Item 7 is a statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services on the Summer of Fun 2022. I call on the Deputy Minister, Julie Morgan.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. And thank you for the opportunity to come here today to speak to Members about our plans to support children and young people across Wales to have a summer of fun.

Members will be aware that over the course of the last year, we've funded both a Summer of Fun and a Winter of Well-being to support our children and young people as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic. Working with a range of providers across Wales, we've been able to deliver countless free activities to support the social and emotional well-being of children and young people aged nought to 25 across the whole country. We've heard from a number of children, parents and providers, all talking about the benefits of children and young people being able to mix with their peers, access new activities and get out and about in our communities. And I know that many of you will have attended these activities in your own constituencies and seen the impact they have. That's why I'm delighted to be able to confirm that we will be funding a further Haf o Hwyl this summer. 

For many of our children, the disruptions of the last few years, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis we are currently facing, means that they haven't had much time for fun, and they can't afford to do many of the activities that they used to. When hard choices have to be made about rent, bills and food, then there's no spare money for ice creams, fun days or summer holiday clubs. But those are the experiences that we should strive for all our children to have.

In funding these activities through the Summer of Fun, I want to make sure that all children and young people in Wales have an opportunity to play freely, to have new experiences and to enjoy their summer. We are therefore investing over £7 million in supporting a range of organisations to deliver free and inclusive activities for children and young people aged nought to 25, from all backgrounds and all parts of Wales. Funding has been allocated between our local authorities and a number of national organisations to ensure there is something for everyone. Activities will start from 1 July and run to 30 September, with more information about these and other summer activities available from local authorities and our national partners. Our national partners include: Sport Wales; Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum Wales; the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales; the Archives and Records Council Wales; the Society of Chief Librarians Wales; the Urdd Gobaith Cymru; Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru; Mentrau Iaith Cymru; Play Wales; Mudiad Meithrin; Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids' Clubs; the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services; and the Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. 

This year we will also be supporting providers to offer food at their activities, helping with some of the serious issues we face around holiday hunger and rising food bills for families. Alongside the continuation of free-school-meal provision over the summer, the funding available via the Fit and Fun scheme run by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language and our separate Playworks schemes, this should ensure that no child has to go hungry.

Last year our Summer of Fun reached over 67,000 children and young people. The independent evaluation, published in December, shows that 99 per cent of those attending had fun, which is good to hear, 88 per cent reported that it helped them be more active, and 73 per cent felt it helped them manage their mental health. The choice and variety of both outdoor and indoor activities were also praised. This included sports from swimming and climbing to playing with water balloons and ziplining, as well as indoor play and activities, such as board games, soft play, arts and crafts, music and theatre. I myself visited a number of these activities, and I visited a basketball event in my own constituency, which was a huge hit with the children, and I also went to a number of events in Rhondda Cynon Taf. And it was absolutely wonderful to see them so well attended and providing so much fun.

So, this year we expect to see even more activities. Examples of plans put forward by providers include play in the park events; mindfulness sessions and self-care workshops; self-defence and confidence-building sessions; filmmaking workshops; a wide range of sporting and physical activity sessions; and multi-activity offers and fun sessions in library settings. We've also seen proposals for respite activities for young carers, providing support with life skills and access to peer groups and support sessions for young mums, helping their bodies to adjust during pregnancy and after childbirth, including healthy-eating advice and confidence-building sessions.

Funding can also be used to cover some transport costs, though organisations have been asked to arrange activities in areas that can be easily accessed on foot, on public transport or via active travel routes. We've also asked that particular focus be given to supporting some of our more vulnerable and disengaged children and young people, and we've also asked that a particular focus be given to those who are seeking sanctuary, young carers and looked-after children.

So, I'd like to ask the Senedd to join me in welcoming this investment and in supporting our children and young people to have a much deserved Haf o Hwyl.

Thank you for your statement on the Summer of Fun 2022 this afternoon, Deputy Minister. I welcome measures that support the well-being of our children and young people here in Wales, in particular encouraging increased participation in recreational and sporting activities, getting children out of the house during summer months to enhance their physical and mental well-being. But we need to ensure that, regardless of where a child lives in Wales, their access to these provisions is not subject to a postcode lottery. You noted that over 67,000 young people engaged in last year's Summer of Fun, and I would like to know how the Welsh Government came to this total and recorded the number of participants this programme reached. Given that the provisions were implemented by each of the 22 local authorities, most of these authorities, according to the evaluation summary on the 2021 scheme, reported that funding offered additionality to business-as-usual provision, meaning that funding the Welsh Government offered for the Summer of Fun in these cases just provided additional financial support to local summer programmes already planned or organised.

