How did your programme provide opportunities for children and young people to develop and consolidate their skills and knowledge and try out new experiences? Was there a change in young people’s characters / wellbeing and educational attainment?
Using learning from surveys that identified the types of activities that children and young people would like to attend through HAF, we developed our offer and the approach taken to commission the HAF programme in Gloucestershire. This ensured a diverse range of providers delivering a wide range of enriching activities. Working with our community-based District Lead Organisations and the Short Breaks team to review the bids received, and agree commissioned activities in each district, ensured that the activities were accessible, inclusive, and met the needs and interests of the participants.
Activities on offer ranged from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programming, making rocket cars or programming robots; to forest schools offering children and young people the opportunity to develop skills and confidence outdoors.
We have also offered circus skills to build confidence, physical and emotional strength; and drama and arts to provide opportunities for children and young people to get involved in performing, arts, crafts, music, and performance.
We had several providers that offered open access outdoors provision in local community spaces, including Play Gloucestershire, Read with Me, and World Jungle. These activities were really valued and well attended by local families. Parents and carers told us that they enjoyed attending local family activities where their children could take part in a range of activities, where there was healthy food, and the opportunity for whole families to come together.
Using additional funding received from the Household Support Fund we were able to pilot a youth pass. Offers varied across each district, some of the activities included a youth event with a range of activities, collaborating with existing Gloucestershire HAF providers such as The Music Works and some external youth organisations like Decimal Skate. Other youth pass offers included trips (with transport). Young people were identified through existing youth clubs, and the trips were planned in partnership with the young people to ensure it was something they wanted to do. Some districts purchased tickets for adventure parks and experiences such as Ninja warrior, Cinema and VR experience tickets. These districts also offered food gift cards which were very popular to ensure access to food.
Youth Pass feedback from young people and families:
“I just wanted to thank you for the pack of passes and vouchers. They are incredible and such a blessing”.
Parents feedback collected by our HAF Community Connectors evidenced that they found the ticketed offer incredibly helpful and allowed for greater flexibility.
Feedback collected by our HAF Community Connectors from young people who were engaged in the youth pass offer was very positive, they appreciated the events and wanted more events like this in the future.
Using data from previous surveys, we also learnt that families preferred events that they can attend together. From this, District Leads ran family events which proved to be extremely popular across the county. Family events provide space for families to spend quality time together doing activities that are enriching and fun and provides nutritious food for the whole family. Some events also include family cooking sessions delivered by Gloucestershire HAF providers which are also well received.
Parent and Carer surveys evidence that 87.3% of the range of activities available through the Gloucestershire HAF programme were rated good or very good.
The overall average percentage of children and young people attending the provision throughout 2023-2024 who were in receipt of benefits related school meals was 59%. This is an increase of 20% on the previous year which also demonstrates the positive impact that the HAF programme has made on Gloucestershire’s children, young people, and families.
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