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Healthy Holidays clubs support families who need help to access food and activities to keep their children healthy during the school holidays. Clubs provide children with a delicious and nutritious meal, as well as a range fun activities. In Barnsley the scheme is funded by the Department for Education.
Healthy Holidays clubs run during the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays. We also have clubs running during half-term holidays, funded by the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Eligibility
Children who currently receive benefit-related (means-tested) free school meals can get a free place at our Healthy Holidays clubs.
Changes to free school meals eligibility from September 2026
From September 2026, eligibility for free school meals will be expanded to include all children in households who receive Universal Credit. This will be called 'expanded free school meals'.
Healthy Holidays will continue to be targeted at children from lower-income families who meet the existing income threshold. This will be called 'targeted free school meals'.
Children who receive targeted free school meals will continue be eligible for a free place at the Healthy Holidays clubs.
If your child's eligible for benefit-related free school meals, signing up for these even if your child doesn't have the meal and takes a packed lunch instead, still brings lots of other benefits - including access to the Healthy Holidays programme. If your child is in reception class, year 1 or year 2 and receives a school meal automatically, you should still apply for free schools meals if you're eligible.
The Big Summer Takeover
This summer, Healthy Holidays is going to be bigger and better, with a giant family event open to everyone. Join us in Locke Park on Wednesday 29 July 2026 for fun activities, music and food. The event is free, but you still need to book a ticket.
Summer Healthy Holidays clubs
Our next Healthy Holiday clubs will take place during the summer holidays, from Monday 27 July to Friday 21 August 2026. We’ll have a fantastic selection of clubs and activities for children to enjoy, including great food and plenty of holiday fun. Bookings open on Wednesday 24 June 2026 at 7am.
More information
Feedback about the clubs
If your child's previously attended a Healthy Holidays club, we'd love to hear what you thought. Let us know by filling in our Healthy Holidays feedback form.
Annual report
You can find out about our holiday club provision, attendance, data, and feedback in our Healthy Holidays annual report 2024/2025.
How to contact us
You can contact the Barnsley Healthy Holidays team at haf@barnsley.gov.uk.