Hartlepool Holiday Fun

18/03/2026

BOOKINGS OPEN

Hartlepool Holiday Fun is open for bookings. Many of you have already booked your children onto our activities, but we still have spaces available.

Please remember that we have moved to a new booking system for Easter 2026 and you will not receive voucher codes like you have in the past. Instead head to eequ.org/hartlepoolholidayfun to book your space, whether that is a free space for eligible children, or a paid space to access activities that offer them.


Department for Education

13/03/2026

😊 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻 😊

🎉 As it gears up for another action-packed programme of Easter activities for eligible school-aged children, Holiday Fun has notched up another phenomenal year.

🍲 Not only has the Hartlepool Borough Council-run initiative brought joy to thousands of Hartlepool children, opening up a world of exciting free activities over the school holidays along with a tasty, nutritious meal at each session, it has also helped many local organisations too.

👦👧🏽 Under the terms of the Government funding, Hartlepool Holiday Fun is open to children who receive benefits-related free school meals, and some additional children. Some activity providers may also offer payable spaces for non-eligible children at reduced cost.

❗ In total over the Easter, summer and Christmas 2025 school holidays, a whopping 13,592 session places were taken up, each with a healthy meal.

🎭🧠⚽🔬 Performing arts, multi-sports, mindfulness, life skills, football, a forest school, arts and crafts and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) were just a few of the activities on offer.

💷 The economy benefited too – over the 2025/26 financial year a total of 29 voluntary organisations and private companies plus three Council departments were funded through the programme to provide activities and meals.

🗣️ Councillor Melanie Morley, Chair of the Council’s Children’s Services Committee, said: “As these impressive figures show, Hartlepool Holiday Fun continues to be an outstanding success.

🗣️ “It has helped thousands of young people in Hartlepool broaden their horizons, make new friends, build their confidence and continue their learning in a fun way over the school holidays - all the while being able to tuck into tasty, nutritious meals as well.

🗣️ “Not only that, it has given an important boost to the organisations and companies contracted to provide the activities and food.

🗣️ “It’s a real Hartlepool success story and one of which we are very proud.”

🌐 Booking for all Hartlepool Holiday Fun Easter activities is now open on the new booking system at eequ.org/hartlepoolholidayfun.

There’s no need to create an account – it will be created automatically as part of the booking process. Places for multiple children can now be booked in one go.

Using Eequ, the account holder will be able to check their children’s activity schedule, receive reminders and message the activity provider if they have a query – all from their account.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝗱𝘆, 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲, 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

11/03/2026

HARTLEPOOL HOLIDAY FUN REMINDER

Bookings for Hartlepool Holiday Fun Easter 2026 provision goes live TODAY at 4pm.

A reminder, that we have moved to a new booking system. To book on, go to eequ.org/hartlepoolholidayfun regardless of if you have a child in receipt of benefits-related free school meals or other vulnerabilities and are wanting a free space, or if you are wanting to find providers offering paid spaces. All elements of Hartlepool Holiday Fun are now booked via this new booking system.

If you need more information, please email [email protected] and someone will reply as soon as possible.

27/02/2026

HARTLEPOOL HOLIDAY FUN EASTER 2026

Hartlepool Holiday Fun is back for Easter 2026 and better than ever. Funded by the Department for Education Hartlepool Holiday Fun filled over 13,000 spaces last year for free with participants enjoying a wide variety of fun-filled activities, and getting a nutritious meal to boot.

This year we have moved to a new booking system which we believe will make the process easier all round. No more voucher codes, the ability to book multiple children at once and paid spaces all bookable via the one website. At 4pm on Wednesday 11th March 2026, listings will go live and you will be able to book activities for school aged children and young people. Simply visit eequ.org/hartlepoolholidayfun or follow the QR code on the leaflet and check out the fabulous activitiess we have on offer. You can go to this site now and register your interest in upcoming activities to receive an email reminder before the system goes live. Please note that provisions are being added as we speak, so not all activities are showing just yet. Eligibility for free HAF spaces remains children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, as well as others who are approved for a discretionary space.

