Diocese of Durham Holiday Clubs Thrive with Charity Grants

Holiday Club at St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington

Thanks to generous grants from the Lord Crewe Charity, delivered through Communities Together Durham, churches across the Diocese of Durham were able to provide a summer of free, screen-free fun for local children and families.

The holiday clubs offered a wide variety of activities, combining opportunities to explore faith through Bible stories, discussion, food and worship with creative activities such as painting, designing and clay modelling. Children also enjoyed sports and games, music, skill-building workshops and exciting animal encounters.

The grants made these activities possible by covering costs that would otherwise have been prohibitive. Unlike paid-for holiday activities or clubs specifically targeted at families receiving Free School Meals (FSM), these programmes were open to everyone at no charge, creating a genuinely level playing field for local families.

The clubs also provided valuable support for grandparents and other family members providing childcare during the school holidays. Many grandparents welcomed the opportunity to find affordable, engaging activities and outings for their grandchildren. With clubs welcoming a wide range of ages in an inclusive and non-judgemental atmosphere, children and families were able to build friendships and support one another.

One parent commented:

“Volunteers make us feel welcome, and there's a lovely, friendly vibe.”

Another highlighted the importance of offering children alternatives to excessive screen time, praising the “huge variety of activities which get them away from screens and opportunities to learn new skills”. Activities included building a large bug house, cross stitch, cake decorating and preparing their own sandwiches and pizzas.

None of this would be possible without the dedicated army of volunteers who give their time to support holiday clubs throughout the summer. Their contribution is vital to community development, helping to foster social cohesion, respond to local needs and enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.

Through these initiatives, churches are helping to tackle isolation, strengthen faith, build community connections and give children opportunities to discover new interests and develop practical skills.

To find out more about Communities Together Durham or how you can get involved, visit www.communitiestogetherdurham.org.uk.

Communities Together Durham is committed to uniting our region through faith-inspired action.