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Camps

Free Holiday
Camps for
Every Child

Full-day, free holiday programmes for children aged 8–15 — packed with music, arts, sport, cooking, and enrichment. Safe, inclusive, bilingual. No child turned away.

Ages 8–15 100% Free SEN Inclusive Bilingual FR/EN South East London
✦ Summer Camp
GBM Kidz Summer Camp 2026
📅 3 – 22 August 2026 📍 Grinling Gibbons Primary School, Deptford 👧 Ages 8–15 · 60 places per day · Free
Register Now
◆ Easter Camp
GBM Kidz Easter Camp 2027
📅 Dates to be confirmed 📍 South East London 👧 Ages 8–15 · 8 Days · Free
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150+
Children supported across our holiday camps since 2024
80+
Families served and supported through the programme
60
Daily capacity — places allocated on a first-come basis
£0
Cost to every family — always free, no exceptions

The Holidays Should
Never Mean Going Without

Many of the families we serve are affected by low income, the cost of living crisis, and limited access to safe, affordable childcare during the school holidays. For some children, the summer break can mean isolation, boredom, and food insecurity.

We have seen children arrive at camp with little or no food. Holiday hunger is real — and it affects children's ability to engage, learn, and simply enjoy being a child. That is why this year we are committed to providing full meals, ensuring every child is properly nourished and ready to participate fully in the day.

GBM Kidz Holiday Camp exists to respond to both practical and social needs — relieving pressure on families, offering children a safe place to belong, and giving them access to creative, educational and wellbeing experiences they may not otherwise have.

🍽️

Tackling Holiday Hunger

Full meals provided each day so that no child goes hungry — because a hungry child cannot learn, play, or thrive.

🏠

A Safe Place to Belong

For children who may otherwise face isolation or unsafe environments during the holidays, camp is a lifeline — not a luxury.

👨‍👩‍👧

Relieving Pressure on Families

Trusted, free childcare during the school holidays gives families breathing space and peace of mind.

🌱

More Than a Holiday Club

Children leave camp more confident, more skilled, and with friendships and memories that last well beyond the summer.

Structure, Variety
& Joy — Every Day

Every day at GBM Kidz Holiday Camp is carefully planned to give children structure, variety, and plenty of fun. Staff arrive early to set up and prepare, and the day ends with a debrief to make sure everything runs even better tomorrow.

9:00 am
📋

Staff & Volunteer Briefing

Team arrives to prepare the space, set up activity areas and hold a morning briefing before children arrive

10:00 am
🎉

Welcome & Morning Session Begins

Children arrive and the programme begins — music, arts, media, cooking, French, singing, dancing and creative workshops

Midday
🍱

Lunch

Full meals provided for all children — no child goes without

Afternoon

Sports & Physical Activity

Team sports, games and physical activities — keeping children active, building teamwork and enjoying healthy play

4:00 pm
👋

Home Time

Children collected — followed by team clean-up and a daily debrief to review wellbeing, safeguarding and planning

Every Friday
🎂

Weekly Birthday Celebration + Full Team Review

Every Friday we celebrate campers with birthdays that week — and the team holds an in-depth weekly review to strengthen planning and communication

Something for Every Child

A rich rota of activities gives every child the chance to discover, create, move, and grow — across the full three weeks of camp.

🎹 Music

Instrument Lessons

Piano and drum lessons — every child gets the chance to learn an instrument during camp.

🎧 Music

Music Production

Hands-on music production sessions where children create and record their own tracks.

🎤 Performance

Singing & Dance

Group singing workshops and dance classes — building performance skills and pure, joyful expression.

📸 Media

Photography & Graphic Design

Media workshops in photography and graphic design — giving children tools to tell their own stories.

🎨 Arts & Crafts

Arts, Crafts & Sewing

Painting, crafts, and sewing sessions that develop creativity, fine motor skills, and self-expression.

🍳 Life Skills

Cooking & Baking

Hands-on cooking and baking — children learn to prepare real food and build practical life skills they keep for life.

