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.
