Endofprogrammereport

Newcastle’sBestSummerEver

October2019

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ExecutiveSummaryNewcastle’sBestSummerEver(NBSE)wasthesinglelargestholidayactivityprogramme,withfood,evertobedeliveredinNewcastle-upon-Tyne.Theprogramme,whichranforsixweeksinthesummerof2019,targetedfamiliesandparticipantsatavarietyofcentresandlocations-manyofwhichhadneverpreviouslybeenvisitedbyaStreetGamesproject.Here,organisersprovidedparticipantswithaccesstoexcitingnewgamesandactivities,andrecordedtheirinformationviaanewdatacollectionsystem.Thefollowingreportexplainshowtheprogrammewasdesignedandimplemented,beforereflectingontheissuesfaced,andthelessonslearnedthroughout.TheprincipalpartnersinvolvedintheNBSEprogrammewereStreetGames(actingastheaccountablebody)andNewcastle-upon-TyneCityCouncil(NCC).Therewerealso70deliverypartnersacrossthecity:thevastmajorityofwhichweredrawnfromthestatutoryandthirdsectors,butwithasmallcontingentofprivateprovidersalsotakingpart.Eachofthesedeliverypartnerswasresponsibleforprovidinghigh-quality,free-to-accessactivitysessions,alongsidenutritiousmeals,toagrandtotalof6,961pupils.Theprogrammewassuccessfulinmeetingallofitskeyobjectives,aswellasallbutoneoftheKeyPerformanceindicators(KPI)previouslyagreedwiththeDepartmentforEducation.ThisunmetKPItooktheformoftheuniquenumberofFreeSchoolMeal(FSM)pupilswhowereattractedtotheprogramme.Thereweretwounderlyingcausesforthismissedtarget:

1)Thelackofanexistingevidencebaseor'industrystandard'forengagingFSMpupilsinholidayactivityprogrammes.ThismeantthatStreetGameswaseffectivelyflyingblindinsettingitsinitialtargets.Theorganisationwouldinsteadbaseitsprojectionsuponthesortsofsmaller-scaleprogrammesthatithadsuccessfullyruninthepast.Organisersweremistakenintheirbeliefthattheycouldsimplyupscalethesefigures.

Similarly,alackoflarge-scalemanagementexperience-presentthroughouttheindustry-meantthatorganisersfailedtotakeaccountofthesheernumberofdeprivedyoungpeoplewhowerenotaccessingFreeSchoolMeals.Staffwerenotaware,forexamplethatover50%ofchildrenlivinginthecity’smostdeprivedareaswerenotreceivingFSMs.Organisersshouldhavebeenawareofeitherthisfigure,orasimilarexample-suchasthefollowingpublicationfrom2013,whichstatesthat40%ofchildrenlivinginpovertywerenoteligibleforFSM.Giventheseoversights,itispossibletostatethatthetargetssetbyorganiserswereoverlyambitious.

2)Theunexpectedlackofengagementandsupportfromschoolsacrossthecity,whichseverelycurtailedtheprogramme’sreach.WhilesomeschoolswerethoroughlycommittedtoNBSE:performingaswell,ifnotbetterthancommunityorganisations,othersprovedeitherunwillingorunabletoengage-therebypreventingorganisersfromfullymaximisingitsreach.

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Themostsuccessful'providerorganisations'werethosewithamature,andpre-existingrelationshipwiththeirlocalcommunity.Inotherwords:theyhadalreadyestablishedboththereachandcredibilitydeemednecessarytoattracttheprogramme'stargetaudience.Forthemostpart,theselocallytrustedorganisations(LTOs)arealsocommunitygroups.InNewcastle,thefootballclubandthecitycouncil’sActiveNewcastlebrandalsoenjoythistrustedstatus.Anumberofschoolsalsomakeupinthisbracket,astheyprovideyear-roundactivities,andarethereforeviewedascommunityassets.Newcastle'sBestSummerEversucceededincreatingabrandnewnetworkoflike-mindedorganisations-onethatwillcontinuetoworktogetherinthemonthsandyearsahead.Indeed,sustainabilityplanningisalreadywellunderwayfor2020.Thisnewly-creatednetworkwillbesupportedtotackleamyriadofissuesfacingtoday'syoungpeople-providingsocialprescribingandcommunitysafety-based'diversionaryactivities'topupils,aswellastrainingdeliverystaffandvolunteersinyouthmentalhealthfirstaid.Additionally,allNBSEparticipantswillnowhaveaccesstotheActiveNewcastle'KineticCard'system-whichwillallowthelocalcounciltokeeptheminformedaboutupcomingleisure/sportingeventsandopportunities.

1. Introduction

a. WhyStreetGamesisinterestedinimprovingthequalityofschoolholidaysforpupilsfromLowerSocio-EconomicGroups(LSEGs)

StreetGamesharnessesthepowerofsportandphysicalactivitytohelpdisadvantagedyoungpeopletobecomehealthier,safer,andmoresuccessful.AmajorpartnerofSportEngland,StreetGames'worksupportsover1,400'LocallyTrustedOrganisations'orLTOs-activitygroupswithdeeptiesandstrongconnectionswithintheircommunities.StreetGamesspecialisesinsupportingtheseLTOstoapplytheverylatestinsightsandevidencebasetotheirlocalconditions.This'place-based'approachisbothhighlyeffectiveandsustainable,andhasallowedStreetGamestochangemanyyounglives,andlocalcommunitiesforthebetter.StreetGamesinitiallytestedthisapproachbydeliveringa£20mprogramme-fundedbySportEngland-designedtoencouragemoreyoungpeoplefromdisadvantagedareastogetactive.Itslegacyisoneofnewfoundknowledge,skillsandopportunities,bothforthe1,400-plusorganisationsinvolved,andthemanythousandsofyoungparticipantswhohavesincepassedthroughtheirdoors.In2016,StreetGameslaunchedtheFitandFedcampaign.Createdinresponsetogrowingdemandfromlocalprojects,thisnewinitiativewouldaimtoattractgreaterfundingandsupportforcommunity-basedinterventions.Saidinterventionswouldtackletheso-called‘HolidayGap’,acollectivetermfortheincreasedriskofhunger,inactivity,andisolationfacingpooryoungpeopleduringtheschoolholidays.

