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How Can I Make The Summer Holidays More Affordable?
- Charlie Hiscox - uSports
- Jul 10
- 11 min read
We get it, Summer is expensive! While there is often a buzz of excitement as we reach the end of another school year at the prospect of a long summer of sun and fun (we hope 🌞), there can also be a sense of dread... how am I going to afford to keep my children entertained & cared for over the summer holidays??
Fortunately, there are a number of ways that the summer holidays can be made more affordable for parents all while ensuring that your children have a fantastic time during the school break!
Here at uSports we run Football & Multi-Sports Holiday camps for primary school aged children and over at our sister company, uKids, we run Multi-Activity Holiday Clubs to extend the fun beyond sport. We run holiday clubs across Berkshire & Bristol for both uSports & uKids.
We have worked with thousands of children to provide positive experiences over the summer holidays so firstly, let's look at how you can make the summer holidays more affordable while using holiday clubs...
Tax Free Childcare & Childcare Vouchers
What Is It?
Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is a government scheme that helps parents with the cost of childcare. For every £8 you pay into your online childcare account, the government adds an extra £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 for children with disabilities). This money can then be used to pay for approved childcare, including holiday clubs like those offered by uSports and uKids.
Childcare Vouchers, on the other hand, are an older scheme that is now closed to new applicants. If you were already signed up for Childcare Vouchers before October 2018, you might still be able to receive them from your employer to pay for childcare. These vouchers are typically deducted from your salary before tax and National Insurance, saving you money.
Can I Use It?
Tax-Free Childcare: You can usually get Tax-Free Childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are working, earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, and have children aged 11 or under (or 16 if they have a disability). There are income thresholds to be aware of – you generally can't get TFC if either you or your partner earn over £100,000 a year.
Childcare Vouchers: If you were already receiving Childcare Vouchers from your employer before October 2018, you can continue to use them as long as your employer offers the scheme. However, you cannot use Childcare Vouchers at the same time as Tax-Free Childcare.
How Do I Use It?
Tax-Free Childcare: First, you need to set up an online childcare account through the government's website. Once your account is active, you pay money into it, and the government adds their top-up. When it comes to paying for your uSports or uKids holiday camp, you'll simply use the funds from your Tax-Free Childcare account. You'll need our unique provider reference number. You can either email us once you have booked to request these details, or you can request them in advance of booking by getting in touch with our team. Make sure to allow a few days for the funds to clear from your TFC account to us.
Childcare Vouchers: If you are still receiving Childcare Vouchers, you'll typically provide your unique voucher reference number to your holiday club provider when making a payment. The process can vary slightly depending on the voucher provider (e.g., Edenred, Sodexo, Computershare), but generally, you'll log into your voucher account and authorise a payment to uSports or uKids using our registration details. Similar to Tax-Free Childcare, you can email us once you have booked to request the necessary details, or you can request these details in advance of booking.
HAF
What Is It?
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is a government initiative that provides free holiday club places and nutritious food for eligible children during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas school holidays. The aim is to ensure that children who might otherwise miss out on engaging activities and healthy meals during the school break have access to them.
Can I Use It?
The HAF programme is designed for children who are eligible for pupil premium free school meals (FSM). If your child receives benefit-related free school meals, they will generally be eligible for a HAF place. In some of the areas we operate, local councils may also offer discretionary places for other vulnerable children, even if they don't directly receive FSM.
uSports are proud HAF providers in the following council areas: Bristol, Wokingham Borough, Reading Borough, Slough, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM), and Bracknell Forest.
For specific eligibility criteria for your area, and details on how to get your HAF codes or vouchers, please refer to the dedicated HAF information on each of our venue booking pages. We provide clear instructions relevant to your local council, including who to contact if you're unsure about your child's eligibility.
Local Authority | Eligibility | HAF Support |
The council responsible for your child's school is typically the one that will provide the HAF funding and manage the programme for your child. | If you haven’t already been sent your vouchers, you can apply for free school meals or find out more info if you think you might be eligible via these links: | If you have any questions about accessing your vouchers or your eligibility, you can email the relevant HAF team: |
Wokingham | ||
Reading | ||
Bristol | ||
Windsor & Maidenhead | ||
Bracknell | ||
Slough |
How Do I Use It?
The process for using your HAF entitlement varies slightly depending on your local council. Many councils, including those where uSports operate, use dedicated online platforms to manage HAF bookings.
For the local councils where uSports provide HAF camps, you may need to use one of two main platforms: Eequ or Holiday Activities. Both of these platforms are designed to connect you with available holiday camps in your area and allow you to book using your HAF vouchers, which are typically linked to your account.
Here's how it generally works:
Receive Your HAF Code/Voucher: If your child is eligible, your school or local council will usually send you a unique HAF code, voucher, or direct you to the relevant booking platform where your entitlement is registered. For example:
Access the Booking Platform: Depending on your council, you'll either be directed to eequ.org or holidayactivities.com (or a similar council-specific booking portal). You'll typically need to create an account or log in.
