the gears on their bicycles and practice signalling @ Hove Park, BN3 7BF
  • Russell Martin Foundation (ages 5-14) – Multi-sports and dance @ Extra Time Project, Carlton Hill, BN2 0GW
  • Summer Adventure Camp (ages 6-16) – Activities including everything from zorbing, archery, bushcraft, axe throwing, e-scooters, climbing and high rope activities @ Cardinal Newman Catholic School, BN3 6ND

Short Breaks 2025

 

Please see presentation from the Parent Carer Forum here.

Please see data below on the average number of full day Specialist sessions allocated, for the 2025 Summer Holidays.

 

Provider:

Average number of full day Specialist sessions allocated:

Amaze

2.5

Activ8

2

DS Day Camps

1

Link Up

1

Little Lambs

3

 

Requests for Summer SEND Short Breaks Sessions​:

Provider:

Number of Sessions Requested:​

Number of children: ​

Number of Sessions Available: ​

Amaze​

131​

33​

168​

Activ8​

Unknown due to booking system error.​

44

204 (half days)​

Link Up ​

61​

27​

18​

DS Day Camp​

14​

12​

12​

Little Lambs ​

141​

11​

36​

 

 

SEND Short Breaks Sessions with Summer availability:

Specialist:

Targeted:

Amaze (own PA spaces)

https://eequ.org/book/amazing-futures-brighton-holiday-club-with-amaze-15238

 

Parable Dance (1:5 ratio or own PA)

https://eequ.org/book/inclusive-send-dance-workshops-10-25-with-parable-dance-6889

 

DS Day Camps (8-15 years) (1:1 ratio)

Click here to view DS Day Camps (8-15 years)

*Available from Friday 4th July at 10am  

Angling4Education (1:3 ratio)

https://eequ.org/book/fishing-for-send-children-with-angling4education-8110

DS Day Camps (16+) (1:1 ratio)

https://eequ.org/book/teen-hangout-day-camp-16-with-down-syndrome-development-trust-6778

Activ8 (1:3 ratio)

 

 

Drove Road / Tudor House Summer offer: [see powerpoint slide 7]

This August, Drove Road and Tudor House will be offering special summer sessions for children and young people who are already receiving overnight respite at these units.

 

We have carefully considered the feedback from parents and carers last year, which highlighted that the young people who regularly attend Drove Road and Tudor House felt they missed out on the summer offer at the units they are familiar with. To address this, we are delighted to provide summer sessions exclusively to those young people this year, but this does mean that we cannot expand the offer to young people who are not attending these venues.

 

The sessions will take place as follows:

  • Wednesdays from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Fridays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

 

Unfortunately, due to staffing constraints at Drove Road, we are unable to extend this offer to young people on the waiting list at this unit. However, we are pleased to announce that Tudor House can offer summer sessions to those on their waiting list.

 

Tudor House has already begun reaching out to families about their summer sessions and Drove Road will be contacting parents and carers by the end of this week.

 

Additional DS Day Camps and Link Up Sessions:

 

DS Day Camps (for 8-15 years and 16+) will be available to book via Eequ from 10am on Friday 4th July 2025. Booking requests will be confirmed from Friday 11th July onwards, and booking confirmations will be shared via email.

 

DS Day Camp sessions can be booked via Eequ: https://eequ.org/brightonandhovecitycouncilsendshortbreakandschoolactivitiesprogramme

 

 

Families on the waiting list and those identified by social workers as priority will be contacted first regarding the additional Link Up sessions. Due to the number of families in these two groups, we anticipate that all available spaces will be filled. As a result, we do not expect to open bookings to the wider public. Once all additional provision has been allocated, we will invite parent carers to join a waitlist for cancellations. Information will be shared before the end of term.

 

Additional Opportunities:

 

As mentioned at the Parent Carer Forum, we're starting to build a Community Board of local activity providers who support children and young people with SEND. Some offer 1:1 support and all can be paid for using your Direct Payments. To pay using your Direct Payments, please ask the provider to share an invoice with Charly-Elizabeth Letts (Charly.Letts@brighton-hove.gov.uk) for the session, and we will process this from your Direct Payments account.

 

The providers listed below offer summer activities, but please note they have not undergone quality assurance checks by Brighton & Hove City Council. We recommend contacting the provider directly to find out more.

 

Provider:

Contact:

Cherish

Cherish will be running on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 22nd July – 22nd August.

 

Please see attached leaflet for information on eligibility and how to apply for sessions.

Brighton Swimming School – please see outline of the offer below:

 

During the holidays, we run 1:1 intensive swimming lessons, which can be booked as 3-, 4-, or 5-day courses. Each session is 30 minutes long and taught by one of our swim teachers.

