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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
9 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
July 31, 2026
Last reviewed: 31st July 2026
Applies to: UK (with local council variation in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
Written by: Georgina, founder of Purpl
The summer holidays should bring rest, play, and family memories. For disabled children and their parents, however, planning accessible summer activities often brings extra hurdles around physical access, sensory overload, accessible transport, and rising costs.
A report by the Children’s Commissioner revealed that only 14% of eligible children with identified SEND accessed the government’s free Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, compared with 22% of eligible non-disabled peers. This gap leaves thousands of disabled children excluded from free holiday schemes designed to support low-income families.
This guide breaks down how to find accessible holiday provision, what questions to ask providers, how access schemes work, and how Purpl discounts help reduce the summer price tag for disabled families.
Summer activities give children vital opportunities to socialise, build confidence, and transition smoothly back into school. Yet thousands of disabled children face routine exclusion.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme – funded by the Department for Education – provides free holiday club places, healthy meals, and enriching activities to eligible low-income families in England. However, a place is only valuable if a venue can safely accommodate a child’s needs.
The Children’s Commissioner highlights several recurring barriers:
Research by Sense shows that 10% of responding local authorities commission zero holiday clubs for disabled children. This forces many parents to take unpaid leave or pay out-of-pocket for specialist care.
Finding suitable summer activities requires navigating fragmented local services. A great starting point is your local authority’s SEND Local Offer.
Under Section 30 of the Children and Families Act 2014, councils in England must publish clear details about local services for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
To find your local options, search online for:
"[Your council name] SEND Local Offer"
Look for specific sections covering:
While the HAF scheme primarily targets children receiving benefits-related free school meals, many local councils hold discretionary funding for children with additional needs or families facing severe hardship.
Many activity providers advertise as “inclusive,” but that label does not guarantee they can meet your child’s specific requirements. Asking clear questions beforehand prevents stressful situations on arrival.
Transport often determines whether an activity is genuinely accessible. A “free” holiday club becomes unaffordable if getting there requires expensive wheelchair-accessible taxis or multiple stressful bus changes.
Ask your local council or activity provider if transport is included with the HAF place, or if short break funding and direct payments can cover travel expenses.
Disabled bus passes generally offer free off-peak travel across England. Some local authorities allow disabled children or companion pass holders to travel free during peak morning hours. Check your council’s specific concessionary rules before booking morning sessions.
A Disabled Persons Railcard cuts adult rail fares by 1/3 for both the cardholder and one adult companion. You can book free journey support – such as ramp deployment or luggage assistance -separately through National Rail Passenger Assist.
If transporting your child’s primary wheelchair, scooter, or support equipment across the country is difficult – or if you need temporary equipment for a staycation – short-term equipment hire can relieve stress.
Purpl members can access exclusive savings on short and long-term rentals through Mobility Hire, allowing you to have manual wheelchairs, powerchairs, mobility scooters, or patient hoists delivered directly to your home or holiday accommodation.
Using national access passes simplifies day trips and dramatically reduces costs for companion carers.
| Access Scheme | Primary Benefit | Eligibility Criteria | Cost / Renewal |
| CEA Card | 1 free companion ticket at participating cinemas | Aged 5+, requires PIP, DLA, or Blue Badge proof | £6.50 per year |
| Merlin Ride Access Pass | Removes the need to queue in main lines at theme parks | Apply online 7+ days in advance via Nimbus Disability | Free with attraction entry |
| Disabled Persons Railcard | 1/3 off rail fares for cardholder and 1 companion | Proof of PIP, DLA, hearing/visual impairment, etc. | £20 for 1 year / £54 for 3 years |
| SEND Local Offer | Access to council-funded short breaks and HAF clubs | Children with identified SEND living in the council area | Free |
For children with physical disabilities or neurodivergent conditions who cannot manage long queues, Merlin Entertainments (LEGOLAND Windsor, Alton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park) offers the Ride Access Pass.
Not every disabled child wants a full theme park day. Some families need shorter, quieter or more flexible activities, especially if their child experiences fatigue, sensory overload, anxiety or pain.
Tiqets can be useful for booking museums, landmarks, zoos, aquariums, city tours and family attractions in the UK and abroad. You can often compare ticket options, check opening times and plan a shorter visit around your child’s energy levels.
Purpl members can use the Tiqets offer to save on selected attractions and experiences. Before booking, always check the venue’s own accessibility page for step-free access, disabled toilets, sensory information, companion ticket policies, quiet times and parking.