Part of the postcode lottery on this scheme is how the local authorities or third party groups structured their Summer of Fun delivery model, with three options apparently being available—a combination of open-access and targeted provisions, which is model 1; an open-access programme for all, model 2; or an entirely targeted programme of events, model 3—with the evaluation report noting that the authority's approach was dependent on local interpretation of the guidance, team capacity and whether they had an existing summer offer to build on. So, in certain areas of Wales, all children in the area could attend these events and activities, and then, in other parts, they were exclusively for more of a select few. So, Deputy Minister, do you think that's a fair way to implement the programme? And speaking of fair, how is this £7 million going to be distributed across the 22 local authorities, and what actions are the Welsh Government taking to quality assure delivery once the funds are given?

This quality assurance was noted as a recommendation of the evaluation, along with a key challenge being raised of such a short time frame between the funding announcement and the programme start date in 2021. As a result, most local authorities started delivery in late July rather than the project start date of 1 July, at the beginning of the month. So, how is the Welsh Government going to avoid such delays with future schemes? And to close, I'd like to raise that only 7 per cent of the participants last year were aged 16 to 25, only 5 per cent had additional learning needs, and disabled people accounted for 3 per cent of those who attended. So, what is the Welsh Government doing to increase the programme reach to these audiences and encourage inclusivity in these events? Thank you.

I thank Gareth Davies for those comments, and I'm glad that he welcomes what we're doing. I'm pleased to be able to respond to the points that he makes. I'd like to make the point that the independent evaluation was totally independent of Government, and it came forward with the figure of 167,500 children who were reached by the programme. So, I think we can accept that as a valid figure, as it was reached by an independent body.

The programme last summer had to be set up very swiftly because of the ending of the pandemic—well, the opportunity to do it arose very swiftly, so it had to be done quickly—and I think the evaluation is quite right in saying that the short time that it was able to be set up did make it more difficult to do, and I think that has generally been acknowledged. But I think it's very understandable why that happened, because we were just moving out of a pandemic to a time when we could actually do these sorts of activities. So, that does cover that.

In terms of the postcode lottery, the money this year will, again, be split between the local authorities: £5.5 million will be split between the local authorities, and it will be up to the local authorities then to develop the provision that they wish in those areas. Of course, there is guidance given by the Welsh Government that we want that to target areas where there is, for example, a lot of free school meals provision and we want to make a particular effort to reach the different groups that Gareth Davies has mentioned, and that is in what we're telling the local authorities to do this year.

So, £5.5 million is going between the local authorities, £1.8 million is split between the national organisations, and it is a great help to be able to have national organisations and local authorities to deliver this provision, because I think it's absolutely fair that they do build on existing provision and offer more opportunities for existing provision and offer free places in activities that are ongoing, because that is the easiest and the quickest and the most effective way to do it. But they're also able to start new initiatives as well, and many of them have done that. It is to depend on a local approach, but there's certainly a spread over the whole of Wales.

In terms of reaching particular groups, we are asking the local authorities to try to put these activities in a place that is easily accessible. I said in the statement that there will be funding available for transport, so it will be possible for young people and children to reach some of these activities by transport, but, obviously, it's much better if they're in places where local children can walk or can cycle to reach the activities.

The evaluation of last year's was very positive, and I believe that, in what we're doing this year, we will give the opportunity for children, who've had a tough time during the pandemic, they've had a rough time, and I think we really are—. By trying to offer another Summer of Fun, we will be giving them the opportunity to enjoy themselves this summer and try to get over some of the worst difficulties that they've had during the pandemic.

I too would very much like to welcome this. I don't think we talk about fun enough in this Senedd sometimes, and it is good to see that emphasis on children and young people needing to be able to enjoy, as well as learn, and be supported.

My concern is very similar to Gareth Davies's in terms of, yes, there will be something for everyone, but can everyone access? I accept that last year had to be set up quickly, but I am concerned that the guidance is still not prescriptive enough to ensure that every child and young person will be able to access and benefit. I was particularly concerned in the statement that you referenced that funding can also be used to cover some transport costs. You may have heard me raise with the Prif Weinidog earlier the fact that school transport costs and public transport are already a barrier to pupils accessing school. So, this is already something that we know is a barrier just to accessing school, let alone extra-curricular activities, where you may have more than one child to try and reach such activities and placements. I just wonder how are we going to be more prescriptive and targeted to ensure that those children and young people that missed out on those opportunities to participate in programmes last year will be targeted this time, and what lessons were learnt by local authorities through the independent assessment, because obviously it did come through in that assessment that senior stakeholders and local authority leads highlighted the importance of it, but that there was a concern that there was a risk, if they weren't able to retain funding for transport, that low-income families would still not access this. Everybody sang the praises of that programme; it's not about the quality, but it's about that access.

