Summer holiday food, activities and childcare programme: evaluation report - summer 2022

4. Perceived impacts for children and young people

Key points

• CYP were able to try various new activities. This made programmes exciting and enjoyable and CYP were typically keen to do them again.
• Where CYP felt they had choice, this was viewed positively and could increase enjoyment and motivation to attend. However, where there was not much choice, but CYP enjoyed what was on offer, they did not seem to mind having limited options.
• There were mixed views from CYP and parents on whether food provided was healthy and met their needs.
• Particularly in programmes with a greater focus on food there had been some wider impacts. These included: developing kitchen skills; trying foods they would not normally eat; and learning about healthy eating.
• It was clear that CYP enjoyed outdoor elements of programmes. There was some evidence of CYP spending more time outside than usual as a result of attending activities.
• There was also evidence of CYP spending time outside their usual environment and of this being a very positive element of programmes. Indeed, for some CYP, visiting new places on trips was a highlight.
• There were opportunities to take part in physical activity at a number of programmes. There was some evidence of the Summer Programme leading to an increase in physical activity during and after the summer.
• It was clear that CYP enjoyed the activities they took part in and that there were a number of wellbeing benefits. These included: feeling happy; increased confidence; having a routine; feeling calm and relaxed; improved mental health; and gaining independence.
• Spending time with friends or making new friends was important to the enjoyment of programmes. For some CYP this was the best part.

This chapter explores perceived impacts of the Summer Programme for children and young people, focusing particularly on the evidence for the short-term impacts identified in the logic model. The chapter looks at priority outcomes, secondary outcomes and other outcomes mentioned by CYP and families. Secondary outcomes were not covered in detail in the interviews so discussion of these is more limited. Analysis draws mainly on CYP and family interviews but also on discussions with local authorities and providers where appropriate.

Priority outcomes

Opportunities to try new activities

CYP were able to try various new activities. These ranged from sports like paddle boarding and boxing, to activities like cooking and baking, to visits to the theatre and zoo. CYP had typically enjoyed trying these new activities and were keen to do them again.

"It was good because, if I didn't go, I don't think I would have thought about those sports or activities, so going opened my mind up to other sports."

(Child aged 12, local authority 5)

Being able to try new activities made programmes exciting and enjoyable, with CYP looking forward to getting to try something different. However, where CYP had not been offered the opportunity to try something new, they reported still having enjoyed taking part in familiar activities and spending time with friends. There was an acknowledgement that there is a limit to the kinds of activities that can be offered when programmes take place in a school environment.

CYP had also gained a sense of achievement as a result of trying new activities, particularly if they had been nervous about taking part beforehand, as well as a sense of pride in what they had learned - for example, facts about different animals, sports skills, and kitchen skills (discussed again later in this chapter).

"I was super happy to see a panda [for the first time], like it was one of the animals we had to learn in the school. The teacher asked us, 'how do pandas look?' I saw them and I was super happy telling the teacher about them."

(Child aged 9 from a refugee family, local authority 2)

Case study 4.1: Jenny

Jenny took part in various summer activities organised by the club she attends. As part of their summer offer, she got to try paddle boarding for this first time. It was her favourite part of summer offer because she got to try something new, whilst spending time with friends and meeting new people.

Jenny was initially nervous about taking part but soon had fun spending time in the water and making friends.

...I was a bit nervous at first but when I got on and had my first fall in, it was me and one of the boys on a paddle board and racing up and down and the instructor was watching us and he was laughing at us. I think it was really fun, it was a good way to kind of go out and try new things especially quite a fun activity. You could all laugh and make new friends and you could all push each other in the water, it was quite funny."

Jenny is a young carer so a wider benefit of the funded activities for her was meeting and sharing experiences with other young carers.

"I think it helped me realise that I'm not alone, that there is other people, maybe you don't see it as much because the way they handle it, but there is other people out there that you could know that could be a young carer."

Jenny's mum explained that, since taking part, Jenny has been keen to continue paddle boarding and how it was great for her to see Jenny enjoy herself.

"...she is desperate for a paddle board and stuff. So, I think by giving them these experiences it then shows them different things that they may be interested in and that they can maybe carry on and do, and I would say just gave them great joy, it was fantastic to see them coming back laughing and smiling and having a great time."

