Holiday activities and food programme

We've produced an action-packed fun guide to show you all of the great things that are happening across St Helens borough over the festive season. 

If your child is aged 4-18 and eligible for benefit related free school meal sand would like to attend, please see our list of providers who will be running the activities. Children who are in receipt of a support plan or EHCP are also eligible for the HAF programme.

Take a look at our HAF Winter 2025 Guide (PDF, 26 MB)(opens new window) to see what is happening near you. The guide is presented in a handy calendar format to help you plan activities for each day during the school holidays.

Find FREE events and activities suitable for you using the age ranges next to the listings. 

We have endeavoured to ensure that all sessions are SEND friendly, but would advise you to pre-book sessions and speak to the facilitator for further information on suitability and individual requirements for your children. 

The below video has been produced by the Deafness Resource Centre and provides an overview of the Winter HAF programme in BSL.

Activities are subject to change at short notice and places are subject to availability.

Book your place on an activity

Additional trips

Gulliver's World Festive Lights event - Monday 22 November 2025

Places are only open to families who meet the eligibility criteria for the HAF Programme.

There are 94 places available in addition to 53 SEND places.  Coaches will be departing from Central Link Family Hub at 4pm and are due back at approximately 7.30pm.

If you would like to register your places, which are subject to availability and will be confirmed once eligibility checks have been completed, please call 01744 673445/ 671788 or call into one of our Family Hubs or Children's Centres from 2pm on Tuesday 9th December 2025. We will also operate a waiting list in the event of cancellations.

Chester Zoo Lantern and Lights event - Tuesday 23rd December 2025

Places are only open to families who meet the eligibility criteria for the HAF Programme.

There are 88 places available in addition to 53 SEND places. Coaches will be departing from Central Link Family Hub at 3.30pm and are due back at approximately 8.30pm.

If you would like to register your places, which are subject to availability and will be confirmed once eligibility checks have been completed, please call 01744 673445/ 671788 or call into one of our Family Hubs or Children's Centres from 2pm on Wednesday 10th December 2025. We will also operate a waiting list in the event of cancellations.

Details of these trips will be posted on social media and on our website the night before each trip goes live for bookings.

Click the images below to view activities taking place between 22 December 2025 - 2 January 2026 or view the HAF Winter 2025 Guide on our website.