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b. DfE’s2018HolidayActivityFundProgramme

On19thJanuary2018,NadhimZahawiMP,aMinisterintheDepartmentforEducation(DfE),announcedanew£11million,two-yearpilottoinvestigatepotentialresponsestoholidayhunger.Yearoneoftheschemewouldsetaside£2mfordeliverypilots,engagementwithexperts,andaRapidEvidenceAssessment-withtheremaining£9mbeinggivenovertothesecondyear.Saidfundingwouldonlythenbeallocatedout,oncelearningfromthefirstyearhadbeenreviewed.StreetGameswassubsequentlyawarded£291,382ofthisyearonefunding.13FitandFedclusters,basedthroughoutEngland,werelateridentifiedandsupportedtodevelopanewfour-hourdailyactivityoffer,includingphysicalactivity.Thisprovisionwouldlastforatotalof20daysthroughoutthesummer,reachingmorethan3,000youngpeopleintotal.TheDfEwouldgoontopublishitsoverallManagementInformation(MI)datafromthesummerinNovemberofthatsameyear,includingabreakdownofStreetGames’supporteddelivery.1Thepilot'ssuccessalsoservedtodemonstratethevalueofStreetGames'LTOs,ashighquality,andcost-effectiveactivityproviders.TheseLTOsareoftenfoundinareasofhighpoverty,wheretheymaintainstronglocalrelationships,andanenviablereachintoso-called‘hardtoreach’groups.Theselocalrelationshipsmeanthattheyhave'permission'fromtheirneighbourhoodtodeliversuchservices.Thesuccessoftheprovisionalsohighlightedthepossibilityofupscalingtheprogrammeoveramuchwiderarea.All13clustersreportedstronginterestfromLTOswhowereunabletotakepartduetolimitedfunding.

c. DfE’s2019HolidayActivityFundProgrammeOn31stOctober2018,theDfEoutlinedplansforyeartwooftheprovision.Theseplansdrewheavilyontheinsightsgeneratedbyprojectsinvolvedinyearone,particularlytheimportanceofdeliveringabroadactivityprogrammethatofferedmorethanjustfood.Theplanfor2019wastoprovideanofferthat:movedparticipantstowardsthenationalPhysicalActivityGuidelinesof'60minutesperday'(U19s);servedfoodatnationalSchoolFoodStandards;providedarangeofenrichingactivitiestoparticipants;outfittedattendeeswithhealthyeatingadvice;anddeliveredallactivitiesthroughsafeandcompetentdeliverypartners.Whilethemethodologyforyeartwo(2019)wasmuchmoreprescriptivethanithadbeeninyearone,itremainedinlinewithStreetGames'owntargets.TheDfEplannedtoappointlocalcoordinators,withintheboundariesofaLocalAuthorityarea,todevelopanon-stigmatising,universalofferthatwouldattractFreeSchoolMeal(FSM)recipients.Thesecoordinatorswouldworkto:mapandauditlocalprovision;runanopenandtransparentprocessforpassingfundingontodeliverers;providetrainingandguidancetohelp

1https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-2018-programme

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deliverersmeetminimumstandards;promoteandadvertisetheprovision;worktocreateajoinedupapproach;andsustainprovisionbeyond2019.

2. The2019HolidayActivityFund-PreparationofapplicationsApplicationdevelopment

Thefundingcallfor2019wasreleasedon7thDecember2018.2Theminimumstandardsrequiredforsuccessfulapplicationsincludedthedeliveryofatleastfourhoursofprovisioneachday,fourdaysaweek,forfourweeks,withatleastonemealperpupil,perday(withallmealsmeetingSchoolFoodStandards).Colloquially,thisstandardisknownasthe‘4x4x4’.ReceiptofFSMwouldbetheproxy,orstandardbywhichneedwasdetermined.TheDfEplannedtofundnineprojectsintotal,andhaddesignedacomplicatedprocesstoapportionthis:onefundedprojectperregion;atleastonefromeachLocalAuthorityFSMquartile;andatleastfivefromthetwomostdeprivedFSMquartiles.Deliveryalsohadtofeatureallthefollowingelements:dailynutritionaleducation;enrichmentactivities;supportforpupilstomeetthePhysicalActivityGuidelines;andsafeandprofessionaldeliverybystaffandvolunteers.Organisationswererestrictedtosubmittingapplicationstoworkintwoareas.ItwasagreedwithLocalAuthoritiesinbothHullandNewcastlethatStreetGameswouldleadbidsinthesecities.Acoreapplicationdevelopmentteamwasformed,comprisingStreetGames’CEO;theFitandFedDirector(whodraftedtheapplications);boththeYorkshire&Humber,andNorthEastDirectors(wholedonlocalengagement);andasupportteambasedintheorganisation'sheadofficeinManchester.TheengagementoflocalauthoritiesinbothHullandNewcastlewasexcellent,andprovedessentialtothedevelopmentofthesehighqualityproposals.TheirsupportinmappingoutwheretheFSMpupilslivedwasparticularlyvital.InNewcastle,75%ofFSMpupilsresideinjust12wards,andthreequartersofinvestmentwasearmarkedforthese.Establishingthepartnership

Toensuretheprogrammewastrulycollaborative,StreetGamesengagedwithpotentialdeliverypartnersthroughouttheapplicationprocess.Morethan100representativesofcommunityandsportsgroupsattendedareameetingsinNewcastle,with109representativesattendingabriefingandplanningsessioninHull.Inbothcities,deliveryorganisationsdiscussedcontingencyplansincaseofmissedtargets,anda‘PlanB’wasagreed.BoththeNewcastleCityCouncilActiveLeisureandpublichealthteam,alongwiththeHull-basedChildren’sServicesDirectorateplayedakeyroleinplanningthepartnerships.

