Families in Macclesfield, Cheshire, can now access free swimming sessions and healthy meals during the February 2026 school half-term break. This support is aimed at children and young people who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.
Cheshire East Council is providing the help through its Holiday Activities and Food programme. Eligible children are able to book up to four sessions during the current holiday period.
The vouchers can be used for family swim sessions at Macclesfield Leisure Centre. Each session includes a food voucher that can be used on the same day at the onsite Taste for Life cafe.
This initiative is part of a plan to provide year-round support by including the February and October half-terms alongside the main school holidays. According to the council, the local programme has been very successful, with attendance rates sitting 15 per cent higher than the national average.
Parents and carers must book their places through the Eequ online platform. Registrations for this half-term originally opened on January 26, 2026, to help families prepare for the break.
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