Section 3 - Children and families feedback

Please provide any social media links, testimonials or feedback that you have received concerning your 2022 HAF Programme

A consultation was launched for providers and to parents to feedback on HAF summer 2022.

Overall, we had 207 responses from parents and 12 responses from providers. We have taken learning from these to increase feedback responses for 2023, ensuring that all providers are aware of the consultation, outlining that feedback informs development and promoting this not only digitally but in our provider development sessions.

The parental feedback told us that over 85% of respondents reported that their children enjoyed the activities. Nearly 80% of the Children enjoyed all or some of the food offered. With many parents reporting that their children eat more fruit, are happier and are noticeably more confident and active.

Over 90% said that their children would attend further activities. 

Feedback on promotional activities told us that parents predominately saw the banners outside of school, promotions on Social Media or ‘heard from someone else’. Taking this learning, we have significantly reduced our overall marketing spend, focusing on partnerships with schools to promote the HAF, supplying schools with promotional material and using Social Media.

Feedback from providers has informed us that we are holding the correct amount of briefings, that over 83% have a positive experience of the organisation. And the predominant reasons that parent had given for non-attendance was that the parent/ carer had forgotten/ illness of other family member, or that the family had gone on holiday.

100% of respondents stated that they would deliver the HAF programme again and over 80% stated that they would take part in training sessions with us.

Media

Press and radio

Easter 2022: Free holiday activities for low income families this Easter - Staffordshire County Council Newsroom

N/A (Staffordshire Living) Family rides to successful summer - Staffordshire Living

16/08/2022 (Churnet Sound online) Staffordshire family’s lives transformed thanks to holiday activity programme 

17/08/2022 (Express & Star) Family from Perton hail holiday activity scheme run by council in Staffordshire | Express & Star (expressandstar.com)

17/08/2022 (Lichfield Live): Family accessing free riding lessons in Hammerwich hail summer holiday activities scheme - Lichfield Live®

19/08/2022 Naomi Interviewed for news bulletin Churnet Valley Sounds Radio

Videos

This video was sent out with the press release to generate more interest.

The HAF Programme | The McFarlane Family

Parent Feedback (reported verbatim):

I wanted to say a big thank you to you for providing such lovely activities and meals for B, he has absolutely loved it and thrived as a result. He is usually quite a shy and reserved character however he has come out of his shell and quite adventurous due to all of the socialising and activities. It has been wonderful to see the difference. He has eagerly got up and got out of the house daily excited to go and see all of the new friends that he has made.

He loves playing football at Staffordshire University Academy, it has helped to improve his football skills and he has loved being part of a team, as he loves football. He had a fabulous time at paintballing and could not stop talking about it. This is something that he had never done before, though is looking forward to doing again. B really enjoyed go-karting and said he felt like a racing car driver, he could not stop talking about how great the Ninja Warriors event was and how it was much better than he thought it was going to be.

I wanted to say a big thank you for all that you do for all of our children, as you have provided them with some amazing experiences that they will remember for years to come.

B has a history of self-harming and I am pleased to report that he has not done any at all throughout the summer break which is a time where he can get bored and restless.

The level of supervision and ground rules that you have in place enables our children to have fun, be adventurous though still keeps them safe which is a great skill set that you all appear to have.

Having these activities to focus on have given B a focus and a sense of belonging which he does not always feel due to his past history. Many thanks keep up the great work.

Other feedback received for the provider Achieving Goalz and Dreams

My children recently attended the summer program and I would like to take the time to say a huge thank you for an excellent well run scheme.

We have 3 girls aged 9, 13 & 14 and they attended the scheme which was expertly run by the company Acheiving Goalz and Dreams at Cannock Park, Hednesford Park and the Pye Green Stadium.

My girls went to the first session a little nervous and unsure what to expect. Bal the owner said on day 1 that he would guarantee that they would have a summer of fun through the scheme. Those words stuck with me and he was absolutely spot on.

My girls have had an amazing time attending the space scheme he ran. We initially thought they may go just to a couple of sessions, but they loved it so much that they attended every day. They have taken part in arts and crafts, lots of sporting activities, football, archery, tennis, cricket, dodgeball, on some days there were inflatables or a climbing wall. They absolutely loved the trips out that they went to, Ninja Warrior, Paintballing, Kick Golf, the party meal on the last day. Their absolute favourite was Go Karting, they really had the best time. A lot of the girls went on the same activities at the same time, which my girls really appreciated. Especially the paintballing as some boys can sometimes be a little more boisterous at some activities.

There really was a huge range of activities for them to experience. They have made new friends and it really has helped to improve their confidence in so many ways. When we have been to collect them, you can see how all of the kids work together and they are surrounded with positivity from the organisers.

Although all of my children enjoyed the scheme. The support and the help he has shown with our youngest daughter has been invaluable. She is really quiet and finds social encounters really quite difficult and as a result she doesn't speak in these types of situations. (We are in the middle of an ASD assessment for her).

Over the Summer, Bal has engaged with her and slowly encouraged her to come out of herself. Attending an out of school group would not normally be something that our daughter could cope with as most people do not have the skills to understand why she won't speak. However, Bal really went out of his way to include her and encourage her and he just seemed to know how to break down those barriers. We are so grateful for all of his time and support he has given her over the Summer.

This is the first time that my children have ever attended the scheme, but it certainly won't be the last.

Feedback 3

I just wanted to say how much Bal at achieving goalz has done for my son over the holidays, I'd never heard of it before, which is unfortunate as my son has loved it, all summer he has asked to go every day, and was upset we were going on holiday!

Also having free school meals continued thru the holiday has financially helped me in a huge way. The meals and snacks have been good substantial meals keeping my son going!

Bal kept all kids entertained with ninja warrior, karting, football, Commonwealth Games etc, without this my son would have been very bored and unstimulated all holiday!

Bal is kind and caring but firm and has control of the whole group!!

I also like he had older kids who used to attend the group now helping him!

I'm looking forward to my son continuing his Achieving Goalz journey in the future.