7. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: Summer of Fun 2022

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:23 pm on 28 June 2022.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour 5:23, 28 June 2022

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.