Are you looking for things to do in the summer holidays that won’t break the bank? Our friends at WAY Widowed and Young have been sharing some money-saving ideas to help you make the most of the summer months without worrying about the cost.
I was a teacher when my children were young and at the point of my bereavement, so I was lucky to be able to spend that time with my children. I always looked out for community-based activities, which were on the whole cheaper than organisational ones. I also had a Historic Scotland/National Trust membership which meant, although an initial outlay (which I spread across the year), I could go to a lot of places ‘free,’ although I needed transport to get there. I also used to look after my friends’ children too, which meant my children were busy and happy to have the company at home and we did lots of park picnics too anytime it wasn’t raining
Veronica, WAY Member
If you can, network with other school mums. We used to car share to the beach or meet at the park for a ‘picnic,’ which was the same lunch we would have had at home just in a box and eaten on the grass rather than on a plate at the table! I was forever having other children over to play as it entertained my own children. We live about a 30-minute walk from a supermarket so we would walk there, go to the park next door, nip into the shop and get essentials and a box of ice creams to enjoy on the way home. This encouraged the legs to work and saved a bit of fuel
WAY Member
Many local councils have a leisure discount scheme for anyone that claims Universal Credit or other benefits. Where I am, this gives you 50% off any activities at the leisure centres (including swimming) and a 50% discount on tickets for shows at our town halls.
I’ve also recently got a Family and Friends railcard, which we’ve used a few times now. It knocks one-third off adult tickets and 60% off child tickets, as long as you’re travelling together.
If you work for a publicly funded organisation and would benefit from it geographically, I’d recommend signing up for a Boundless card. It’s £40 a year but it gives you discounts as well as unlimited free entry to Kew Gardens and all of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust sites for you and up to 5/6 children. They’ve also just introduced a slightly more expensive membership at £68 a year, which adds unlimited free entry to all of the Historic Royal Palaces and National Trust for Scotland sites as well
WAY Member
Other money saving tips
Try searching “free children’s activities near me” in your Internet search engine and you’ll be surprised what you might find.
Local libraries can be great source of entertainment over the summer holidays. Not only can you borrow audio books and DVDs as well as books, many libraries run a Summer Reading Challenge for children too, as well as organising readings and free craft activities.
Libraries are also a great source of information, particularly around free and cheap activities in your area – anything from free swimming to local family-friendly events.
Many schools and community centres also offer summer holidays clubs and activities that are either free or heavily subsidised. Holiday clubs are often eligible for payment through tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers (if you have them), too.
The government’s holiday activities and food programme (HAF) provides support to children in receipt of free school meals throughout the holiday period. You can find local support in your area by typing “holiday activities and food programme” into your search engine.
There are also plenty of free craft activities online, especially designed for those inevitable rainy days:
- To get the creativity flowing, here’s a helpful, Make and Talk: Window Art craft activity to encourage children to open up about their grief.
- Or you could get involved with WAY Widowed and Young’s Summer of Swans challenge to make 1,000 paper swans over the summer. Find out more here.
About WAY
The WAY Widowed and Young community offers a safe space to talk to other people (both with and without children) who understand how it feels to be widowed at a young age.
Find out how WAY can support you at www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
5 Ways to manage grief in the Summer Holidays
We know that the summer holidays can be a difficult time for grieving families, children, and young people. Losing the consistent routine of school or college can affect people and bring up lots of different emotions.
Our team of Support Workers share five ways to manage grief and emotions over the summer holidays.
Activities to try over the Summer Holidays
Activities can be a useful way to help grieving children and young people to explore and express their feelings and emotions and to help them maintain memories of the person who has died.
Download our free activities to help express feelings of grief.