2https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1283df8a-1bac-4644-bd27-8027ce2bd867

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Theresponsefromschoolsatthisstagewasexcellent.Bothcouncilssharedinformationacrossschools,withmorethan70schoolsinNewcastleexpressingtheirsupportfortheapplication.Commitmentsweremadewithschoolsindicatingthattheywouldpromote,andinsomecases,delivertheprogrammeiffundingcouldbesecured.ItsoonbecameclearthatprovisionwouldneedtobecreatedfromscratchinsomeareasofNewcastle.Intheseareas,therewerenoestablishedcommunityorganisationspossessingseriousreach,credibility,ordefacto‘permissions’fromtheircommunitytoprovidepositiveactivities.Organisersthereforeagreedtorecruitarovingteamofmulti-skilleddeliverystaffwhocouldfillthesegapsandtroubleshootproblemsthatmightbefacedbydeliverers.Theseindividualsweredubbed‘runners’.OrganisersalsoagreedthatNCC’sActiveNewcastleTeamwouldorganiseactivitiesinthese‘barren’spots.Inmostcases,theseactivitieswouldtakeplaceinparks.Atrainingneedsanalysis(TNA)conductedinJanuarydemonstratedthatmostorganisationsinterestedindeliveringtheprovisionalreadyhadanunderstandingofworkingwithdisadvantagedcommunities,aswellashowtosupportpupilstoreachthePhysicalActivityGuidelines(PAG).However,theyweresomewhatlessconfidentinpreparing/servingfood,orinprovidingenrichmentactivities.Inresponse,anoutlinetrainingprogrammewasdeveloped,whichwasthenincludedintheapplication.FreeSchoolMealsastheproxyfordisadvantage

TheDfE’sdecisiontouseFSMastheproxy,orstandardfordisadvantage,createdthreeissuesfortheapplicationphase.Thesewere:

i. IdentifyingwhatthetargetnumberofFSMpupilsshouldbe.

Resolution:Organisersassumedthataccuratetargetingwouldrecruit75%ofthecity’sFSMpupils–whowouldmakeuphalfoftheprogramme’soverallparticipants.Unfortunately,therewasnopriorevidencebaseconcerningtheengagementofFSMpupilsinactivityprogrammes–somethingthatmighthaveservedasaguidehere.ii. DetermininghowtorunaprogrammethatattractedFSMpupilsbutdidnot

stigmatisethem.

Resolution:PreviousexperiencesuggestedthataprogrammeadvertisedtowardsFSMpupilsriskedcreatingstigma,andwouldalsofailtosupportalargenumberofpupilswhowereingenuineneedbutnotreceivingFSMs3.Inresponse,organisersdevelopedanopenaccessprogramme,tobedeliveredinareaswithahighconcentrationofFSMpupils.Thiswasbasedontheknowledge

3NotalleligiblepupilstakeupFSM:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/183380/DFE-RR235.pdf

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gainedfromthe£10mpilotthatStreetGameshaddeliveredforSportEngland,designedtodeveloplearningaroundtheactivationoflow-incomeyouth.Thisfoundthat,typically(andsometimesevenbytheageof14),LSEGpupilsdidnottravelmorethanamileandahalftoattendsessions.Itfollowedthenthatthemaximumdistancetravelledbyautonomousprimaryagepupilswouldbethesame,ifnotless.Therefore,provisionhadtobehyper-localandneighbourhood-based.iii. Howtomonitorprogressonaweeklybasis(whichwouldbeessentialifin-

flightadjustmentswererequired).

Resolution:ToalloworganiserstomonitorFSMtake-upduringthelifetimeoftheprogramme,theNCCeducationteamagreedtoprovideaweeklyanalysisofthoseattendingagainsttheirpupildatabase.ThiswouldnotdemonstratewhoexactlywasreceivingFSM,butwouldinsteadindicatethetotalnumberofFSMrecipients.Itwouldalsoservetoprovideinsightintowhichdeliverysiteswereunder-performing.

3. ApplicationPhaseDatacollectionNCCwaskeentouseKinetic,adigitalswipecardsystem,tocollectandrecordparticipationdata.ThiswouldmakeiteasyforLTOstocollectdataacrossthecityinauniformway.TofacilitatetheuseofKineticthroughoutthecity,StreetGamesproposedtoinvestinanumberofcardreadingmachines.Itwouldalsodelivertrainingandsupporttodeliverypartnersinordertofamilarisethemwiththesystem.Organiserswereaware,evenattheapplicationstagethatsomedelivererswouldcontinuetoneedthissupport,tomakebestuseofthetechnology.InHull,itwasagreedthatprojectswouldusethe'Views'system,whichStreetGameshadalreadyemployedaspartofitssuccessful£20mDoorstepSportClubProgramme,fundedbySportEngland.Bothsystemswouldrequirefinancialinvestment,training,andongoingsupporttoensurethatdeliverypartnerswouldbeabletousethemeffectively.ThetwoapplicationsweresubmittedonThursday7thFebruary2019.Post-submissiondevelopmentThetimeframeforfundingdecisionstobemade,coveringtheperiodofsummer2019,wasparticularlytight,andbecameevenmoresowhentheinitialdecisionwasdelayed.On20thMarch,DfEaskedseveralfollow-upquestionsontheNewcastlebid,whichwerepromptlyansweredon21stMarch.On8thApril,StreetGameswasinformedthattheapplicationforNewcastlehadbeensuccessful.Unfortunately,StreetGames'Hullapplicationhadnot.

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Thistwo-weekdelayreducedthetimeavailableforthedeliveryteamtoconfirmitsprovidersandtorecruitFSMpupilstotheprogramme.ItalsocontributedtouncertaintywithStreetGames'mainpartnerNCC,astowhatannouncementsorengagementscouldbeundertaken,giventhepurdahrulessurroundingtheupcominglocalgovernmentelectionsinMay.Ingeneral,thelackofclearDfEguidanceformanagingpurdahresultedinamoredifficultprocess.Clearerguidelinesinthisareacouldproveusefulforfuturebids.TheStreetGames’ProgrammeBoard,chairedbytheCEO,nowbegantomeetweekly,withanumberofnewappointmentsbeingmadewithinthefortnight.Thisincludedaprojectmanagerandthreeleadsforthethreeareasofthecity.Theprogrammedeliveryplanandriskregister-bothofwhichcameundertheday-to-daycontroloftheprojectmanager-werealsofullyupdated.TheStreetGames'North-EastDirectoralsobeganworkingfull-timeontheprogramme.Unfortunately,becausetheprogrammehadnotyetbeenannounced,furthergrowthwashindered,asitwasnotpossibletotalkmorewidelyabouttheprogramme.Duetothedelaybypurdah,theDfEannouncedthefundingon10thMay.TheMinisterforChildrenandFamilies,NadhimZahawiMPsaid:"Schoolholidaysshouldbeachanceforchildrentohavefunexperiencesandmakelastingmemories–andnochildshouldmissoutonthat.That’swhywehavequadrupledfundingforfreesummerholidayclubsthisyear,withtheaimofreachingaround50,000ofthemostdisadvantagedchildrenacrossthecountry.”4OneofStreetGames’KeyPerformanceIndicatorswastoreach7,500FSMpupilsintheNewcastlearea.AnagreementondeliveryinNewcastlewassignedbetweenStreetGamesandtheDfEon20thMay.