Find uSports Camps: Once on the platform, you can view the camps available in your area. Search for "uSports" or filter by location to find our holiday clubs.
Book with Your HAF Voucher: The platform will allow you to select your desired sessions and apply your HAF voucher or utilise your HAF-connected account to cover the cost.
Remember, for the most accurate and up-to-date guidance, please visit the specific venue booking page on our uSports website that is relevant to your local council. This will have the precise steps, contact information for your council's HAF team if you have eligibility questions, and links to the correct booking platform.
Discounts
What Is It?
"Discounts" refers to various special offers and reduced rates designed to make our holiday clubs even more affordable. These can include savings for loyal customers, families with multiple children, or those booking for an entire week.
Can I Use It?
Yes! Both uSports and uKids offer a range of discounts to help parents save money on our holiday camps.
For uSports Holiday Camps, you can typically benefit from:
10% Community Subscriber Discount: If your child attends one of our uSports community sessions (like our toddler football or development centres), you will be eligible for a 10% discount on our holiday camps. Look out for specific codes sent to our community members or email us on info@u-sports.co.uk to request your code.
10% Sibling Discount: We understand that keeping multiple children entertained can add up! Book your first child, and receive a 10% discount for each additional sibling you book onto the same camp. This is applied automatically at checkout.
Multi-Day Discount: While exact costings vary by venue and camp, we offer a reduced daily rate if you book all available days for that specific venue in a single week. For example, if a camp only runs for three days in a given week and you book all three, this would count as a "full week" booking for discount purposes. Check our booking pages for precise pricing.
20% HAF Discount (in addition to free HAF spaces): We are committed to making our camps accessible. For all children eligible for HAF funding, in addition to their allocated free HAF days, we offer a generous 20% discount on any extra days you wish to book beyond their free entitlement. This allows your child to enjoy even more of the fun at a reduced rate.
For uKids Holiday Clubs, you can typically benefit from:
10% Sibling Discount: Just like uSports, if you're booking more than one child into a uKids Multi-Activity camp, you'll receive a 10% discount for each additional sibling.
35% Staff Discount (for partnered venues): If you work at one of the schools where our uKids camps run, you might be eligible for a significant 35% staff discount! This is currently available for staff at Collegiate School Bristol and Holme Grange School Wokingham. Please contact us directly for details on how to claim this fantastic saving. info@u-kids.co.uk
How Do I Use It?
Applying your discount is generally straightforward when booking online:
For Sibling and Multi-Day Discounts: These are applied automatically when you add eligible children or days to your basket on our booking platforms.
For Community Subscriber and HAF Discounts: You will need a specific discount code, which will be provided to you. There will be a dedicated field to enter this code at the checkout stage on our website.
For Community Subscribers look out for specific codes sent to our community members or email us on info@u-sports.co.uk to request your code.
For HAF discounts, please send us an email on info@u-sports.co.uk with confirmation of your child's HAF eligibility and we will send your code to you.
For Staff Discounts: Please get in touch with the uKids team directly via email (info@u-kids.co.uk) or phone (0333 772 9574). We will verify your eligibility for the staff discount at our partnered venues and will then provide you with your discount code to enter at checkout.
We recommend checking the specific booking page for your chosen uSports or uKids camp, as all available discounts and their application methods will be clearly outlined there. And, of course, our team is always on hand to help if you have any questions about applying a discount!
Free Things To Do This Summer With The Kids
Of course, Summer is also all about making memories with your children and there are lots of fun activities which you can access for free as a family or for your children to attend themselves over the school holidays beyond holiday camps.
Have you thought about trying...
Exploring Your Local Parks and Green Spaces: From playgrounds to wide-open fields perfect for a picnic, your local park is a fantastic free resource. Many larger parks and National Trust sites (often with free grounds access) also have natural play areas, balance trails, and even themed sculpture trails that encourage active fun in nature.
In Bristol:
Ashton Court Estate: A massive estate with woods, grasslands, and even deer! Great for walks, picnics, and spotting wildlife.
Blaise Castle Estate: Offers oodles of green space, extensive woods to explore, and fantastic large play areas. You can also visit the free Blaise Museum on the estate.
Oldbury Court Estate: Features a brilliant play park for all ages, surrounded by woodland and green space. Perfect for a zip wire adventure!
Brandon Hill: Climb Cabot Tower for panoramic views of the city, explore the nature reserve, and enjoy the urban green space.
In Berkshire:
Dinton Pastures Country Park (Wokingham): A wonderful place with a large, inclusive play area, extensive walks around the lake, and plenty of space for picnics.
Lily Hill Park (Bracknell): Home to the 'longest picnic bench in England' and offers lovely walks, often with interesting sculpture trails.
