Martin Lewis reveals how you can get free meals and activities for your kids this summer

With the summer holidays coming up (or already underway in Scotland) it’s set to be an expensive few months for parents.

However, anyone with kids will be glad to know Martin Lewisis on hand to help ease the financial burden.

In the latest edition of his newsletter, the Money Saving Expert founder shared a range of tips and tricks that’ll keep costs down while keeping your little ones occupied.

And with the cost of childcare reaching £943 per school-age child over the six-week break – before you factor in activities and extra meals – his advice is certainly welcome.

Martin urged parents to take advantage of schemes to reduce the cost of childcare for under-11s (and under-16s with disabilities) which many don’t realise are available year-round, alongside applying for holiday support via The Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF).

This is available for all children who are eligible for free school meals, and offers access to enriching activities as well as at least one free meal a day for four weeks over summer.

You need to apply to the HAF, as enrolment isn’t automatic, so you should contact your local council to see how the process works in your area. Since some authorities have deadlines on when you need to apply, it’s important to do so ASAP.

In terms of saving on food, Martin also recommends the breakfast club scheme at Morrisons, where you can ask staff for a Kellogg’s breakfast in any of its 398cafés for a free bowl of cereal, alongside the Tesco’s offer for a free kids meal with any café purchase by an adult Clubcard holder (which could technically be a 60p piece of fruit).

Your Clubcard has some additional benefits when it comes to days out too. If you’ve been racking up your points, you can double their value by exchanging them for Tesco Reward Partners vouchers.

Available for attractions such as Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Legoland Windsor, Longleat Safari Park and Cadbury World, the deal – where £5 in points equates to £10-worth of vouchers – means you effectively get half-price entry.

Continuing on the theme of discounted summer fun, major retailers like John Lewis, Dobbies, and Pets at Home will be hosting free workshops in stores throughout the holidays, where kids can learn everything from crafting to how to care for hamsters.

You do need to book these in advance direct with your nearest store, and may have to be a member of a loyalty scheme (such as John Lewis MyRewards). But if you manage to get a spot, they’re a great way to keep things fun without spending a penny.

If your child is sporty, Martin highlights a partnership between Lidl and We Make Footballers that offers 4-to-12-year-olds two free football taster sessions normally costing upwards of £15 each. To claim, go to the Partner Rewards section of the Lidl Plus app and you’ll receive a code you can use to book. Although spaces are on a first-come, first-served basis, you can join a waiting list or choose a different location if your nearest is full.

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Girls aged 11 to 16 can get totally free fitness classes at Nuffield Health clubs when signing up to its Move Together scheme too, while kids aged 4 to 14 can take part in weekly timed 2K runs in parks all over the UK on Sunday mornings free with Parkrun.

Alternatively, if your brood prefer a more dramatic day out, the ‘Kids Week’ theatre promotion can start your holidays off with a bargain show: if you book via the Official London Theatre Kids Week website, you’ll get a free child ticket (for children aged 17 and under) with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket. Over 50 shows, including Shrek, Mrs Doubtfire, and Wicked are part of the offer, which applies to selected performances between Wednesday July 24 and FridaySeptember 6.

And last but not least, don’t forget to make the most of cut-price cinema trips through the likes of Cineworld, Odeon, and Vue. Each of the chains runs selected family-friendly screenings during the summer holidays, with tickets priced from around £2.50 each.

Given the weather we’ve been having, you’ll probably need a few rainy day options to stop them climbing the walls.

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