4. Newcastle'sBestSummerEver(NBSE)-PreparationphaseStaffing

Newcastle’sdeliveryteamwasbasedattheCivicCentre-acitycentrelocation,withstrongaccessfordeliverypartners,andgoodaccesstoNCCdepartments,meetingrooms,andprintingfacilities.Thedeliveryteamincludedaprojectmanagerwithexperienceofdeliveringcitywidephysicalactivityprogrammes,aswellasfourFTarealeads(includingtwostaffworkingonajobsharebasisintheWest),allofwhomwereexpertsinthefieldsofAssetBasedCommunityDevelopmentandcommunityorganising.Therewasalsoafull-timeadministrativeofficerfromStreetGames,aswellassupportfromtheorganisation’sManchester-basedfinanceteam,includingagrantsmanagementunitwhichsupportedthedeliveryteam.

4https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-meals-and-activities-for-50000-children-over-2019-summer-holidays

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Challengessoonaroseasaresultofthesetwogroupsofstaff,whowerelargelyunfamiliarwithoneanother,workingremotely-particularlyinregardstoeffectivecommunication.Inresponse,organiserssooninstitutedbothregularphoneandvideocalls,withstaffbasedoutsideoftheNewcastleareaalsovisitingthedeliveryteamsonaregularbasis.Theplantoengagethemobile‘runners’tosupportNBSEduringthesummerholidayswasalsobroughtforward,asorganisersfoundthattheyrequiredmorestaffearlyon.These10runners-allhighly-skilleddetachedyouthworkers-beganvisitingdeliverypartners,helpingtoloadadvancedbookingsontotheKineticsystemandfinaliseplanningforthesummerprogramme.On19thJuly,StreetGames’externallogisticsexpertfacilitatedadaylongscenarioplanningsessioninvolvingthejointprogrammeboardanddeliveryprogrammingteam,inordertoagreetheprocessesandtotalkthroughanypotentialriskfactors.Thisstresstestingbolsteredtheteam'sreadinesstotackleanyemergingdifficulties.Oncethemeetingwasconcluded,thefinalkeycontactlistsandprocessesforthesummerwerecirculated.QualitycontrolTheDeliveryTeamorganisedexpertgroupmeetingstoassistwiththeplanningoftheprogramme.Theseinvolved:

• Foodandnutrition:thepublichealthteamofNCC,localGPs,communitynurses,FoodNation,andHealthworks.

• Reachingthemostvulnerablechildren:childrenandyoungpeoplewiththeNCCyouthservice,thepolicecommunityengagementteam,assortedNewcastlecarers,andtheNCCfamilysupportunits.

• MeetingPAG:principallyActiveNewcastle,NewcastleUnitedFC,NewcastleEagles,NewcastleFalconsandNorthumberlandCountyCricketAssociation.NationalGoverningBodiesofsportalsosupportedtheprogramme:BritishCyclingofferedactivitysessionstolocalorganisations-bringingalongbikesandcoachestoassistwithdeliveryandsupportingmanyofthepark'popup'sessions.EnglandNetballofferedsimilarsupport,bothtolocalprojectsandatparkpopups.NewcastleRugbyFoundationworkedtosupporttheparkdeliverysessionsandhostedaneventattheirstadium.

• Onegroupalsoworkedwithvariousculturesectoragenciesonenrichmentactivities.ItsoonbecameclearthatthisstrategicengagementcouldprovideFSMpupilswithlife-enhancingexperiencesthattheywouldotherwisebedenied.Onesuggestionwastoruntrips,bothtomuseumsandartgalleries,aswellastothebeach(whichiseasilyreachedbytheNewcastleMetrosystem)-opportunitiesthatfewoftheFSMpupilswouldnormallyexperience.

ProcurementTheopenprocurementprocessbeganinJune.TheopportunitywaspromotedtoallofthecommunityprovidersthatwereknowntoStreetGamesandNCC.StreetGames’grants

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managementsystemunderpinnedtheopportunityforfundingdeliverypartners.Applicationsweremadethroughthesystem,andwerelaterreviewedbytheapplicant'scorrespondingarealead.Thearealeads,allofwhomhadanexcellentworkingknowledgeoftheirareaandthepotentialdeliverypartnerswithinit,wereessentialinthecreationoflocalpartnerships.Theybroughttogethercommunitycentres,churches,sportsandactivityproviders,aswellasschoolstocreatealocaldeliverynetworkof70organisations.Inordertomakeiteasierfordelivererstomeetthehighstandardsoftheprogramme,allapplicantswereofferedawiderangeofsupport,including:accesstoschoolcateringservices;traininginenticingthe'non-sporty'intophysicalactivity;anenhancementpackageandMandEsupport.Inretrospect,itwouldalsohavebeenbeneficialtoprovideanintensivepromotionalcampaignforeachapplicant’sprogramme,butthiswasnotdone.Dependingontheirexistingproficiencylevel,thearealeadwouldeitherworkwiththedeliverertoimprovetheirapplication,orrecommenditforapproval.Atthisstage,thenumberstobecateredforwerenegotiatedwiththeapplicant.Organisersfoundthatmanyapplicantswereover-estimatingtheirlikelyattendancefigures,andwerelaternegotiateddowntoaslittleashalfoftheirinitialestimate.Applicationswerealsoassessedforgoodpracticeandsafety.Applicantshadtouploaddocumentationonpolicies;certificationofstaff;safeguardingpolicy;insurancedocumentsetc.Organisationsthatplannedtoproducefoodonsite,ratherthanhaveitdeliveredbyNCC,werealsorequiredtoregistertheirvenuewiththelocalauthorityandtosubmitevidencethattheyhadmetfoodpreparationstandards.Onceanapplicationwasapproved,theapplicantbecameadeliverypartnerandwassentaServiceLevelAgreementoutliningthecontractualarrangementsandtheirtargetnumbersforthesummer.Approvedapplicantsalsohadtocommittoworkingcollaborativelywiththeirneighbouringdeliverersandwiththedeliveryteam.Eachdeliverypartnerwassubjecttoroutineriskassessments,whichweretobereviewedeveryweekduringthedelivery.Thiswasusedasthebasisforasimilarscheduleofspotcheckvisits,duringwhichstaffwouldreviewthedeliverypartners’sessionsagainsttherequiredstandards.Onesurprise,andsourceofdisappointment,wasalackofengagementbyschools-manyofwhichhadpreviouslyindicatedthattheywouldsupportorganiserswithpromotionanddeliveryoftheprogramme.Indeed,NCC’sowneducationteamhadbeenintegraltothedevelopmentoftheinitialapplication.However,whenthedeliveryteamlaterapproachedthesesameschools,manywerereluctanttoapplytobedeliverypartners.SomewerenotevenwillingtopassoutNBSEpromotionalmaterials,evenwhenthiscamefromNCC’sEducationTeam.Withoutthesupportofschools,itwasnotpossibletocreatethescaleofdeliverydeemednecessarytoprovideaneasilyaccessibleofferforallpupils.WithFSMpupilsbeingunable

