House of Fun, a leading provider of multi-activity camps in Oxfordshire, is thrilled to announce that we have secured over 500 free places at our Easter holiday camps for disadvantaged children. As part of our commitment to make our camps accessible to all, we have partnered with the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) to provide these free places to children who are in receipt of free school meals. What is HAF? The Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) is a government-funded initiative that offers organisations the opportunity to apply for funded places for children in need. Hou ..read more

Balancing work and family life can be a challenging task. One of the most significant concerns for many working parents is the cost of childcare. In the UK, the government recognised this issue and in 2017, introduced a tax-free childcare account to help eligible families ease the financial burden of childcare expenses. However, there are still many people who aren’t aware of this account and are therefore missing out on a government funded payment of up to £2000 a year (or £4000 if your child is registered disabled). How to Use a Tax-Free Childcare Account Eligibility Check Before getting ..read more

‘Tis the season to be jolly, the season of giving and a time for us to be together, reflecting on the year that has passed and planning exciting adventures for the year ahead. The Christmas holidays are always a funny one for us at House of Fun; the camp days are few as Christmas Day gets closer and this year that means we only have 2 fun-filled days together. But, the fun doesn’t have to stop there! Our gift to you is a selection of our popular cookery and craft activities for you to try at home over the festive season and cold, dark wintry months. These activities are fun but also a great wa ..read more

As House of Fun (HoF) has grown, so has our team.  This year we have welcomed Joel as Team Manager at our new site at Europa; bringing with him a plethora of knowledge and expertise, he is a real asset to the team. We've sat down with Joel to talk all about the experience he brings, and the fun of running his first summer camp with us. We also discuss the great success of opening our Europa site.  What attracted you to us? I was looking for a job that would work easily in conjunction with school term times. I was also interested in working with children in more of a play/supervision ..read more

At this time of Autumn as the days become shorter, lots of us can be affected – both adults and children. Some people enjoy the cosiness of this time of year, whereas others find it more difficult to settle into the darker days. Wherever you fall on this spectrum, mindfulness can help you to see the beauty around you. “Mindfulness is a coping skill that helps you relax, reduce stress and anxiety, and feel better about yourself and the world around you. It's not a new practice, but more and more schools and workplaces are using it.”  Mindfulness for kids According to Mindfulness in School ..read more

A term we regularly use and hear when looking at ways we can live more sustainably to help planet Earth. In 2021, an event called The Great Big Green Week started in the UK.  It is the UK's biggest ever celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. The Great Big Green Week will take place this year between 24th September and 2nd October. Everyone is invited! Last year, “over 5000 events celebrated how communities are taking action to tackle climate change and protect green spaces, and encouraged others to get involved too.”  These events are as diverse ..read more

This summer marked 10 years of House of Fun and we couldn't be prouder of how far we have come over the years.  What started out as a part-time club supported by family and friends has grown over the years into a nurturing environment. We continue to facilitate growth for both children and staff. 2012 saw the beginning of House of Fun; a children’s activity provider with a social purpose.  It didn't start to make a profit; it started to make a difference. Director Jake started House of Fun out of his firm belief that every child deserves the chance to relax and just have fun.  ..read more

The Summer holidays are fast approaching and that will be another school year completed. Does that mean a holiday for you as well, or does work continue? For the children, that definitely means at least 6 weeks off school! We here at House of Fun Oxford think we should use the time for fun and child development. During the holidays the structure of family life often changes. There may even be less structure when it comes to things like wake-up time, bedtime and even mealtimes. So, with the focus for many being more on having fun, enjoying the sunny weather (hopefully) and making memories toge ..read more

As a company with a social purpose (House of Fun – we didn't start to make a profit; we started to make a difference), House of Fun has been committed to providing summer camp placements to disadvantaged children for almost 10 years. We strongly believe that disadvantaged children should have the same opportunities as other children to just relax, have fun and enjoy their summer holidays in a fun and safe environment. We want to be able to help even more children each year, and that is why we launched 'House of Fun Community' in April 2022. The need for this project is paramount but after an u ..read more

“In April 2019, the UK Government identified excessive screen time for children as an emerging concern.” Covid-19-lockdown-measures-and-childrens-screen-time. During the pandemic, the nation was put into lockdown numerous times and children had no choice but to conduct their education online from home and maintain friendships with the use of devices. As that was the year before the pandemic hit, it is likely that the average amount of screen time for children has since increased due to the measures put in place during the lockdowns. According to Ofcom, “Parents found it harder to control their ..read more