Black Park Country Park (Slough/Bucks Border): While technically just over the border in Buckinghamshire, it's a huge, free country park with extensive woodland, a large lake, and excellent play areas. Parking charges apply.
South Hill Park (Bracknell): Explore nature trails with sculptures, a small maze, and play areas.
The Long Walk & Windsor Great Park (Windsor): Stroll down The Long Walk towards Windsor Castle for iconic views and vast open spaces.
The Summer Reading Challenge at Your Local Library: Libraries across the UK run a free Summer Reading Challenge every year for primary school-aged children. It's a brilliant way to keep kids engaged with reading during the holidays, with stickers, certificates, and medals as incentives. Libraries often host free events and activities too, so check your local branch's schedule.
Across Bristol & Berkshire: All local libraries will participate! Check out Bristol Libraries, Wokingham Libraries, Reading Libraries, Slough Libraries, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Libraries, and Bracknell Forest Libraries for their specific programs and events.
Visiting Free Museums and Art Galleries: Many museums and galleries across the UK offer free entry to their permanent collections, and often have special family-friendly activities, trails, or workshops during the school holidays.
In Bristol:
M Shed: Tells the story of Bristol's people and places, with interactive exhibits and often free family events.
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery: Explore collections of art, nature, and history – keep an eye out for Alfred the Gorilla!
The Georgian House Museum & The Red Lodge Museum: Step back in time in these beautifully restored historic houses, offering a glimpse into Bristol's past.
Arnolfini: A contemporary arts centre on the harbourside with free exhibitions that are often family-friendly.
In Berkshire:
Slough Museum: Discover the history of Slough, often with free activities during school holidays.
West Berkshire Museum (Newbury): Explores the history of the local area with interesting collections.
The Natural History Museum at Eton College (Eton): A fascinating small museum with natural history exhibits, often free to visit.
Going on a Nature Scavenger Hunt or Bug Spotting: Head to a local park, woodland, or even your garden with a checklist of things to find – a specific coloured leaf, a smooth stone, a feather, or different types of bugs. It encourages observation and connection with the natural world.
Outdoor Art and Creativity: Grab some chalk and decorate your driveway or a local pavement (with permission, of course!). Collect natural materials like leaves, petals, and twigs to make collages or "nature art." Old cardboard boxes can be transformed into anything imaginative with a few pens or paints – think rockets, castles, or playhouses!
Poo Sticks or Stone Skimming: Find a local stream or river and introduce your children to the classic game of Pooh Sticks. Or, head to a pebbly beach or riverbank and try your hand at skimming stones across the water.
Packing a Picnic: Food always tastes better outdoors! Prepare some sandwiches and snacks and find a scenic spot in your local park, by a river, or even in your garden for a delightful picnic.
Discovering Local Splash Parks or Paddling Pools: Many councils operate free splash parks or paddling pools during the summer months, offering a fantastic way for kids to cool down and have fun with water. Check your local council's website for locations and opening times, as opening dates can vary with the weather!
In Bristol:
Millennium Square (Bristol Harbourside): Features popular water fountains perfect for splashing on a hot day.
St Andrews Park: A classic Victorian park with a large, free paddling pool that's a summer favourite.
Cribbs Causeway Water Garden: A free splash area outside the shopping centre with fountains and a pirate ship for younger children.
In Berkshire:
Woodford Park (Woodley): Often has a free paddling pool open during the summer months (check Woodley Town Council's Facebook for updates).
Christchurch Meadows (Reading): Features one of the largest free paddling pools in the area.
California Country Park (Wokingham): While parking applies, it has a newly renovated play area with water play features.
Locks Ride Recreation Ground (Winkfield Row): Features a large sandpit area with a splash pad.
Great Hollands Recreation Ground (Bracknell): Offers a lovely and clean splash pad.
Building a Den: Head to a wooded area (where permitted) and gather fallen branches and leaves to construct a natural den. It's great for teamwork, problem-solving, and imaginative play.
Cycle Rides and Walks: Explore new walking or cycling routes in your local area. You might discover hidden paths, interesting landmarks, or simply enjoy the fresh air and exercise together.
Community Events and Festivals: Keep an eye on your local council's website or community noticeboards for free summer events, outdoor concerts, or family festivals happening in your town or city.
In Bristol: The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (usually August) is world-famous and largely free to attend, offering spectacular mass ascents and night glows. The Bristol Harbour Festival (usually July) also brings a vibrant, free celebration to the city.
Across Berkshire: Look out for local summer fetes, town centre events, and outdoor markets in places like Reading, Wokingham, Newbury, and Windsor – many offer free entertainment and activities for children.
However you choose to spend your summer holidays with your children, we hope that some of the ideas, information & advice shared in this blog will hope you to have a fun but affordable summer break with your children full of excitement, memories & adventure!