A particular concern as well, as was mentioned by Gareth Davies, was that not all the provision was suitable for children with additional needs and disabilities, and obviously quite specialised transport is available for children who may have physical access needs and so on to reach school settings and so on, but this wasn't available for these programmes. So, how are we going to ensure that children with additional needs and disabilities are able to be included in this provision?

Obviously, the inclusion of Welsh-language medium provision was also stipulated in the programme guidance, yet some local authority leads reported a lack of local providers with Welsh language skills and limited interest among children, young people and families for Welsh provision. Also, as you're well aware, children and young people often have to travel further for Welsh-medium education in some parts of Wales, meaning that there isn't an accessible public transport or walkable route, therefore how are we going to ensure that there's also an opportunity for children and young people to participate in the Welsh language as well?

So, as I said, I very much welcome it; it's not anything negative, but I am concerned and I would like to reiterate—. I visited Rhondda foodbank recently, and they relayed to me their concern that headteachers had shared that their biggest concern about programmes last year was that the most vulnerable children that would benefit the most just weren't able to reach those places. I just worry that not making it a requirement or tackling that transport issue will mean that the same children and young people miss out again.

Finally, if I may, also in the research, in the detailed analysis, it mentioned that targeting those aged 16 and over was particularly challenging and that they are harder to reach and engage. Suggestions included running afternoon or evening activities or youth work, offering volunteering, mentoring and work experience opportunities. Have some of these suggestions been incorporated into the Summer of Fun plans? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

Diolch. Thank you very much for your support for the Summer of Fun. The issue about whether everyone can access them is obviously something that we are addressing. It's really important that the local authorities, in what they develop, are thinking all the time about whether people can reach places. I notice you mentioned the small amount available for transport. I think the aim is to get as much locally as we possibly can, and that transport will not be necessary, but there is a small amount of money available for transport, and that will be used to help children get there. Local authorities have been asked particularly, and the bodies that we're working with have also been asked, to consider the needs of disabled children as well in particular. 

I think the whole issue about the Welsh language provision is very important. In the evaluation, it showed that 43 per cent of Summer of Fun sessions were delivered bilingually, with Welsh and English, and 11 per cent of sessions were delivered solely in Welsh medium. I know you did mention the issue of the availability of staff who are able to speak Welsh, and that is one of the big issues that we are dealing with in terms of trying to expand our childcare provision, because we do want to expand the Welsh-language provision particularly, and we are coming against, generally, a shortage of staff. So, that's one of the things that we are addressing in the wider play provision, and so we're very aware of that issue, and we are determined to provide as much Welsh-speaking provision as we possibly can.

And then I think the other issue you raised was about the fact that only 7 per cent of participants were aged 16 to 25, and 70 per cent of participants were aged five to 11. So, a very small minority, actually, were of the older age group, and I think that is one of the issues that is being taken into account in planning for this next Summer of Fun, because it's really important that we're able to put on activities that will be attractive to that older age group, which will be very different, I think, from what might attract a younger age group. If local authorities are able to add to the existing provision that they've got, that can be, sometimes, an easy way in order to give lots more opportunities to children. But, with the older age group, it sometimes means creating something especially for them. And I know that was done, but it was done to a much lesser extent, and that's something that is being taken onboard for this next Summer of Fun. But thank you for your support.

It's always very sobering when you go into schools in September and you hear the children who are asked what did they do over the summer holidays and they recount what they did on the school trip in the summer term, because it tells you that they didn't do anything very much in the school holidays, and the numbers who won't be going anywhere outside the area where they live will, obviously, be increased by the eating and heating crisis that so many families face. So, it's particularly important that we are offering alternatives that are freely available to people in their communities.

I was particularly concerned that there's no school holiday enrichment programme running in Adamsdown, which is a super-output area of deprivation in my constituency, and there wasn't one last year either. So, I'm concerned to understand how the Welsh Government is co-ordinating these things to ensure that there is something for everybody.

Now, Amgueddfa Cymru is only a short bus ride away from Adamsdown, so hopefully the schools will be promoting that as an absolutely fantastic place to have great fun and learn so much, but I think that there really is an issue, for me, which is how well the Welsh Government co-ordinates the SHEP food and fun programme run by schools, the fit and fun programme, which is run in some of the leisure centres in Cardiff, and the Haf o Hwyl, because I really appreciate the stuff that was done by the Urdd last year—it was absolutely amazing—in one of our schools. So, I wondered if you could clarify that for us, Minister, because it seems to me it is so important that children have some fun over the summer holidays.