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orunpreparedtotraveloverlongdistances,organisersintendedforNBSEprovisiontobeveryneartolow-incomecommunities.Withoutthesupportofschools,organisershadtoenlistdeliverypartnerswhohadlittleornotrackrecordofdeliveringholidayprovisiontotheintendedaudience.Thisledtoanincreaseinthecostsofprovision.In2018theunitcostperdayofStreetGames'DfE-fundedprogrammewas£6.28.However,asaresultofthissituation,thatfigureincreasedto£14.22in2019,asthedeliveryteamengagedpartnerswithhigherunitcosts,lessexperience,andlessconnectionswiththeircommunities,outofnecessity.Italsonecessitatedanincreaseintheamountofopen-accessdeliverybeingheldinparksandopenspaces.TrainingAtrainingpackagewasfinalised,whichbroughttogethertheinformationprovidedindeliverypartners’applicationswithJanuary’sTNA.Itconsistedof:aworkshopdesignedtosupportstaffandvolunteerstohelppupilsmeetPhysicalActivityGuidelines;aCoreStrengthsessiononincorporatingeducationalenhancementintoholidayactivity;aMentalHealthAwarenessworkshop;assortednutritionalinformation;lessonsonhowtoholdpositiveconversationswithchildren;asset-basedcommunitydevelopmentwork;andtrainingontheKineticsystem.Onlineandremoteoptionswerealsoprovided,includinganonlineLevel2foodhygienecertification.NCC’spublichealthteamandnutritionalspecialistsalsodevelopedaworkshopthatwouldupskilldeliverystaff,allowingthemtoprovidegreaternutritionalinformationtopupils.Thisworkshopdemonstratedhowcoachesandworkersshouldholdconversationswithchildrenandyoungpeopleabouthealthyeating.Tomakeiteasierforpeopletoattendmultiplecourses,thesesessionswereoftenheldonthesameday.Attendancefromatleastonememberofeachdeliveryorganisationwasincludedasanecessaryrequirementofthefunding.PriorexperiencesuggeststhatcommunityorganisationstendnottoreadthesmallprintintheirSLAs,soinordertomaximisethelevelofattendancefromeachpartner,trainingwaspromotedviaemail,telephoneandwordofmouth.FoodNCC'scateringservicehadbeenthefirstchoicepartnerforfoodprovision,althoughtheservicewasinitiallyreluctanttocommititssupport.WhentherewasnoagreementinplacebyMay,StreetGamesdevelopedtenderdocuments,designedtomitigatetheriskoftheprogrammeproceedingwithnocateringserviceinplace.InJune,anagreementwasreachedwithacateringservicecontractorcalled'OnaRoll'.Theagreementwastoprovideschoolfoodstandardmealsatarateof£2permeal.However,theFridaybeforedeliverywasduetobegin,thepriceofthesemealswasincreasedby10p.Thankfully,organiserswereabletobearthiscostduetoa5%budgetcontingencythathadbeenincludedintheapplication,intendedtobeusedinsuchasituation.

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Promotion

Oncedeliverypartnerswereconfirmed,allactivitysessionswerelistedontheActiveNewcastlewebsite.TheuseofthiswebsitehadthebenefitofplacingNBSEeventsalongsideotheractivitiestakingplacethroughoutthecity,therebypositioningthesiteasthesourceofinformationonfreeandlow-costactivities.Thewebsiteaddresswassubsequentlyincludedinallpromotionalactivity.TheintentionwastocreateatleastfivepointsofcontactwitheachFSMpupilandtheirfamily:throughschools,localservicessuchasGPs,NCCteams,communitygroups,thepress,andviasocialmedia.Initialpromotionwentwell,withstaffatJobCentrespromotingNBSEtoparentswithinthetargetareas.SimilarpromotionalworkwasundertakenatNewcastle'sfamilysupporthubs.ThesehubsoperatetheSureStartCentre,aswellasthecity'slibraries,andprovidetargetedsupporttofamiliesandtheirchildren.TheintentionwastorepeattheseengagementactivitiesthroughFoodbanks,HousingAssociations,andGPssurgeries,buttherewasnotsufficienttimebeforedeliverybegantoachievethisgoalinameaningfulway.Unison,thetradeunion,distributedinformationabouttheprogrammetotheirmembersinthecity.Theyalsoofferedtosupportactivitiesthroughoutthesummer.On17thJune,withonemonthtogobeforetheholidaysbegan,NBSEwaslaunchedbyStreetGames'CEO,JaneAshworth,andClairePenny-Evans,NCC’sCabinetMemberforCommunities.Thelaunch,heldatBridgewaterPrimarySchool,wascoordinatedbytheNCCpressteam,andsucceededinattractingTheNewcastleChronicle,TyneTeesTelevision,andNewcastleTelevision.Thislauncheventalsotriggeredthenextmajor'signupdrive'forFSMpupils,with30,000letterstoparentsbeingprinted.TheseletterspromotedNBSE,andencouragedparentstosigntheirchildrenupfortheKineticCardssystem.TheplanwastohavethemajorityofpotentialattendeesregisteredontheKineticsystembeforedeliverybegan.Theinitialintentionhadbeentodistributetheselettersthroughschoolsandcommunitygroups.Unfortunately,manyschoolswereeitherslowtorespondorunwillingtohelp.Withoutthesupportofschools,onlyaround2,000cardshadbeenregisteredbythestartofthesummerholidays.Thishadaknock-oneffectondatacollectioneffortsthroughoutthesummer.Organisersalsoapproachedschoolstoundertakepromotionatparents’eveningsand/orschoolsportsdays,butthisalsohadlimitedsupport,withsomereportingpoorparentalengagement.SchoolholidaysandmanagingSATswerealsoidentifiedasbarrierstoschoolengagement.Thedelaybyschoolsindistributingtheselettershadafurtherknock-oneffectintermsoftheprojectteambeingabletoprocessapplicationsintimeforthestartofthesummerholidays.Asaresult,additionalNewcastleCityCouncilresourceswerepulledintoaddressthis.Thislackofengagementwasaseriousconcern.SeniorstafffromNCCandStreetGames,includingtheCEO,begancommittingsignificantamountsofadditionaltimetothe