Choice of a range of activities

Where CYP felt they had choice, this was viewed positively and could increase enjoyment and motivation to attend. Yet, where there was not much choice, but CYP enjoyed what was on offer, they did not seem to mind having limited options.

The amount of choice available generally depended on the format of the programme. In some cases, families could book themselves on a range of programmes while, in others, families were invited to a specific activity. The amount of choice on a given day also varied, with some offering different activities for children to choose from during the day and others having pre-set activities for all children to participate in.

While there was less of a focus on co-creation of activities than in 2021, providers discussed being reactive to feedback and trying to adjust activities depending on what was popular.

Families in rural areas commented that there is generally a lack of choice of holiday activities for them and that it is too expensive to travel further afield. They were pleased that there was something of interest for their children to attend this year.

"I think it is just great when the kids get the opportunities to do these things, especially in rural areas…if you're in a city there is so much going on but they seem to forget about [anywhere further away]."

(Parent of children aged 9, 10 and 13, local authority 2)

Parents of CYP with ASN also commented that suitable summer provision was usually very limited and were pleased to have options this year.

Consistent access to nutritious food during school holidays

Food provision varied by programme, as discussed in Chapter 2. It was clear that organisers and staff made efforts to make sure CYP did not go without food. There were, however, mixed views from CYP and parents on whether food provided was healthy and met their needs. Where there were positive comments, these related to: CYP liking the food available; there being a range of options to choose from; accommodation of dietary requirements; and being able to ask for food and drinks if hungry or thirsty.

"…if you were getting a bit hungry or thirsty after doing the activity you knew that you could ask for some water or a snack and it was there as a just in case and there was always extras for people that needed it, so that was really good."

(Young person aged 14, local authority 5)

Where negative comments were made, this tended to be because families thought there was not enough choice or enough food or CYP did not like the options available.

"It was primary [school] food when we went, so I didn't eat it because I knew from experience it wasn't nice."

(Child aged 11, local authority 4)

While providers reported challenges in catering for different cultural and dietary requirements, their efforts were recognised by parents. For example, the provision of vegetarian options or specific foods requested for CYP with ASN.

"I went in the first day and I was surprised to see they'd pretty much got everything I'd listed for him. It had his name written on. I remember [he] saw it and it was like Christmas - he couldn't quite believe that they'd gone through all that effort just for him. It did feel special."

(Parent of child aged 8 with ASN, local authority 6)

Secondary outcomes

As interviews with CYP focused on priority outcomes, there was less discussion of secondary outcomes. While the following outcomes were not major themes, they were clearly important aspects of the Summer Programme for some families.

Improved relationships with food

As a secondary outcome, there was limited discussion of whether the Programme contributed to improved relationships with food. However, there was evidence to suggest that, particularly in programmes with a greater focus on food (e.g., cooking or baking), there had been some wider impacts, as illustrated in case study 4.1. These included: developing kitchen skills; being encouraged to try foods they would not normally eat; and learning about healthy eating. CYP reported having continued baking at home and their parents having cooked meals at home that they learnt at the programme.

There were also lasting benefits reported at programmes where food had been less of a focus. For example, one parent commented that their family had been provided with fruit as part of their lunch and had then continued to eat more fruit at home.

"They don't always eat a lot of fruit but at these things they were eating fruit so that was good…[we've] definitely made healthier choices at home because if you can eat fruit at a club you can eat it at home."

(Parent of children aged 11 and 5, local authority 3)

Increased participation in activities outdoors/outside of their usual environment

There was some evidence of CYP spending more time outside than usual as a result of attending activities. For one family, the outside areas at the playscheme were a safer environment to play in than their neighbourhood. In other cases, though, it had made little difference as CYP would have spent time outdoors regardless. Nonetheless, it was clear that CYP enjoyed the outdoor elements.

"My favourite bit about it was going outside and playing with my friends and hanging on the football nets."

(Child aged 9, local authority 3)

Not all programmes, however, had involved outdoor activities and this was something that was suggested as an improvement in these cases. It was recognised that there may be some logistical challenges to doing so.

There was also evidence of CYP spending time outside their usual environment and this being a very positive element of programmes. Indeed, for some CYP, visiting new places on trips was a highlight of the summer. For refugee families, the daytrips provided the additional benefit of helping them get to know their local area.