Purpl tip: Tiqets can work well for flexible summer days out where you want something fun but less overwhelming than a large theme park. Check Purpl before booking, then check the attraction’s access information directly so you know what support is available before you travel.
The CEA Card lets a disabled cinema visitor aged 5 or over bring a companion for free to participating UK cinemas. A parent or guardian completes the online application for children under 16, providing a photo, proof of eligibility such as a DLA or PIP letter, and a £6.50 annual fee.
This can make cinema trips much more affordable, especially for children who need a parent, carer or sibling to support them during the visit.
Purpl members can also save on cinema tickets through The Cinema Society, including selected Odeon, Vue, Showcase, The Light and other participating cinema offers. This can be useful for rainy days, very hot days, low-energy afternoons or when your child needs a shorter, calmer activity than a full day out.
Purpl tip: Check The Cinema Society through Purpl before booking cinema tickets, then check whether your child can also use a CEA Card for a free companion ticket. This can help reduce the cost of accessible cinema trips during the summer holidays.
Food costs rise rapidly during the school holidays. Buying meals and snacks at family attractions or motorway services is expensive, and venues rarely cater well to children with restricted diets, sensory food preferences, or specific feeding needs.
Packing your own food cuts costs and ensures your child has safe, familiar options. For low-energy days or quick summer prep, Purpl partners with top supermarkets, rapid grocery delivery services, and meal kit providers to make feeding the family easier and more affordable.
Purpl members access exclusive discounts across major UK grocery brands to stock up on picnic essentials, sensory-safe snacks, and daily household items:
Managing meal prep alongside extra summer admin can be exhausting. Purpl members can use subscription discounts to take the hassle out of weekly dinners:
Raising a child with a disability or long-term health condition brings significant financial demands. Purpl helps bridge this financial gap by providing verified discounts to make accessible summer activities, family travel, and daily living more affordable.
Parents, legal guardians, and carers can register on behalf of a disabled child under 18 using evidence such as an NHS diagnosis letter, DLA award letter, PIP decision letter, Blue Badge, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and more.
Once verified, families unlock member discounts on:
For £1 per month, Purpl members access discounts and exclusive savings while supporting the Purpl Community Grant Fund, which helps fund essential equipment for disabled individuals and families across the UK.
Yes. Parents, legal guardians, and registered carers can create a Purpl account on behalf of a child under 18 by submitting accepted proof of disability or benefit entitlement.
You can use a Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award letter, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) letter, Blue Badge, or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Yes. The HAF programme provides free holiday childcare, healthy meals, and activities for eligible low-income families in England.
Apply online at the official CEA Card website. Applicants must be aged 5 or over and require accompaniment due to their disability. The card costs £6.50 per year.
Submit your online application through Nimbus Disability at least 7 days before your visit. On-the-day registrations at theme park entrances are no longer accepted.
Yes. Purpl members can access Cinema Society offers for selected UK cinema tickets, including participating Odeon, Vue, Showcase, and other cinema partners. Families should also check whether their child qualifies for a CEA Card, which may provide a free companion ticket at participating cinemas.
“Living with Multiple Sclerosis and ADHD myself, I know firsthand how exhausting it is to constantly jump through administrative hoops just to access basic activities. When you add the ‘disability price tag’ – the extra £1,000+ a month disabled households face on average – summer can feel like an obstacle course rather than a holiday.
Exemption schemes, companion passes, and community discounts exist to ensure accessibility is a right, not a luxury. You should never feel guilty for claiming the support your child is legally entitled to.”
– Georgina Colman, Founder of Purpl
Georgina is the founder of Purpl, a UK discount platform built to tackle the extra cost of living with a disability. Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and ADHD, and using an ambulatory wheelchair herself, she combines lived experience with practical advice to help families navigate complex benefit systems, access their legal rights, and reduce everyday expenses.
Other articles or links you might find useful
Free carer entry in the UK: how to get companion tickets without a disability card: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/free-carer-entry-uk-companion-tickets-disability-card
How to apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/how-to-apply-for-disabled-persons-railcard Disability aids and healthcare discounts: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/category/disability-aids
Supermarket disability discounts: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/supermarket-disability-discount
Household essentials disability discounts: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/household-essentials-disability-discounts
UK Disability Benefits and Support Handbook: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/uk-disability-benefits