Easter Holidays Free or Low Cost Activities

As spring is fighting its way through the wintry weather, the Easter holidays are rapidly appearing on the horizon. We have therefore put together another list of free or very low cost activities which will help you to enjoy the Easter Holidays without the stress of adding too much to the budget.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
The government funded HAF Programme provides children from reception year to age 16 and in receipt of benefits-related free school meals with:

• Free Easter, Summer and Christmas holiday activities
• A meal whilst at the activity
• Nutritional education

See below for more information on holidays clubs including sports, arts & crafts and a filmmakers workshop (BCP).

Activities or resources across Faithworks:

SMILE Lone Parent Families – our SMILE project will be running a number of events for single parent families over the Easter holidays including:
*For more information on single parent help or to book your place on an event (except the Board Games Café) please contact Lucy on: 07944 171432.

• Easter Breakfast & Crafts
  When – Thursday 6 April, 9am – 12pm
  Where – Longfleet Baptist Church, 138 Wimborne Rd, Poole BH15 2EX
  Cost – free

• SMILE Easter Activity Day at Project Manna – activities include an Easter egg hunt, willow bird nesting balls, card crafts, seed planting, feeding the sheep and lambs and firepit smores. Find out more and book your free places below.
  *Bring wellies, waterproofs, layers of clothing, a picnic lunch and lots to drink.
  When – Thursday 13 April, 10.30am – 4pm
  Where – Project Manna near Fordingbridge. Please contact Lucy on 07944 171432 for more details (lift sharing may be possible).
  Cost – free

• The Board Games Café – we have a wide range of games and jigsaws to suit all ages and abilities. There is no charge for the board games group this month and kids also eat free at Wesley’s Cafe (adults will need to pay for their food and drinks).
  When – Friday 14 April, 3.30pm – 6pm
  Where – The Spire, High St, Poole BH15 1DF (Hall 1, Ground Floor)
  Cost – no charge for board games, kids also eat free (adults will need to pay for food)
  *3 April update: – there will be no charge for The Board Games Cafe on the 14 April – if you have any questions please call our office on 01202 429037.

Events happening at your local Food Bank:

Christchurch Food Bank+
Christchurch Food Bank will be giving out Easter packs including Easter eggs or treats, an activity sheet and some small, knitted Easter bags donated by a local group with an Easter story, card and eggs*
*While stocks last

The Food Bank will also continue to provide their Meal in a Bag over the Easter holidays.

Poole Food Bank+
Jimmy’s (Poole Food Bank’s main hub) host Coffee & Chat on a regular basis – drop in for a coffee, chat and to find out what else is going on in the local area.  Contact Poole Food Bank+ for more details on 01202 672694.

Blandford Food Bank+
The Warmer Welcome runs every Thursday afternoon – simply turn up and join others for a hot drink, cake and a chat.
When – Thursdays, 2pm – 4pm.
Where – Blandford Food Bank+, United Reformed Church, Whitecliff Mill Street, Blandford Forum, DT11 7DQ.
Cost – free.

Wimborne Food Bank+
The free family fun activities don’t stop with the Easter holidays! Wimborne Food Bank+ will be holding their next free Family Fun Day on Monday 8 May. The fun will include a visiting farm with the opportunity to meet mini pigs, baby goats, a pony and a sheep called Dave!
When – Monday 8 May 2023, 10.30am – 2.30pm
Where – Wimborne Rugby Football Pitch (behind Wimborne Food Bank+), Gordon Road, Wimborne, BH21 2AP
Cost – free

Addiction Recovery Support:

Our Faithworks Arch programme has been set up to support those in recovery from addiction.  Our programme includes purposeful activities throughout the week and will continue as usual over the Easter period except for Good Friday and Easter Monday when groups will be closed.

You can find out more about the addiction recovery we provide through our groups and sessions on our website below, including the recovery walks, Staysafe, our informal coffee catch ups as well as our infamous cheese toastie club!

Other activities in BCP:

Bournemouth Libraries
There are a wide range of free activities hosted at libraries across Bournemouth including the Lego and Duplo Creative Club, Board Games Group and Wildlife Gardening with the Parks Foundation.

• Wildlife Gardening with The Parks Foundation
  When – Thursday 13 April, 10.30am – 11.30am
  Where – Ensbury Park Library, 31 Columbia Road, BH10 4DZ
• Chicken Licken Easter Activities
  When – 1 – 15 April (see below for times)
  Where – Pokesdown & Southbourne Library, Seabourne Road, Southbourne, BH5 2HY

• Boardgames Group
  When – 6 April, 4 May & 1 June, 5pm – 6.30pm
  Where – Pokesdown & Southbourne Library, Seabourne Road, Southbourne, BH5 2HY

Highcliffe Castle – Families for Five Pounds Day

• Family entry to the local castle is being reduced from £18 to £5 for one day on the 6 April.
  When – Thursday 6 April, 10am – 4pm
  Where – Highcliffe Castle, Rothesay Drive, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 4LE
  Cost – £5 per family

The Regent Centre Easter Trail, Christchurch

• There are a cracking variety of eggciting activities for Children at the Regent Centre in Christchurch this Easter, so do hop along to find out more!*
  The Easter Trail is suitable for families wishing to explore the historical landmarks around Christchurch. The accessible trail is estimated to take 40 – 60 minutes. Complete the trail to receive an Easter Egg and be entered in to a prize draw to win a family cinema ticket at The Regent Centre.
  *Thanks to the Visit Dorset website for the Easter puns!
  When – Saturday 6 – Sunday 21 April, 10am – 4pm
  Where – follow an accessible trail on foot around Christchurch
  Cost – £2 per game includes maps (to be collected from The Regent Centre box office)

Red House Museum – British Bird Eggs Hunt, Christchurch

• Find the 8 hidden eggs around the museum and match the bird pictures to the activity sheet provided. Once you have completed your hunt, take your sheet to reception to collect your prize. Once completed the activity sheets can be taken home to continue bird spotting.
  When – 1 – 16 April (see website below for more information).
  Where – Red House Museum and Gardens, Quay Road, Christchurch, BH23 1BU
  Cost – £2 per trail sheet

Upton Country Park, Poole Road, Upton, BH17 7BJ

• Easter Craft Shed – choose an activity including Easter bonnets or decorative wooden chicks.
  When – Saturday 1 April – Sunday 16 April, 10am – 4pm
  Where – Craft Shed at Upton Country Park
  Cost – £2 per craft
• Easter Egg Hunt – look high and low to crack the code to receive your Easter surprise!
  *Best suited to ages 3 – 9 years
  When – Saturday 1 April – Monday 10 April, from 10am
  Where – Welcome Centre (in the main car park), Upton Country Park
  Cost – £4 includes puzzle trail sheet

Blandford:

• Cook & Connect – Treads and The Friendly Food Club are launching the free monthly food club during the Easter Holidays.
  When – Monday 6 April, 10.30am – 1.30pm
  Where – The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, Blandford Forum

Wimborne:

•  Streetlight Project Skatepark, Soft Play & Community Café. The Streetlight Project includes a 2,500 square foot indoor skatepark with a variety of ramps, a soft play area and a community café.
  *Please note that minimum age to ride is 6 years.
  When – Wednesdays – Saturdays, 12pm – 7pm (skatepark opens 3.30pm)
  **Please check website for holiday opening times.
  Where – Streetlight Centre, Stone Lane, Wimborne, BH21 1HB
  Cost – Riding starts from £3 for 30 minutes, with free riding sessions after 6pm Wednesdays – Saturdays.