This summer, children and young people in Lowestoft can take part in free sports sessions at local parks. Families can enjoy organised activities together during the school holidays without having to pay.
Lowestoft Town Council is organising and supporting the summer programme, with sessions planned at Denes Oval, Normanston Park, Rosedale Park and Clarkes Lane.
The programme will include cricket, football, pickleball, tennis, dodgeball and multi-sports. Local groups such as Lowestoft Town Cricket Club, Lowestoft Town Football Club, Racket Sports Academy and Suffolk Positive Futures will run the sessions.
The aim is to help children and young people stay active, try new activities and spend more time outdoors during the summer break.
For many families, keeping children entertained during the holidays can be expensive. Paying for clubs, transport, food and activities can put extra pressure on the family budget, especially over a long break.
That’s why free local sessions are especially helpful.
The council says the programme is meant to remove financial barriers and support children’s physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Cricket sessions will take place at Denes Oval on Fridays from 25 July to 29 August. Lowestoft Town Cricket Club will run these sessions, with different time slots for children aged 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 13.
Pickleball and multi-sports sessions run by Racket Sports Academy are also planned for Denes Oval on selected Tuesdays. These are for children and young people aged 8 to 15.
Suffolk Positive Futures will run multi-sports sessions at Normanston Park, Rosedale Park and Clarkes Lane. These sessions are for young people aged 9 to 16, and some do not require booking.
Lowestoft Town Football Club will also run football sessions at Normanston Park, Rosedale Park and Clarkes Lane. These will be grouped by age for children aged 7 to 14.
Because the sessions are held in different parks, the activities are not limited to one part of town. This should make the programme easier to access for families in different Lowestoft neighbourhoods.
The programme also gives local sports clubs and community groups a chance to introduce children to activities they might not try otherwise.
For some children, a free summer session might just be a fun morning or afternoon in the park. For others, it could be the first step to joining a club, building confidence, making friends or finding a sport they enjoy.
That sense of community is important.
Sport is about more than just competition. At its best, it gives young people structure, confidence, teamwork, routine and a positive place to spend time. These opportunities can be especially important during the summer holidays.
The sessions also use some of Lowestoft’s public spaces, like parks and sports facilities that many families already visit in their daily lives.
With the cost of living affecting many families, free local activities can really help. They give parents and carers another option during the holidays and offer children a safe, active way to spend part of their summer.
Some sessions have limited places and need to be booked, while others do not require booking. Families should check the details for each activity before attending.
You can find more information, including dates, age groups, times and booking details, through Lowestoft Town Council’s summer sports programme.