"[The organiser] made our summer beautiful, and the most I went out was this summer…I went to beautiful castle which was a lovely day. I've never lived like this day before...at the end of the day all that happiness was around us."

(Young person aged 20, local authority 2)

Increased physical activity

There were opportunities to take part in physical activities at a number of programmes. Due to time limitations, discussions did not always cover whether or not attending programmes had resulted in increased physical activity for CYP. Parents of CYP with ASN, however, did volunteer that this had been an important impact of the programmes, due to the fact there are not normally such activities offered to them.

"[She] was terrified of water…day one at the swimming she just sat on the side lines with me and wouldn't go in and by day four she was in with floaties down the deep end"

(Parent of child aged 6 with ASN, local authority 8)

There was also some evidence of the Summer Programme leading to an increase in physical activity after the summer. For example, one child who took part in a football activity had since joined a team, having previously struggled with group settings.

"…before I couldn't get him to go to football, he has gone and he has joined a football club, and now he is going every month to a football club...Now he is managing a full football match, 90 minutes on a pitch with crowds and he wouldn't have done that before."

(Parent of child aged 11, local authority 1)

Access to peer learning/further support

While not a major theme in the interviews, there were some examples of CYP accessing peer learning or further support. In one case, a youth club ran sessions where invited speakers talked about mental health and issues facing the LGBT community. Another programme provided an opportunity for young carers to connect and they have continued to support each other since.

"I made a lot of friends with the whole young carers thing…we have this big group chat we have now where we all talk, and just kind of check up on them, message them, make sure everything is okay if they need a day out or if they just need a break just go out with them"

(Young person aged 14, local authority 5)

Enjoyment and improved wellbeing

It was clear that CYP enjoyed the activities they took part in and that there were a number of wellbeing benefits of the Summer Programme. These included: socialising with peers (discussed further below); feeling happy; increased confidence; having a routine (particularly for CYP with ASN); feeling calm and relaxed (particularly for CYP with ASN); improved sleep; having something to look forward to; improved mental health; having role models in staff; and gaining independence.

There were differing views on the involvement of parents in summer activities in terms of CYP wellbeing. There were parents who commented that their child is shy or anxious and would not have attended had they not been involved in the activities too. Family activities could have positive impacts for CYP by helping families to build positive relationships by spending time together having fun. Other parents felt it was important for the child to have some time to themselves away from family (discussed further below).

Improved wellbeing was a particular benefit for CYP with ASN. One parent described their son feeling calm at the activities, and this having the knock-on benefits of developing his communication and confidence.

"…he tends to only verbally communicate when he is feeling calm and regulated, so the fact that he was actually able to verbalise new words [at activity] was so encouraging. So, it actually helped bring on his communication development, his social development and his confidence".

(Parent of child aged 6 with ASN, local authority 1)

There was also an important element of respite for children with ASN and for their siblings, and for young carers. CYP could spend time away from home in a safe environment where they could focus on themselves and the activities.

"It was good because she got to go away and do something herself, whereas a lot of the time we're doing it as a family. So, I think she enjoyed it doing her own thing and meeting new people."

(Parent of young carer aged 10, local authority 5)

Where CYP had not enjoyed activities this tended to be because their friends were not there. Further, some parents felt that staff were inexperienced and they could have been better at interacting with children with ASN.

"[Staff] were all right, but they didn't have a lot of patience for wee anes, you could tell they were new…even knowing that there are some kids with learning difficulties, and some aren't, they wouldn't know anything about any of that"

(Parent of a child aged 6 with ASN, local authority 7)

Opportunities to socialise with peers

Spending time with friends or making new friends was important to the enjoyment of programmes. For some CYP this was the best part of the activities. Programmes reduced social isolation and provided the only opportunity for some CYP to see their friends or peers during the summer holidays, particularly those living in more rural areas. In addition to the enjoyment this provided, parents felt it had helped to develop their children's social skills.

Other impacts

Other impacts of the Summer Programme mentioned by parents were: supporting transitions to primary or secondary school (by meeting people who would be in their class/year); and providing CYP with something to do to stop them instead "causing havoc in the community". There were also CYP who have expressed an interest in becoming a volunteer with the organisation as they had enjoyed the activities so much.