Summer of Smiles: Pythian Club’s HAF Programmes Across Nottingham

This summer, the Pythian Club’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programmes lit up Nottingham with energy, community, and joy. Every week, we engaged hundreds of young people across seven venues, delivering more than 100 sessions that blended sport, creativity, learning, and healthy meals. The result? Skills built, friendships formed, and amazing smiles all around the city.

From the very first session to the final celebration, our focus was simple: create safe, positive spaces where children and young people can be active, nourished, and inspired. Our team of coaches, mentors, and volunteers showed up with heart, and Nottingham’s families showed up with enthusiasm. Together, we made this summer one to remember.

We brought the programme to communities across the city, running sessions at Brendon Lawrence, Victoria Primary, Mellers Primary, Robin Hood Primary, Dovecote Primary School, and Cotgrave Leisure Centre, with one more venue completing our seven-site rollout. Each setting had its own flavour—after-school club vibes at the primaries, multi-sport bursts at the leisure centre, and community-focused sessions at Brendon Lawrence—yet the spirit was the same everywhere: participation, inclusion, and fun.

Alongside sports and games, we wove in creativity, teamwork, and life skills. Healthy meals were part of the offer every day, and for many young people, that consistency helped them engage fully and confidently. Parents told us their children came home tired in the best way—buzzing with stories of new friends, proud of what they’d learned, and eager to come back the next day.

By the numbers, the programme was big. More than 100 sessions delivered across the summer meant a packed schedule with something for everyone, from football and basketball to dance, arts, mindfulness, and leadership activities. Behind those numbers are hundreds of individual wins: a first goal scored, a new dance move mastered, a shy hello becoming a loud laugh by week’s end.

one of this would have been possible without our partners, school leads, venue staff, volunteers, and the incredible families who trusted us with their summer plans. Thank you for welcoming us into your spaces and communities, and for helping us keep Nottingham’s young people active, nourished, and connected.

What’s next? We’re already building on this momentum with new sessions, leadership pathways for young people, and more community events. Keep an eye on our channels for announcements, photos, and highlights—and if you joined us this summer, we’d love to hear your favourite moments.