Children and young people in Totnes who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals can take part in free holiday activities this summer through Devon County Council’s Holiday Activities and Food programme.
The Summer HAF 2026 programme runs during the school holiday period from 20 July to 6 September 2026. Activities are available across Devon and include sports, creative arts, outdoor learning, food activities and specialist provision. A healthy meal is included with HAF-funded places.
Book a HAF place
Bookings are made through Devon’s Eequ booking system. Families no longer need HAF codes; eligibility is checked through the booking portal. If you have difficulty booking, contact Devon HAF at haf@devon.gov.uk.
- Devon HAF information for parents and carers: Devon HAF information for parents and carers
- Make bookings here: Devon HAF Eequ booking system
Help with summer holiday childcare costs
If your family is working and you need help with childcare costs, Tax-Free Childcare may be able to help pay towards registered holiday clubs. For every £8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare account, the Government adds £2.
- Tax-Free Childcare
- MoneyHelper guidance on help with school holiday costs
- Turn2us benefits and grants search
Activities in and around Totnes
The activities below are based on local information currently available. Please check each provider’s booking page for dates, times, age ranges, eligibility and availability.
Hello Summer 2026
Based at Totnes St John’s Primary School, Totnes, TQ9 5TZ.
Hello Summer is returning with a series of free family-friendly activities taking place throughout August, featuring creative workshops, theatre, LEGO, alpacas and more.
- Thursday 6 August, 10:00am to 1:00pm: Crafting with Mindful Making Totnes
- Friday 7 August, 10:00am to 1:00pm: Interactive Theatre with Playground Arts
- Thursday 13 August, 10:00am to 1:00pm: Get Creative with The Woolly Nanas
- Friday 14 August, 10:00am to 1:00pm: Summer Fun Day with Mr O
- Thursday 20 August, 10:00am to 1:00pm: LEGO with Brick Ideas
- Friday 21 August, 10:00am to 1:00pm: Alpaca Day with Lakemoor Alpacas
Cost
- Free to attend
- No need to book
- Free lunch for children attending
Totnes St John’s Primary School trial holiday club
Totnes St John’s Church of England Primary School is running a trial holiday club this summer, open to primary-aged children from all areas, not just pupils at the school.
- Dates: Monday 24 August to Friday 28 August
- Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm, with wraparound care available
- Cost: £35 per day
- Activities include art, drama, outdoor learning, cooking, PE and games
- To find out more or book, contact the school office: office@totnesstjohns.acexcellence.co.uk
The Grove Totnes summer programme
The Grove Totnes is offering a summer holiday programme from 27 July to 20 August at The Grove Primary School, Totnes. The clubs include a mix of activities, with each week following a different theme. The team has been running holiday camps in London since 2015 and is now offering them in Totnes.
- 27 to 30 July: The Animal Lunch
- 3 to 6 August: Character Carnival
- 10 to 13 August: Splish Splash!
- 17 to 20 August: Time Travellers
- 9:00am to 10:00am: Morning club entry activities, optional
- 10:00am to 12:30pm: Arts and crafts, drama, dance and music workshops
- 1:00pm to 3:00pm: Games, sport, forest school and free play
- 3:00pm to 5:00pm: Extended hours, optional
Children should bring a packed lunch or can choose a hot meal prepared by Chef Marco. When booking, parents and carers will be asked to complete a Child Information Form with details such as health issues and food allergies.
Outdoor and forest school activities
Families looking for outdoor holiday clubs may wish to check forest school and nature-based providers near Totnes.
The Outdoors Group Holiday Clubs
The Outdoors Group runs forest school holiday clubs during school holidays, including at The Forest School at Totnes near Broadhempston. The holiday clubs are aimed at children and teenagers aged 5 to 15, with outdoor activities such as child-led play, games, woodland crafts, whittling, tool work, campfire cooking, fire lighting, den building and bushcraft.
The Totnes Forest School sessions are listed as running on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:00am to 4:00pm. Families are asked to bring a packed lunch, water bottle, wellies and waterproofs.
The Forest School at Totnes is based at Broadhempston Community Woodland, Totnes, TQ9 6DA.