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programme.Riskmitigationplanswereactivated,andthe‘runners’weretakenoffoftheirplanningdutiesandplacedontootherpromotionaltasks.Intotal,theydeliveredupwardsof40,000leaflets.

5. Newcastle’sBestSummerEver–DeliveryPhaseNewcastle’sBestSummerEver(NBSE)wasthesinglelargestholidayactivityprogramme,withfood,evertobedeliveredinNewcastle-upon-Tyne.Theprogramme,whichranforsixweeksinthesummerof2019,targetedfamiliesandparticipantsatavarietyofcentresandlocations-manyofwhichhadneverpreviouslybeenvisitedbyaStreetGamesproject.Here,organisersprovidedparticipantswithaccesstoexcitingnewgamesandactivities,andrecordedtheirinformationviaanewdatacollectionsystem.Theprovisionwasdesignedtotaperupinweekone,allowingthedeliveryteamroomtoreacttoanyissuesthatmightarise.Withinthefirstfewdaysofdelivery,itbecameclearthatinitialfearsoverattendanceswerecorrect,andthatuptakewaslow.Inresponse,actionswerequicklytakentoboostthesefigures.Thesecontingencyplanshadallbeendesignedpriortotheholidays,andincluded:

• Directsupportfordeliverypartnerstoimprovetheiroutreachviasocialmediachannels.Asocialmediatempwasquicklyrecruited,withofficespaceprovidedintheNCC’smediateam.

• Thedistributionof60,000leafletsinareasofhighFSMconcentration.Theseleafletsfeaturedmapshighlightingthelocationofprovisions,andalsoprovidedinformationonhowtobookontosessions.

• Doorknockingbystaffandvolunteerswasincreased,particularlyinthestreetssurroundingdeliverylocations.

• Acitywidepromotionalcampaign,includingadvertisingintheNewcastleChronicleandonMetroRadio.Theradioadvertsseemtohaveeffectivelyengagedwiththeprogramme'sintendedaudiencethroughoutthecity.

Inaddition,theNCCActiveNewcastleteamsteppedupitsdirectprovisioninparks,whichalsoprovedverypopularwiththetargetaudience.NBSEstaffalsoengagedanexperiencedplayandeducationorganizationcalledSuccessforAll,whichhadabusthatwentintoparksandprovidedadditionalvisibilityforthesessions.Theadaptability,flexibilityandpeopleskillsdisplayedbythe10runnersprovedtobeavitalresource.Theywereemployedinadoor-to-doorengagementcampaign,toincreaseinvolvementinareaswhereattendancewaspoor.However,thispersonalapproachprovedtobetimeintensiveandtookrunnersawayfromtheirotherworkinsupportingdeliveryanddatacollection.Asaresult,someoftheplanned‘nicetohaves’,suchasdaytripstothebeachandelsewhereweresacrificedintheinterestofgrowingparticipation.Thesepromotionalactivitiesdidsucceedinhavingapositiveimpact,asevidencedbythemanypupilswhoturnedupatsessionsholdingoneofthe60,000leafletsthatwerealso

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givenoutbyhand.Themosteffectivemeansofpromotionremainedthepersonalcredibilityofdeliverypartners’staffandvolunteers,whowereabletoleveragetheirenviablereachintotargetcommunitiesinordertoboostattendances.ItislikelythatthelateannouncementoftheprogrammemeantthatsomefamilieshadalreadymadetheirchildcarearrangementsbeforehearingofNBSE,whichwillalsohavedampenedturnout.AttendanceanddeprivationThefinalMItablesubmittedtoEcoryslisted6,961uniqueparticipants.SomeoftheseparticipantscamefromoutsidetheNCCarea,meaningthattheeducationteamcouldnotcalculateanexactnumberofFSMpupilsinvolved.However,ifthisprovedtobeinlinewiththetotalofc.40%FSMpupilsfromwithinNewcastle,thatwouldmeanthatNBSEsupportedc.2,784FSMpupils.Thefollowingtableshowstheattendancescomparedwiththenumberofspacesavailableeachday.

Week1 AttendancesSpacesavailable

22-Jul 383 1500

23-Jul 354 137424-Jul 468 153025-Jul 609 161526-Jul 425 956 Week2 29-Jul 861 207930-Jul 1344 231931-Jul 895 222601-Aug 1510 233202-Aug 820 1170Week3 05-Aug 1038 200306-Aug 5221 220807-Aug 1281 213208-Aug 1424 235309-Aug 666 1089Week4 12-Aug 1312 188213-Aug 1264 2134

14-Aug 6848 214815-Aug 1267 224416-Aug 849 972

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WhentheseattendancefiguresaremappedagainsttheIndicesofMultipleDeprivation,itbecomesclearthatNBSEsuccessfullysupportedthemostdisadvantagedareasofNewcastle.Theresultsareshowninthetablebelow.ManagementInformationSystem(MIS)Thedatacollectionsystem,comprisingKinetic,aswellspotcheckvisitsbyarealeadsandrunners,formedtheprogramme’sManagementInformationSystem(MIS).ThisMISinfluencedtheprojectboard’sdiscussions,andshapedthedecisionsonwheretoallocateadditionalresourcesthroughoutthesummer.Asnotedabove,theNCCeducationteamprovidedabreakdownofFSMattendanceseachweek.HavingaccesstotheFSMstatusofparticipantswasamixedblessing,asitconsumedconsiderableresourcestoensuredatamatchedofficialrecords,whilstalsoprovidinganinvaluablemeasureofprogress.ItalsoallowedtheearlyidentificationofdeliverypartnerswhowereoverachievingagainsttheirKPIforFSMpupils.Theseover-achieverswerethenofferedsupporttoexpandtheirdelivery.Similarly,delivererswhowerefoundtobeunderachievingwereassistedwithadditionalpromotionalmaterials.