Sport

Sports & Physical Activity

Team sports, games, and physical activities every afternoon — keeping children active and building teamwork.

🇫🇷 Languages

French Sessions

Bilingual camp activities and dedicated French sessions — celebrating our community's language and heritage.

🌱 Outdoors

Gardening

Outdoor gardening sessions connecting children with nature, patience, and the satisfaction of growing something real.

🧘 Wellbeing

Wellbeing Sessions

Age-appropriate sessions supporting children's mental health, emotional regulation, and sense of self.

🚌 Trips

Educational Trips

Organised trips giving children broader educational and recreational experiences beyond the camp setting.

🎮 Free Time

Games Room

Video games, board games and supervised free activities — because rest, play, and choice matter too.

Special Days That
Children Never Forget

Beyond the daily programme, we create shared moments and celebrations that make the camp extraordinary — and give children something to be proud of.

🌍 Cultural Day

Cultural Celebration Day

Children celebrate the many nationalities represented at camp — promoting pride in identity, cultural exchange, and mutual respect. A joyful reminder that our diversity is our strength.

C
🎙️ Recording Day

Recording Day

Children record the songs and music they have learned during camp. A tangible creative outcome that builds confidence and lets them hear, share, and celebrate what they have created.

R
🏃 Family Day

Sports Day with Parents

A sports day that brings children and parents together — building community, celebrating families, and creating memories that belong to the whole family, not just the child.

S

End of Camp
Funfair & Showcase

At the close of every camp, we celebrate everything children have achieved with a funfair and presentation for parents and carers — performances, showcases, and participation certificates. A moment for families to see their children shine.

Live performances from the children
Showcase of creative work from the camp
Participation certificates for every child
Funfair activities for the whole family
Open to all parents and carers

Every Child.
Fully Included.

We are committed to providing a fully inclusive environment where children with SEND can participate, engage, and thrive alongside their peers. Inclusion is not a box we tick — it is woven into everything we do.

Our SENCO Karell Guei ensures every child's individual needs are understood and supported. Our sensory room provides a calm, regulated space for children who need it. Every activity is adapted to ensure full participation for every ability.

🧩

SENCO On-Site

Karell Guei, our qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinator, is present across all camp activities

🛋️

Sensory Room

A dedicated sensory space for children who need a calm, quiet, and regulated environment during the day

✏️

Adapted Activities

Every session is designed and modified to ensure full participation regardless of ability or additional needs

Your Child's
Safety First.

The safety and wellbeing of every child at GBM Holiday Camp is our highest priority. We operate a comprehensive safeguarding policy and hold ourselves to the highest standards at every level of the programme.

🛡️

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Grace Balafonte (DSL) and Rachel Dago (Deputy DSL) oversee safeguarding across all camp activities

Enhanced DBS Checks

All staff members and volunteers hold valid enhanced DBS checks before working with any child at camp

📋

Daily Safeguarding Debrief

The team holds a daily debrief after every session to discuss any safeguarding or wellbeing concerns immediately

Help Us Keep
the Doors Open

The camp is free because people believe in these children. Here are three ways you can be part of making it happen.

Register Your Child

Places at GBM Kidz Summer Camp 2026 are free, limited, and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration takes just a few minutes. Secure your child's place today.

Register Now →

Donate to the Camp

Every pound donated goes directly towards funding a child's place, providing meals, and keeping the programme free. Your gift makes an immediate, tangible difference.

Donate Now
🤝

Volunteer With Us

We welcome volunteers who want to support children, lead activities, or help with the day-to-day running of the camp. If you have a skill, a heart for young people, and a DBS check — we want to hear from you.

Get in Touch

Register Your Child
for Summer Camp 2026

3 – 22 August 2026 · Grinling Gibbons Primary School, Deptford · Ages 8–15 · Free

Places are limited and fill quickly. Registration is free and takes just a few minutes.

Registered Charity No. 1203259 · Questions? Email contact@gracebalafonteministries.com