Yes, I thank Jenny Rathbone for that very important point, and I absolutely agree with her that we want all children to have the opportunity to access fun and to access activities in the summer holidays. As I've already said, the guidance to local authorities for the Summer of Fun asks them to arrange activities in accessible locations and allows some transport costs to be covered, and that should enable more low-income families to take part. Local authorities should also be making sure that they offer provision in all parts of their areas, and especially those with high numbers of low-income families.

But as well as the Summer of Fun, as you've referred to, we fund two other programmes over the school summer holidays, and schools are able to engage with them. You've mentioned our fit and fun programme, and that is instead of the school holiday enrichment programme, the SHEP. So, that is now the fit and fun programme, and it's aimed at communities with high levels of free-school-meal provision, and runs directly from schools, and it is co-ordinated through the Welsh Local Government Association. So, that is the way that these schools are actually taking part in that programme. And then we've got a Playworks programme as well, which aims to make more play opportunities available to children while also tackling holiday hunger, and that's co-ordinated by local authority play leads and runs through every school holiday period. So, there are activities that have been there for some time, but the Summer of Fun is adding to all those activities, and we are aiming to try to reach as many communities as we possibly can. But there will be an independent evaluation, so we will find out later on in the year how successful we've been.

Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement today. I was delighted to have been able to visit one of the earlier Summer of Fun sessions back in 2017 in Penywaun in my constituency. I was really impressed with the way that the then lunch and fun club was providing benefit to learners, to staff with the additional hours that they could work, and to the local community. I've enjoyed following the expansion of the scheme since. 

As your statement shows today, this is a way of offering worthwhile opportunities and experiences to children who may otherwise not engage in that type of activity—and not just children. I welcome the various projects that ColegauCymru have run as part of the Winter of Well-being, again to engage with young people, offer them new experiences and tackle any isolation that may be a consequence of the pandemic. So, can I ask, Deputy Minister, what work is Welsh Government doing to ensure that refugee families and their children, and younger solo refugees who may themselves be eligible, are aware of and have access to these opportunities?

Thank you very much, Vikki Howells, for that very important question, and thank you for your support for the activities and the way that they've grown. We are particularly concerned to involve refugee children in play activities, and that is one of the messages that we've sent out to all the providers who are providing activities during the summer—that we'd like them to arrange activities that are easily accessible to refugee children—and also to try to give as many opportunities as we can throughout Wales.

In terms of the children from Ukraine who may be either based in welcome centres or in the community, we've asked them to take particular consideration of that in terms of where they base their activities, because I think it's absolutely crucial for the young people from Ukraine that they have the opportunity to be involved in activities during the summer, and it's not a long summer for them with nothing to do. So, that is something that we are particularly bearing in mind in terms of where we put the activities, and it's been very high up in our thoughts.

Buffy Williams, finally.

Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you, Deputy Minister, for today's statement. 

Spaces for our children and young people to play and meet with their friends are so important. There are clubs and groups the length and breadth of Wales providing these spaces, some like YEPS, run by the local authority, and others in the third and voluntary sector, like Tylorstown Minis and Juniors, Rhondda Netball, Valleys Kids, and the Arts Factory in my constituency. Knowing the difference the Summer of Fun made to the lives of children and young people in Rhondda last year, I couldn't be happier to hear today's statement, and it's so important that we build on this success. As a trustee of a registered charity that I created in Rhondda, I still take a great deal of interest in projects like the Summer of Fun. What discussions has the Deputy Minister had with our local authorities and our third sector colleagues following the Summer of Fun last year? And how will the Welsh Government work in partnership to ensure we get the best out of the Summer of Fun this year, given the Tory cost-of-living crisis?

Thank you very much, Buffy Williams, for that question. We have extensive discussions with the local authorities about where these activities should take place, who they should be aimed at, and I can assure you that that is happening between officials in the Welsh Government and local government, which is completely ongoing. So, we're very involved with the local authorities. 

In terms of the cost-of-living crisis that we're in, well, it's even more important that children have the opportunity to have some fun and to have some food as they're having some fun, because this is one of the ways that we can address the hugely difficult situation that families are in. So, I can assure Buffy Williams that, in all the provision that we provide, we will be bearing in mind that some of those children who come, it'll be their only chance of anything that seems like a holiday, like Jenny Rathbone has mentioned. So, we want to give them the best experience that we possibly can.

I thank the Deputy Minister.