Week5 19-Aug 1000 150520-Aug 1147 168321-Aug 993 157622-Aug 968 183223-Aug 447 883Week6 26-Aug 765 64827-Aug 542 117928-Aug 497 98429-Aug 588 134530-Aug 557 728

MostDeprivedDecile 1 47% 2 19% 3 6% 4 6% 5 5% 6 4% 7 2% 8 4% 9 4%LeastDeprivedDecile 10 2%

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ThedeliveryteamalsoutilisedIMDdatatoassesstheprogramme,asthisprovidedabroaderpictureastowhetherNBSEwassupportingthoseinneed.TheMISenabledresourcestobetargetedasaccuratelyandeffectivelyaspossible.Keepingtheprogrammehyper-localensuredthatorganiserswereengagingahighnumberofparticipantsfromareasofhighdeprivation.Inhindsight,itisclearthatthemodellingconductedinJanuarywasinaccurateintermsofthepercentageofFSMrecipientswhowouldparticipateinanopenaccess,non-stigmatisingprogramme.Theinitialestimatesuggestedatakeupof60%.Howeverthefinalfigurewasactuallycloserto40%-asubstantialoverestimationonthepartoforganisers.OnekeyreasonforthisisthatorganisersfailedtotakeaccountofhowmanychildrenfrompoorerbackgroundsdidnotreceiveFreeSchoolMeals.IfFSMistocontinuetobeusedasaproxyforholidayactivityprogrammes,thenindustrystandardswillneedtobedevelopedthatfacilitatemoreaccurateplanning.DatacollectionIttooktimetobuildprojects'confidencewithusingtheKineticcardsystem,andtothenembeditintopractice.Eachdeliverypartnerneededacardreaderandeachparticipanthadtobeenrolledontothesystem.Whenpupilsarrivedwithouttheircards,datahadtobemanuallyinputintothissystem,whichoftenresultedinconsiderableunder-reportingofattendances.SomedeliverypartnersprovedunabletofullyutilisetheKineticsystemandendedupusingpaperregistersinstead.Nevertheless,Kineticworkedverywellwheredeliverystaffandvolunteershad:beenproperlytrained;weretechnologicallycapable;hadinternetaccess;andreceivedtheirreaderspriortothebeginningofdelivery.ThisincludedsuchleadingexamplesastheStAlban’sandBridgewaterschools.Inordertopreventthelossoftoomuchvaluabledata,particularlyamongstthoseprojectsthatwerestrugglingwithKinetic,anadditionalmemberofstaffwasrecruitedtoleadondatainputforthedeliveryteam.Thetimerequiredtoinputandcleansethisdatawasconsiderable.

Week CumulativeFSM%1 48%2 40%3 40%4 35%5 36%6 41%

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Despitetheadditionaltrainingandresourcesrequired,theadoptionoftheKineticsystemacrosstheNBSEnetworkhasalreadybeguntoreaplongtermrewards.Inadditiontoprovidinghigherqualitydatathanorganisersmightotherwisehaveobtainedusingpaperrecords,thewideuseofthesystemalsoensuredthatthousandsofyoungpeopleacrossNewcastlewereregisteredwiththeActiveCardsystem.Theseyoungpeoplewillnowfinditeasiertoengagewithlocalprogrammessandsportsfacilitiesinthefuture.TheKineticsystemisnowembeddedamongthedeliverypartners,andNCCbelievesthatthiswillprovidesignificantimprovementtotheiroverallabilitytostimulate,monitorandevidenceactivitylevelsacrossthecity.Additionally,StreetGamesiscommittedtousingthesystemonallprogrammescoordinatedacrossNewcastleinthefuture.Somedeliverypartnershavealsoindicatedtheywillusethesystemtoreplacetheirstandardattendanceregisters.TheinternalrestrictionsplaceduponpartnerorganisationsbytheGeneralDataProtectionRegulation(GDPR)provedtobeanissuethroughouttheprogramme.Theneedtocollectbespokepermissionswasworkedaroundeffectively,butthisdidcausedelaysandcomplications.TherewerealsoissuesrelatingtotheNCCeducationteambeingunabletoemailFSMparentsbecausetheydidnothavethecorrectpermissions.Moreseriouswerethemisunderstandingscausedbythisregulation,andthesenseof'overcaution'thatthisengenderedamongdeliveryorganisationsinthecity.Thisquicklybecameanadministrativeburden,withdelaystoprojectdatabeinguploadedandsharedwithStreetGames,somuchsothatsomedatawasonlyfinallysecuredinthelastdaysoftheprogramme.EcoryswasappointedbyDfEastheassessmentpartner.TheyproducedanMIspreadsheetforcompletionandsubmissionduringdelivery,andrequired30parentsand100pupilstocompletesurveys.AllMIdeadlinesweremet,buttherewereissueswithsourcingafullcomplementofdatathroughtheKineticsystem.Theinvestmentofsignificanttimeandresourcesensuredthatthedataimprovedweekonweek.TheStreetGames’ResearchandInsightteamtransferredtheparents'surveyresultsontoaSNAPsurveyformat,whichwasthenpassedontoparentsbydeliverypartners.Thisultimatelyallowedorganiserstosurpasstheirtargetfigure,collectingatotalof262responses.TheseparticipantsurveyswereprintedoutandsenttotheprojectsidentifiedbyEcorys,with127beingcompleted.ItwouldbeamistaketoassumethatallparentshaveeasyaccesstotheInternet.Food

Thestandardofdeliveryacrosstheprogrammewasconsistentlyhigh.DeliverypartnerswererequiredtomeetSchoolFoodStandards,andspotchecksweremadeinlinewiththedeliveryteam’sriskassessments.Mealswereprovidedtoschoolfoodstandardsinthreeways:viaOnaRoll,whodeliveredfoodtodeliverypartners;bydeliverypartnerspreparingtheirownmealsonsite;andthroughdeliverypartnersworkingwithcommunitykitchens,localcafésetc.Deliverypartnersthatoptedtoprovidetheirownfoodwererequiredtosubmittheirmenusinadvance,whichwerecheckedagainstNCC’sSaffronsystemtoensurethattheymetSchoolFoodStandards.

