Summer Savings for Families 2026
Families can enjoy more affordable days out this summer, with a range of free and low cost activities.
The Government has reduced VAT on selected children’s and family activities including theatre and cinema tickets, restaurant meals and amusement parks.
The reduced pricing will run until 1 September 2026.
There’s also free bus travel for under 15s during the whole of August.
Find out more at https://summersavings.gov.uk/
HAF
During school holidays children and young people, aged from reception to 16 years old who are eligible for targeted benefits-related free school meals, can access free activities and a meal.
This programme is only for children and young people from reception age to 16 who receive targeted benefits-related free school meals, not universal or expanded free meals. Please check the eligibility criteria for targeted benefits-related free school meals before you apply.
Please visit Liverpool City Council Holiday Activity Club for more information.
Living Crisis Help Hub
LCVS has compiled a list of useful services and resources for individuals regarding the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis and for the current winter period. Please note, this hub of pages is only intended for those in Liverpool, England. They will be updated with further information across the year.
Please click here for more information and support
Lifestyles Kids Go Free
Kids go free as Junior Lifestyles membership launches in Liverpool
Liverpool City Council is launching a new free leisure membership for children and young people, helping more families access opportunities to stay active, healthy, and connected to their local community.
From Monday 6 July 2026, eligible young people aged 8-17 who live in Liverpool will be able to sign up for the new Kids Go Free membership as part of the council’s Active Lifestyles Youth Offer.
The new membership provides free access to gym and swimming sessions at participating Lifestyles centres across the city and is designed to encourage healthier lifestyles, improve wellbeing, and provide access to safe, inclusive leisure facilities for local young people.
The initiative supports Liverpool City Council’s commitment to reducing barriers to physical activity and ensuring that every child can enjoy the benefits of regular exercise.
Children and young people can register online or at any participating Lifestyles centre and will receive a new membership card free of charge.
For more information on the Kids Go Free membership and participating centres, visit the Lifestyles website or speak to staff at your local leisure centre.
Family and student support
Emotional and Mental Health resources
Here are some links regarding recognition of an eating disorder for families, the referral process and helpful websites and helplines.
https://www.liverpoolcamhs.com/parents-carers/eating-disorders/
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www.liverpoolcamhs.com |
https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-hub/eating-disorder-service/
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Beat provides Helplines offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are in your journey. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk |
https://www.liverpoolcamhs.com/support/alder-hey-eating-disorder-service-for-young-people-edys/
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Alder Hey Eating Disorder Service for Young People (EDYS) Alder Hey Eating Disorder Service for Young People is a team of professionals that provide assessment and treatment to young people when eating has become difficult www.liverpoolcamhs.com |
If parents are worried then consultation with a GP to have a physical and mental health review would be advisable. They accept referrals from professionals and self-referrals. Referral form accessed below.
https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-hub/eating-disorder-service/
Young people are assessed within four weeks and within seven days if it is felt to be an urgent case.
We are aware that the summer holidays can be a little daunting for some families, particularly in the current financial climate.
Please find below some information and links which families may find useful if needing support with finding ‘free’ clubs or activities for children over the summer, information on local foodbanks and information on local providers who can offer support for young people in terms of mental health.
Free Clubs & Activities:
There’s a great range of free activities on offer across the city including boxing, football, music, dance, cycling, cooking, discos, films, basketball, arts and crafts, drama, BBQs, water games, trips out and much more. Every day there will be a range of fabulous meals available with many schemes holding family events as well.
There's also provision for children with SEND or additional needs at no cost.
Full details of activities and organisations can be found on the Merseyplay website:
See also a copy of our ‘Bellerive Cultural Capital Summer Project Booklet’ below which includes a range of activities to complete at places you can visit for free around our city this summer.
You can also get involved in our ‘Summer Reading Challenge’- any student who manages to log over six sessions will be entered into a prize draw to win a gift voucher in September:
Foodbanks:
The websites below give details of the locations of foodbanks across the city and their opening times:
North Liverpool Foodbanks: Website
South Liverpool Foodbanks:Website
Liverpool Zero Waste Community CIC also give free food away almost every day and although they are not a ‘foodbank’ they are committed to saving food from landfill. They can be found on social media and the details of their events across Liverpool can be found in their pinned post on Facebook.
Mental Health Support:
Please see the document below for a list of apps, websites and telephone numbers where students can find support
Support services for young people
CAMHS: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.- CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. Further information can be found at
Young person guide to positive mental health
Parent guide to helping your child with mental health
YPAS: Young Person’s Advisory Service (YPAS) provides a wide range of support and therapeutic interventions to address the mental health and emotional well-being difficulties of children, young people, parents/carers and families. See what’s happening over the summer and find details of the various hubs and ‘drop in’s’ available across the city at YPAS website
KOOTH: If you are a child or young person in crisis, you can call the crisis care line 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0808 196 3550 or for information or to complete a self-referral online go to: Kooth website
Anna Freud Self Care Plan: The #SelfcareSummer Secondary pack aims to help young people create their own individual self-care plan for the summer holidays based on strategies other young people have identified as helpful. Packs also signpost young people and their families to additional support and the AFC crisis messenger text service – should they find themselves struggling over the summer period: https://www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/resources/my-self-care-plan-secondary/
The Live Well Directory also offers a range of different resources from food pantries to Mental Health support