- More information and booking: The Outdoors Group holiday clubs
- Totnes Forest School site information: The Forest School at Totnes
Wild Embers Wild Adventurers Holiday Club
Wild Embers runs nature-based holiday clubs for children who enjoy small group settings, outdoor play and imaginative activities. Its Wild Adventurers Holiday Club is for children aged 6 to 12 who are confident in group settings and able to join in group games and activities with light supervision.
Activities include tree climbing, den building, mini-beast hunts, campfire cooking, nature crafts, whittling, organised games and free play. Sessions are listed as 9:30am to 3:00pm at Pondfields, Dartington.
Wild Embers notes that Wild Adventurers is not suitable for children who require additional support or 1:1 care, and that it is currently unable to run its SEND Holiday Club.
- More information: Wild Embers Holiday Clubs
- Wild Adventurers: Wild Embers Wild Adventurers
Young Dartington / YD Summer Camps
Young Dartington runs summer camps for ages 8 to 14 at Park School on the Dartington Estate. The 2026 camp weeks are 27 to 31 July and 3 to 7 August, with activities including arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, bushcraft, pottery, drama, music, caving and raft building.
- Cost: £328 per week, with an optional camping add-on for £218
- Children usually take part in two chosen activities each day
- More information and booking: YD Summer Camps
- Contact: youngdartington@gmail.com or 07818 032443
River School with Canoe Adventures
River School with Canoe Adventures is an outdoor holiday club for ages 8 to 14 on the River Dart estuary. Children paddle by giant canoe, explore the river and take part in activities such as bushcraft, raft building, swimming, fishing, nature crafts and campfire cooking.
- Sessions may meet at Stoke Gabriel, Tuckenhay or Totnes depending on tides, so check booking details carefully
- Paid sessions are usually 10:00am to 4:00pm
- HAF-funded sessions are usually 10:30am to 3:30pm and include a hot meal
- Paid places cost £45 per child, or £40 for siblings booked together
- More information and booking: River School Holiday Club
Sports clubs and activity camps
There are also sport and multi-activity options locally, including football, multi-sports and activity camps.
Shear Soccer
Shear Soccer is running HAF-funded football and multi-sports sessions at KEVICC, Totnes, for children aged 5 to 14. Sessions run Monday to Thursday across four summer weeks:
- 27 to 30 July
- 3 to 6 August
- 10 to 13 August
- 17 to 20 August
Sessions are usually 10:00am to 3:00pm and include coaching, small-sided tournaments, fun competitions, trophies, prizes and certificates, plus nutritional activities and lunch for children attending through HAF.
Funded HAF places are free for eligible children, with paid places listed at £25 per session. Places are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis.
Sporty Stars multi-activity camp at Totnes Leisure Centre
Sporty Stars is running a multi-activity holiday camp at Totnes Leisure Centre, Borough Park Road, Totnes, for children aged 5 to 12. The camp uses facilities including the sports hall, dance studio and swimming pool.
Activities include swimming, Nerf Wars, Bubble Football, glow-in-the-dark sports, archery tag, inflatables, parachute games, sports, arts and crafts and more. Children are placed in age-appropriate groups.
Sporty Stars’ own website lists the camp day as 8:15am to 5:15pm, with drop-off between 8:15am and 9:00am and collection between 4:30pm and 5:15pm. Registration and collection are at the main Totnes Leisure Centre reception.
The Eequ HAF booking page lists HAF-funded places for eligible children, with a free hot lunch included as part of the HAF programme. It also lists a full-day extension at £10 per session. Families should check the Eequ page carefully when booking, as times, funded sessions, extensions and availability may vary.
- Sporty Stars Totnes camp information: Totnes Multi Activity Camp with Sporty Stars
- HAF booking page: Totnes Multi Activity Camp with Sporty Stars on Eequ
- Contact: ryan@sportystars.co.uk or 07721 638935
Please check before you book
Activities, dates and places can change quickly. Please check the provider’s own booking page for the latest information, including eligibility, age ranges, accessibility, meals, costs for non-HAF places, and whether parents or carers need to stay.
We will continue to update this list over the coming weeks.