 

Prices are:

·       3 days – £77.99

·       4 days – £103.99

·       5 days – £129.99

 

These lessons have become very popular with children with SEN, partly because we limit the number of 1:1s in the pool at any one time (maximum of 8). This helps keep the environment much calmer and quieter than a typical public pool. We also take time to speak with parents or carers before the lessons to find out what works best for the child in terms of structure, and to learn about their interests. This helps us make the sessions as enjoyable and effective as possible.

 

Due to the age and design of the building, we do have limited wheelchair access and unfortunately, no hoist is available.

 

Please contact admin@brightonswimmingschool.com or call 01273 434400 (option1) to enquire.

 

1:1 Swimming Lessons at Freedom Leisure

 

We’re pleased to be working with the team at the Prince Regent’s Leisure Centre Swimming Pool to offer 1:1 swimming lessons, with hoist access to the pool available.

 

  • 1:1 lesson: £29.90
  • 5 x 1:1 lessons for £139.50

 

Please note, bookings are subject to availability. A parent carer or responsible adult may need to accompany the child or young person in the pool.

 

 

We’re pleased to be working with the team at the King Alfred Leisure Centre Swimming Pool to offer 1:1 swimming lessons. Please note, this pool does not have a hoist.

 

 

 

If you are interested in booking a session, please contact Karen Rutter (Swim School Manager) karen.rutter@freedom-leisure.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in booking a session, please contact the Short Breaks team at  Short.Breaks@Brighton-Hove.gov.uk.

 

Withdean Climbing Wall

 

Withdean Freedom Leisure offer 1:1 climbing sessions. They offer a 10% discount for children and young people with SEND, which means a 1-hour session is £70.20, and a 30-minute session is £35.55.

 

Please contact the climbing wall manager, Clem (clem.simms@high-sports.co.uk) to make a booking.

HAF Sessions

 

If your young person is eligible for free school meals, you can request up to 16 HAF sessions across the summer holidays. Some HAF providers offer SEN Support, and some have capacity for young people to attend with their own PA (DBS required).

 

Please visit: https://eequ.org/brightonhovehaf and use the ‘contact mentor’ button to speak directly with providers. Please contact Short.Breaks@Brighton-Hove.gov.uk and HAF@brighton-hove.gov.uk if you have questions about eligibility.

 

Liberation Art Gallery

 

Liberation Art Gallery is based in the North Laines. During the summer, they will be running 2-hour 1:1 art workshops. Workshops can be bespoke to the child’s interests and needs, with the option to split sessions of an hour each if preferred.

Email Caroline: info@liberationartgallery.com to enquire.

 

Please include:

  • your details
  • your child’s name
  • a few date / time options
  • what kinds of art your child might be interested in (including but not exclusive to: mosaic making, painting, clay).

 

Uncommon Minds

 

Online Summer Camps & Clubs for neurodivergent t(w)eens

5 Weeks of Summer Fun! 21st July - 21st August 2025.

 

 

 

Please email: hello@uncommonminds.co.uk for more information, or head to https://www.bemoreuncommon.com/camps to book sessions.

 

Harvey’s House – Private swimming pool hire. Please see below:

 

We are offering our heated indoor swimming pool for private hire family swims. We have noodles, toys, and floatation devices for your use as well as 6 individual changing rooms and a poolside shower.

We built this pool specifically for SEN families and families with children 7 years and under. The pool isn't much fun for older children due to the size.

We are unable to accommodate pool parties, there is a swimming pool in Patcham called 'Ridgeside Pool', who may be able to help you with this request.

There is mood lighting and connect via Bluetooth for music to enhance your experience.

 

Please contact info@harveyshouse.co.uk to book.

Ferring Country Centre

 

Please contact Short.Breaks@Brighton-Hove.gov.uk to enquire about your young person attending Ferring Country Centre with their own PA.

 

 

Mainstream and Ofsted Registered School Holiday Clubs

 

Ofsted-registered and mainstream school holiday clubs can apply for Inclusion Funding to cover the cost of 1:1 support.

 

 

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact Short.Breaks@Brighton-Hove.gov.uk if you have any questions.

 

 

Request from GTR Southern Rail - please share with your contacts in your communities as a reminder not to trespass on the railway.

Network Rail has released a railway safety campaign video - You Vs Train - http://youvstrain.co.uk/  

We recommend parents and care givers view this first before watching with the person they support to decide if they think it is appropriate. 

Remember to tell young people:

  • The railway is never switched off. Electricity powers the overhead cables and third rail 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Passenger services are not the only users of the rail network – freight trains run all through the day and night.
  • Never anticipate that you know when the next train is due. Fewer passenger trains running on the rail network allows more freight services to operate during the day, transporting vital goods around the country. A freight train can travel at up to 100mph.

Thank you for your support in sharing this safety message.

From GTR/Southern Rail UK

gtr southern rail staying safe near train lines.pdf