After-School Clubs and Activities for Children in Cramlington

Cramlington has a good spread of activities for children once the school day ends, and most of them are run by long-established clubs and volunteer groups rather than private companies. Football is the biggest by far, with two large junior clubs between them covering children from under-fives to teenagers. Swimming lessons, Scouts and Girlguiding fill most of the other weekday evenings. This guide covers the activity clubs we could confirm from each organisation's own website, with notes on how to join.

Training nights, age groups and fees change from season to season, so please check with the club before your child turns up, and check current prices when you sign up.

Junior football

Football is the easiest after-school activity to find in Cramlington. Our football in Cramlington guide has the full picture; these are the two big junior clubs.

Cramlington Juniors FC has been running junior football in the town since 1973 and is a registered charity. It plays at Ann Welfare on High Pit Road, fields teams from under-7 to under-17, and runs a development centre for under-5s and under-6s. The club posts trial dates on its website ahead of each season, and its website is the best place to check which age groups have space.

Cramlington United FC is based at Northburn Sports and Community Centre on Crowhall Lane and runs more than 60 teams. For younger children it has Crammy's Cubs for boys and girls aged four to seven, and for girls there are Wildcats sessions and a pathway from under-sevens upwards. It also runs Comets, a disability football session for five to eleven year olds. Teams train at several grounds around the town, so ask where your child's age group meets.

Best for: Best for: children who want a team sport, with options from age four and dedicated girls' and disability sessions.

Swimming lessons

Concordia Leisure Centre on Forum Way runs a year-round learn-to-swim programme that follows the Swim England framework, from pre-school lessons to school-age stages and aquatic skills courses such as water polo and lifesaving. Lessons are booked online through Places Leisure, and there are holiday intensive courses for children who want to progress faster.

Little Swimming Co on the Bassington Industrial Estate is an independent swim school with its own small, warm pool. It offers one-to-one lessons, baby, toddler and pre-school classes, and a SEND programme with one-to-one lessons for children with special educational needs, which can be easier than a busy public pool.

See our swimming in Cramlington guide for public sessions and nearby pools.

Best for: Best for: a skill every child needs, with a choice between a big public pool and a small specialist school.

Scouts

Cramlington has four Scout groups, all part of the Blyth Valley Scout District, and between them they meet on most weekday evenings. Scouts is open to girls and boys, from Squirrels at four to Scouts at fourteen.

• 2nd Cramlington has its own hall, Armstrong Hall, at Westwood Grange, and its published times include Squirrels on Monday afternoons, Beavers on Monday evenings and Cubs on Wednesdays.
• 3rd and 5th Cramlington meets at Cragside CofE Primary School on Westloch Road.
• 6th Cramlington meets at Burnside Primary School, and says its sections are currently full, with a waiting list on its website.
• 7th Cramlington meets on Tuesday evenings at Northburn Primary School.

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides

Girlguiding in the town is run by the Cramlington Division, part of Girlguiding Northumberland, which has its county headquarters in Cramlington. Units do not publish their meeting places, so you register your daughter through the Girlguiding website, choose nearby units, and a local volunteer gets in touch when there is a space. Rainbows start at four.

Our guide to Rainbows, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts in Cramlington has meeting times, age ranges and tips on waiting lists.

Best for: Best for: outdoor skills, badges and camps. Join waiting lists early, as places depend on volunteers.

The library

Cramlington Library, in the Hub on Forum Way next to Concordia, runs children's sessions through Northumberland Libraries, including a LEGO Club booked through Eventbrite. It is more of a weekend option than an after-school one, as the library closes at 5pm or 6pm on weekdays and opens on Saturday mornings, so check the Eventbrite listings for current dates.

School clubs and wraparound care

Primary schools in Cramlington run their own after-school clubs, sometimes delivered by visiting sports coaches, and some offer breakfast and after-school care. These vary from school to school and term to term, so the most reliable source is your child's school website or office.

Other clubs worth asking about

Northern Gymnastics Club trains at a dedicated gym on Dudley Lane, Northumberland Business Park West, with classes from pre-school age through to advanced squads. It is open Tuesday to Friday from 3:30pm and on Saturdays, and offers taster sessions for beginners.

Cramlington also has dance schools that hold classes at community centres around the town. We have not listed them here because we could not confirm current timetables from their own websites. If you run one, get in touch and we will add you once we can check the details.

Tips for choosing a club

• Ask about taster sessions: many clubs let children try a session before you commit to fees or kit.
• Check the total cost: subscriptions, registration fees, kit and match fees can add up.
• Think about the school run: a club near school or home is easier to keep up through the dark winter evenings.
• Volunteer if you can: Scouts, Girlguiding and junior football all depend on parents, and more helpers usually means more places. Our volunteer groups guide has other ways to help.

For more ideas see our guide to family activities in Cramlington and the families hub. For music lessons, swimming coaching and academic tutoring, see finding a tutor in Cramlington, and browse more local clubs in our directory.

Spotted a change? Get in touch and we'll update the guide.