South and Vale Holiday Activities

During most school holidays, our Active Communities team offer a range of free and low-cost activities, for young children, teenagers and families to enjoy at locations across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

Bookings open around a month before each holiday period – follow our new Active Communities Facebook page, you can join our mailing list to receive regular email updates, or if you have any questions; please email active.communities@southandvale.gov.uk 

The activities are usually very popular so, where required, we would encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.  See below for details of our next programme of holiday activities and how to book. 

What’s on, where and when:

Below are the events we have confirmed for the upcoming holiday period.

Under each category, you’ll find when and where the activities take place along with the links you’ll need to make a booking.

Abingdon Fun Day – Wednesday 28 May – 9am to 3pm

White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Audlett Drive, Abingdon, OX14 3PJ

The Active Communities team and Better leisure centre team bring you a day of fun, free activities. Join in throughout the day!

Please see below for details of the activities available for each community day. For sessions with limited numbers booking is recommended to secure your place and avoid disappointment on the day.

The team will also be on hand to give information on local programmes and services such as YouMove and Move Together and membership options at the centre.

Timetable of activities

For more information on activities please see below:

Sports Hall Activities

Titan Tots & Bouncy Castle

TitanTots is a brand new get active session for early years in Abingdon. We will be kicking off our Funday with a TitanTots Bouncy Castle and free play. Come say hi and find out more about our free sessions.

• 0-4 years, 9-10am

20 spaces available. Book your space for Titan Tots here.

Football: Master the Basics Session

Join our FA qualified coach for a fun football session, all abilities are welcome.

• 8-11 years, 12.30-13.10pm
• 5-7 years, 13.15-13.55pm

25 spaces available per session. Book your space for Football here.

Squash Court

Born to Move Early Years

In these fun-fuelled classes there’s plenty of opportunity for young children to develop their self-awareness, balance, co-ordination, and concentration skills as they interpret music, explore, and move to a beat. 

• Walking – 5 years, 10.30-11am

20 spaces available. Book your space for Born to Move here.

Family Born to Move

A session for you and your child to take part and get fit together. Combining cutting edge moves from martial arts, sports conditioning, dance, and yoga. Leave feeling fitter, more mentally energized, and able to take on the world.

• 11.30-midday

**This session is fully booked please email youmove@southandvale.gov.uk to be added to the waitlist.**

Dance

Come along and learn new moves like the cross steps, leg switches and kick ball change. At the end show off what you learnt in a short routine.
The class with have a street commercial base with elements from ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary.

• 8-11 years, 12.30-1.15pm
• 5-7 years, 1.30-2.15pm

20 spaces available. Book your space for Dance here.

New Age Kurling

Kurling with no Ice! Play with ball bearing stones to get as close as you can to the target. Sitting or standing options available.

• 2.30-3pm, 5-17 years

16 spaces available. Book your space for New Age Kurling here.

Boccia

Boccia is a Paralympic sport where athletes aim to get their coloured balls as close as possible to a white target ball (the “jack”) on a court.
This can be played standing or sitting with various ways to release the ball towards the jack.

• 2.30-3pm, 5-17 years

16 spaces available. Book your space for Boccia here.

Leisure Centre Activities

Equipment for sports sessions will all be provided so please ensure that you turn up with appropriate sportswear and footwear.

It is advisable to book sessions as there are limited numbers, and this will avoid disappointment on the day.

Please note bookings for leisure centre sessions will 5 days before the event.

Family Pickleball:

This will be a session for ages 11+ with a GLL coach. Join an hour session learning skills and how to play Pickleball.

• 1-2pm
• 2-3pm

8 spaces available per session.

To book this session please email youmove@southandvale.gov.uk and include which session you would like to attend.

Aqua Splash:

Come and join the water fun by climbing, sliding and moving along the inflatable on the water!  Open for ages 8+.

Book the Aqua Splash session here or use the Better Leisure app. Bookings open 5 days before the event!

Swim for all:

Come and join our open swim, for all ages in the teaching pool.

Book Swim for all here or use the Better Leisure app. Bookings open 5 days before the event!

Junior Gym

Junior gym (11+) and Adult gym inductions– 10am-3pm

Book a Junior gym induction here, Adult gym Induction here or use the Better Leisure app.

Bookings open 5 days before the event!

Tennis:

Come and join our coached tennis session for 5-8 years and 9-11 years with GLL’s experienced tennis coach. 

• 10-11am 5-8 years
• 11-11.30am 9-11 years

Book your free tennis sessions here or using the Better app.  Bookings open 5 days before the event!

Junior Spin (11+):

Spin session tailored for Junior members.

• Midday-12.45pm

Book your free tennis sessions here or using the Better app.  Bookings open 5 days before the event!

Even more free half term Community Events

The Active Communities team will be attending the events below.

OPA Youth Days Wheatley:

• Tuesday 27 & Thursday 29 May, midday-3pm – Wheatley & Holton playing fields, opposite Wheatley Park School, OX33 1QC

Free entrance and activities for young people aged 10-12; school years 6 and 7.

OPA Mini Play Day Faringdon:

• Friday 30 May, midday-3pm – Tucker Park, Park Rd, Faringdon, SN7 7BP

Free fun activities: Art Avalanche, Body Zorbing, Giant Bubbles, Groovy Su, DIY face painting.

Woodland Tales with Granddad

Cornerstone Arts Centre will be joined by Picked Image with their magical story, Woodland Tales with Granddad on Saturday 31 May at midday.

Laura the ladybird, Jeffrey the spider, Brett the Woodlouse and Willoughby the Woodpecker are worried. Velda the Vixen knows there’s only one person who can help them – Granddad.

Featuring a cast of extraordinary puppets, this uproarious family show not only entertains, but has an important and timely environmental message to share.

Tickets are £10 and the show will last 50 minutes.

More details can be found on their website.

Jigsaw Stage Productions presents: Fiddler on the Roof

Local theatre company Jigsaw Stage productions head to The Beacon in Wantage from 30-31 May with their performances of Fiddler on the Roof. Featuring glorious songs, ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, ‘Tradition’, ‘Matchmaker’ and ‘Sunrise, Sunset’.

Tickets are £18 and can be booked via The Beacon’s website.

Get crafty making “bug friends

This half term at Cornerstone Arts Centre, get crafty making “bug friends”, on Wednesday 28 May, at 11am.

Choose from our rainbow of art materials to create your own bug friend! Will your bug be sparkly and blue? Will your bug have lots of googly eyes? Will your bug have really long legs?! It’s totally up to you!

More details can be found on the Cornerstone website.

Term Time Activities

We offer a range of free and low-cost activities, for young children, teenagers and families to enjoy at locations across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse during term time.

To find out more, visit our Term Time Activities page.

Activities for all residents

Our Active Communities Team work across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse to help residents with their physical health and wellbeing. They run a variety of weekly activities for all ages and abilities.

To find out more and to see what activities are available near you, visit our pages on Active Communities in South Oxfordshire and Active Communities in the Vale of White Horse.