HOLIDAY
PROGRAMMES
Free activities, trips and a summer camp across every school holiday — with a healthy meal at every hub session.
Our holiday work, since 2017
In 2017, we decided that we were putting the good work that Prospex achieves during term time at risk by not having a comprehensive holiday programme. We set out to change that and in the years since then, the programme has gone from strength to strength.
The Problem
For most families the holidays are a time of fun, togetherness and the exploration of new activities, creating fun memories. However, for many families that Prospex supports the holidays often mean increased financial insecurity and food poverty.
In a 2024 survey of National Education Union members, teachers and support staff were asked about the issue of child poverty. One of the findings was that '...the impacts on learning that they are seeing as a result of poverty in their everyday school experience. 84% told us they see signs of tiredness/fatigue, 79% an inability to concentrate, and for 65% an inability to complete homework.'
For others whose parents or carers are in work and only keeping the family off the breadline, the challenge is the lack of affordable childcare.
Our Approach
We ensure that our services are open every day to all young people during the holidays. And when parents have difficulties filling in our forms, for any reason, our staff members make the time to visit them and offer support to apply for our holiday schemes.
Each summer, we make sure that our young people experience at least one activity that many of them have never tried before. From visiting the beach or taking the tube to see central London landmarks, to residential summer camp or mountain hikes, to trying kayaking or indoor snowboarding, we are keen to ensure that the holidays are a time of positive experiences and treasured memories.
Holidays at Prospex
Trips, residentials and daily sessions that keep young people fed, active and inspired through every school holiday.
Summer Camp & Residentials
Residential summer camps give young people the confidence to thrive: for many, it’s their first time away from home. At Summer Camp 2026 we took 40 young people to Girlguiding Chigwell Row for six days of water zorbing, zip-lining, high climbing and all sorts of outdoor activities.
Our youngest members stayed two nights at Bounds Green Campsite, learning bushcraft skills like fire starting, water filtering and foraging. And at the end of August, six young people from Prospex and Essex Boys and Girls Clubs paddled 68 miles of Scotland’s River Spey, from Loch Insh to Spey Bay, in five days, camping in the wild.
Days Out & New Experiences
From visiting the beach or taking the tube to see central London landmarks, to mountain hikes, kayaking or indoor snowboarding — we make sure every young person tries something new.
Tackling Holiday Poverty
Our services are open every day during the holidays, with freshly cooked food to support families facing increased financial insecurity and food poverty when school is out.
A donation funds trips, residentials and hot meals so no young person misses out over the holidays.
Donate to holiday programmes →