WITH schools across St Helens having finished for summer this month, St Helens Borough Council services are offering a range of free and affordable activities to keep children occupied over the holidays.

After a difficult year for children and young people, missing out on a lot of school and play time, activities have been co-ordinated to cater for all children, from organised board games and craft activities to learning how to computer code.

There is also sports days and soft play.

Activities will be available across the region, with St Helens Library Service offering summer sessions of songs, rhymes and stories for pre-school children – as well as board games and bingo.

There will also be creative sessions themed around the environment as part of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

There will be a wide range of activities happening in St Helens Children’s Centres for the whole family to enjoy, including craft activities, cooking sessions, sports days and many opportunities to learn new skills.

Willowbees lesiure centre in Newton-le-Willows is a relatively new place to take the kids, with a play structure aimed at children up to age 11, with a soft play area for the younger ones.

At venues across St Helens, Go Active also have sports pitches and courts available to hire, as well as sports camps, coaching and swimming sessions that can be booked.

Councillor Nova Charlton, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young People, said: “As a parent myself, I know how difficult it can be to keep the kids entertained throughout the summer holidays – even more so given the past 18 months when they have had to sacrifice a lot.

“It’s important activities like these are available to them during this period to support with their development and wellbeing.”

In addition to these activities, families are encouraged to support local businesses and attractions by visiting the region's museums and entertainment venues, as well as enjoying the borough’s parks and green spaces.

Councillor Charlton added: “As a council, one of our key priorities is to ensure all children have a positive start in life, and providing activities like these in a safe and secure environments play a big part in us achieving this."

For more information about St Helens Library Service, visit: https://www.facebook.com/STHLibraries/

For St Helens Children's Centre's: https://www.facebook.com/STHCCentres

Willowbes leisure centre: https://goactive.sthelens.gov.uk/newtonlewillowshealthandfitness/willowbees/

Go Active: https://goactive.sthelens.gov.uk/