Best Summer Sports Camps in South Shields

The summer holidays are well under way, and with schools not back until early September there are still several weeks of long days to fill. Sports camps are one of the best ways to do it: children burn off energy, learn a new skill, make friends outside their usual class, and come home tired in the best possible way. South Shields and the wider borough are unusually well served, with council-run camps, a professional football club's foundation, water sports on the doorstep, and specialist gymnastics coaching all running through August.

Here is a guide to the genuine, local summer sports camps that still have weeks left to book, along with the practical details you need. Prices and exact session times change from week to week, so treat the booking links as the definitive source and check before you turn up.

Active South Tyneside Football Camps

South Tyneside Council's own sport and leisure service, Active South Tyneside, runs boys' and girls' football camps through the summer holidays at its two flagship venues in the town: Temple Park Centre on John Reid Road and Haven Point on the seafront at Pier Parade. The camps are pitched at helping children build confidence, improve their skills and make new friends, rather than trials or elite pathways, so they suit a wide range of abilities.

Because they run out of the council's leisure centres, these are a sensible choice if you want everything under one roof — changing facilities, cafés and, at Haven Point, a swimming pool if you fancy staying on afterwards. Sessions and prices vary by week, so book through the council's Summer 2026 football camp page or contact the Sport and Leisure team on 07729 184297 or at enquiries@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Best for: Council-run football camps at two central, well-equipped leisure venues.

South Shields FC Foundation Holiday Camps

The community arm of the town's semi-professional club, South Shields FC, runs its own holiday football camps and they are among the most popular in the borough. The Foundation splits players into three age bands — Reception to Year 2, Year 3 to Year 5, and Year 6 to Year 7 — so children train alongside others their own age. Each day mixes techniques, skills, small-sided games and tournaments, with a different focus such as passing, defending or possession, daily player recognition, and a "player of the week" award on the final day.

The camps are held on the 3G pitches at Harton and Westoe Miners Welfare. For the remaining weeks of the 2026 summer holidays, the Foundation is running camps from Monday 27 to Friday 31 July, Monday 17 to Friday 21 August, and Monday 24 to Friday 28 August. Book through the South Shields FC Foundation camps page, where each week's times and prices are listed.

Best for: Structured football coaching from the town's own club, in tight age groups.

South Shields Surf School

If your children would rather be in the sea than on a pitch, South Shields Surf School runs summer holiday clubs on Sandhaven Beach for ages 8 to 16. Sessions cover surfing and stand-up paddleboarding, with all the equipment provided, so there is no need to own a wetsuit or board to give it a try. The beach location off the Promenade is a two-minute walk from the seafront amusements, making it easy to build a full day out around a morning in the water.

Holiday-club spaces are limited by group size and the tides, so book ahead rather than turning up. Contact the school on 07583 144560 or at info@southshieldsurf.co.uk to confirm dates and availability for the weeks you want.

Best for: Something different — surfing and paddleboarding on our own doorstep.

South Tyneside Gymnastics and Wellbeing Centre

Based at Temple Park Centre, the South Tyneside Gymnastics and Wellbeing Centre is a community interest company offering gymnastics, trampolining, tumbling and free running for children of all ages and abilities. Alongside its regular classes it runs holiday sessions during school breaks, so it is worth a call if you have a child who prefers vaulting and somersaults to team sports.

The centre is a good fit for younger children too, and runs a Play Tots strand over the summer holidays. Because places and session times change through the summer, contact the centre directly on 07715 941068 or at stgymnasticscentre@outlook.com to check what is running in the remaining weeks.

Best for: Gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling for all ages, including tots.

Free Places Through the HAF Programme

Not every family needs to pay for a summer camp. Through the Department for Education's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, South Tyneside Council offers free holiday clubs — including football, multi-sport and dance — with a nutritious meal each day. For summer 2026 the programme runs from Monday 20 July to Sunday 30 August.

Free places are open to children aged 5 to 16 (or up to 18 with SEND) who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and who live or go to school in South Tyneside. Booking is essential and places fill quickly, so register early. You can find full details and the booking system via the council's HAF information for parents and carers or email HAF@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Best for: Free camps with a hot meal for families eligible for free school meals.

Rainy-Day Backup Plans

Even in a North East summer, the weather can turn, and camps do sell out for the busiest weeks. It is worth having an indoor option in your back pocket. Hebburn Central on Glen Street, two Metro stops away, has two swimming pools, outdoor sports courts and a soft-play area under one roof, while The Dunes Adventure Island on Sea Road offers a large pirate-themed soft play, ten-pin bowling and amusements right on the seafront. Neither is a coached camp, but both keep active children busy for an afternoon when the booked plan falls through.

Best for: Reliable wet-weather cover when a camp sells out or the rain sets in.

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Booking early is the single best piece of advice for the remaining weeks of the holidays — the strongest camps fill their most popular dates first. Always confirm the current price, times and what to bring directly with the provider, as these change from week to week.

Running a summer sports camp in South Shields we have missed? Get in touch and we will add it.