For more information on the programme as a whole in Hartlepool, visit www.hartlepool.gov.uk/hartlepool-holiday-fun

05/12/2025

HARTLEPOOL HOLIDAY FUN UPDATE

Due to a slight glitch, one of our fantastic events was unfortunately not included on our Hartlepool Holiday Fun Christmas booking system.

Schools out sports in are offering their amazing multi-sport provision from Throston Youth Project on Wiltshire Way on Tuesday 23rd December 2025. The activity will run from 10am to 2pm and, as always, will include a tasty and nutritious meal.

You can book places for this using your Holiday Activities voucher code.

If you have any queries please contact us at [email protected]

03/11/2025

HARTLEPOOL HOLIDAY FUN UPDATE

Non-FSM applications are now open!

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme permits local authorities to allocate up to 15% of their funding to offer free or subsidised holiday club spots for children who are not eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM). This flexibility aims to assist children whom the local authority considers could benefit from the programme, even if they don't meet the FSM eligibility criteria. This portion of funding is designated to support children identified as being in need, at risk, or vulnerable, regardless of their FSM qualification status.

If you think your child could benefit from this scheme and they do not receive free school meals but have other vulnerabilities, please fill out the form below. To ensure access to the booking system when it first goes live, your application will need to be received by 9am on Wednesday 19th November 2025. The HAF team will review applications received by this time with a decision communicated to you by Friday 21st November 2025 via email. Applications made after this date will still be considered.

This application process will be monitored regularly until 3pm on Wednesday 16th December 2025. Applications made after this time will be taken into consideration but may be delayed due to staff availability during the delivery period.

https://online.hartlepool.gov.uk/service/HAF_Programme_Application_for_Non_FSM_Eligible_Children

Note: If your child received a code for summer, this does not entitle them to codes going forwards and you will need to apply again.

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28/08/2025

🌟 Halfway Through HAF – A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Team! 🌟

As we reach the halfway mark of our Summer HAF provision, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on just how important a strong, passionate team really is.

This summer has got off to a brilliant start and that is entirely down to the people who make it happen. 💛 From rewriting menus (more than once!), preparing resources, and setting up games and activities, to simply showing up each day with warmth, creativity, and care. The effort behind the scenes is incredible!

✨ The energy, dedication and love that this team brings to every single session is what makes North Star Learning Hub the special place it is. It just wouldn’t be the same without them.

So here’s a big thank you to our wonderful staff & volunteers who go above and beyond to make sure your children have a summer to remember. 💫

28/08/2025

🍎🥦 Learning About Food & Healthy Bodies! 🥦🍎

During our Summer HAF provision this summer, we were joined by Adam Guy from the Hartlepool Food Partnership for a fun, hands-on learning session!

We talked about different fruits and vegetables, where our food comes from, and how the different food groups help to keep us healthy and strong. 🥕🍇

The children even got to hold model muscle and fat (which caused lots of giggles and ‘urgh’ moments!) 💪😆 We also created our very own Art Attack-style soil structure, learning how plants grow from the ground up. 🌱🎨

A huge thank you to Adam for bringing food education to life and inspiring the children to think about what’s on their plates!

28/08/2025

HARTLEPOOL HOLIDAY FUN ANNOUNCEMENT

The Department for Education has today announced a three year extension to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme. This means that Hartlepool Holiday Fun will now continue until after Christmas 2028 provision at the earliest.

We would like to thank the Department for this early announcement and we in Hartlepool look forward to playing our part in the planning for this new phase of the programme.

16/07/2025

HARTLEPOOL HOLIDAY FUN ANNOUNCEMENT - ROADWORKS

A quick FYI post regarding road closure on Catcote Road during the summer holidays. The highlighted section of Catcote Road will be closed for the entirety of the six weeks holidays starting Monday 21st July.

A diversion using Oxford Road and Browning Avenue will be in effect.