The Holiday Club
A lifeline for the Walton community
The Holiday Club in Walton‑on‑the‑Naze has established itself as a vital community space, providing high‑quality holiday provision for local families to ensure residents feel supported, connected, and confident in accessing opportunities that enhance their children’s wellbeing and development.
The club has built strong, local relationships, with many children returning each year and recommending the provision to friends, peers, and extended family, demonstrating the trust and value.
Active Essex has played a central role in enabling the The Holiday Club to expand, innovate, and deliver high‑quality inclusive provision. It’s support has included:
- Targeted funding for programme delivery, SEND enhancements, and the development of young leaders
- Access to training and development, including pathways through Move With Us and the Young Leader Programme
- Facilitating community connections, strengthening partnerships and broadening the club’s reach and offer
- Guidance on inclusive practice, helping the club enhance its SEND provision and create equitable opportunities for all children
Active Essex’s sustained support has ensured the club is not only a holiday provision but a trusted, embedded community asset that contributes meaningfully to family wellbeing, youth development, and inclusive community participation.
The club places a strong emphasis on youth development. Three young leaders now support delivery, progressing through the Young Leader Programme. One of these leaders, Ellexie Grace, previously an attendee, has achieved two significant awards: the Active Essex Move With Us Award and a Tendring District Council Young Community Ambassador Award. Her achievements have not only raised the profile of the club, but have also contributed to wider community engagement, including the sponsorship of her girls’ football team’s water bottles.
Collaboration with Active Essex has enabled the club to broaden its offer significantly. Funding and support have facilitated a wide range of initiatives, including Jamie Oliver cookery courses for families, Multiply Skills for Life maths sessions for adults, skateboarding events aimed at revitalising a disused local skate park, and netball sessions for women. These initiatives have strengthened local connections and created accessible opportunities for residents to engage in positive, community‑centred activities.
Participant Case Study
James, who comes to us from a local mainstream school has been coming since we started. He came as very reserved and non-verbal with one parent unable to work because of holiday care. James is now a favourite with the children and team alike and loves his time at holiday club. He now frequently communicates with us, joins in with activities and his mum has been able to return to work. He is a triumph for us and improves every time we see him.
The club operates as a SEND Level 1 provision and is working to increase capacity, with current attendees showing strong personal progress. Active Essex and FYA SEND grants have further strengthened this inclusive approach by funding noise defenders, specialist sensory toys and resources that support children to self‑regulate in a dedicated quiet space. Additional funding has enabled targeted work on social skills, including turn‑taking and managing competitive activities, key elements in helping SEND children participate confidently in group settings.
The club has also built deep, positive relationships with local organisations and services, including the local councillor, foodbank, community halls, lifeboat and fire services, the library’s reading challenge, and supermarkets such as Aldi and M&S. Local businesses and community partners regularly contribute resources, with families responding enthusiastically to the expanding opportunities offered through the club.
Since starting The Holiday Club 5 years ago, Michelle has fully embedded herself into the Walton Community, this is evident in the relationships she has with the families and children who attend her club and in the local connections she has. Michelle embraces all initiatives offered to her and continues to grow and adapt to the needs of the local area.Cheryl Lomas, Relationship Development Officer