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AdvicewasalsoissuedonwhatsnackswerepermittedbytheSchoolFoodStandards.FoodprovidedonsiteorwithinthelocalitytendedtobehigherqualitythanfoodpreparedbytheCouncil’scontractor.Localfoodmanagementalsoprovedtobemoreresponsivetotheneedsoftheprojectbyadjustingthequantityofmealsneededatshortnotice.Theycouldalsochangemenusdependingontheday'sactivitiesandbetterrespondtodietaryrequirements.ProjectsprovidingtheirownmealswerealsomoreinclinedtoaccessFoodNation’sofferandundertakefoodworkshopswithbothchildrenandparents.Theprovisionoffoodwasakeyelementinthesuccessoftheprogramme,aswastheproject'sstaff/volunteers’willingnesstosupporttheirparticipantstoeatwell.Shona,whohadthreedaughtersattendthePlayNewcastlesessionsatThrockleyHallcommented:“MythreegirlsloveditandMichellehasbeengreat-providingglutenfreefoodforthemastheyallhaveanallergy.Ican’tthankherenough!”Theprocessofarrangingfooddeliveriestothoseprojectsthatwerenotproducingtheirownmealswasalsoasuccess-thoughthereweresomeinitialissueswithtrafficthatledtothenumberofdeliveryvansbeingincreasedfromonetotwo.Tominimisetheuseofsingle-useplasticbottles,deliverypartnerswereissuedwithNBSE-brandedwaterbottles.T-shirtswerealsodistributedtovolunteersandpupils,tohelpbuildupbrandawarenessandpromotetheprogramme.Deliverypartnersweresupportedtobeinnovativeintheirapproachtonutritionaleducation.AtSportingChanceontheCowgateEstate,participantsmadepostersthatwerethendisplayedonthewallsoftheproject,therebyhelpingtoeducatetheirpeersonnutrition,andtheimportanceofahealthydiet.Likewise,resourcesfromChangeforLifeandEatWellwerewidelyemployedacrosstheprogramme.AllprojectsweregivenaccesstoFoodNationonaweeklybasis,withtwopickuppointslocatedinthecity.Thisofferwaswellreceived,withsomeprojectsevensharingsomeofthisfoodwithfamilies,inordertohelpaddressfoodpovertyathome.Enhancementactivities

TheNBSEprogrammewasenhancedthroughthedeliveryofadditionalactivities,suchaspuppetmakinganddrama.InByker,theKCFoundationpairedupwithNEDancetoofferamixtureofHipHopandContemporaryDanceactivities.OmoSowgumi,whosechildrenattendedtheproject,commented:“It’sbeenoneofthebestsummersinalongtimeIhavetosay,becausemykidshavelookedforwardtocominghereeveryday”.

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TheteamatPlayNewcastlebeganpreparingfortheirendofsummerperformancefromdayoneofdelivery.Theresultingperformancemadesuretoincludeallpupilsandyoungvolunteers,andleftmanyparentsintears.Formanyofthem,itwastheirfirsttimeseeingtheirchildrendisplaytheconfidencetoperform.Participantswerealsogiventhechancetoexploreandtobetterunderstandtheircity.TheRiversideproject,inBenwell,ranonetripeachandeveryweek,forwhichthestaffwouldarriveat7aminordertopreparepackedlunches.Thiswasdonesothat"parentsdidn’thavetoworryaboutanything".Theseexperiences,whichalsoincludedrockclimbing,kayaking,horseriding,residentialtripsandvisitstomuseumsandtheSt.James’Parkfootballstadium,createdlastingmemoriesandbroadenedthehorizonsoftheyoungpeopleinvolved.Manydeliverypartners,suchasPlayinNewcastlechosetooffercookingasaregularpartoftheiractivitysessions.Othersoptedtoengageaspecialistprovider:the‘CookSchoolClub’torunsessions,duringwhichpupilshadthechancetomakeoneoffivedifferentrecipesfortheirlunch.Theserecipeswerepre-plannedinlinewithschoolmealstandards.Eachpupilreceivedallfiverecipecardstotakehomewiththemafterthesessions,andeachwasdesignedtobeproducedonalowbudget.Pupilsappreciatedthechancetopreparetheirownlunches.Paul,13,commented:“Ihaveenjoyedthewholelotespeciallymakingfoodandcooking,Iwishitwasoneveryday.Thebestbitwasmakingspaghettibolognaise.IknewallthestuffthatwentintoitandIwouldn’tnormallyeatcarrotsandbutternutsquash,butittastednice.WearegoingawaynextweekinacaravanandIamgoingtomakeloadsofdifferentsausagerollsforourpicnics”.Jessica,7,said:“Ilikedmakingthefood,thepizzawasthebestandIdidn’tknowthatcoleslawwascabbage,butittastedgood.IalsolikedmakingtherecipebooksothatIcandostuffathome”.Engagingolderpupils

Engagingolderpupilswasakeyambitionhere,somethingthathashistoricallyproventobemorechallengingthanengagingyoungchildren.Unfortunately,operatingthroughthecity’snow-depletedstockofyouthclubsdidnotattracttheprojectednumbersofolderpupils.MoreeffectivewasHat-Trick,anestablishedthirdsectoryouthandcommunityorganisationwhooperateinareasofhighdeprivation,wheretheyrunavarietyofopen-accesssessionsinmultiple-usegamesareasandopenspaces.Hat-Tricksucceededinattracting340teenagedparticipants.AnothersuccessfulmovewastheincorporationoftheKicksprogrammeintoNBSE,whichcameaboutviatheNCC’spartnershipwiththeNewcastleUnitedFootballClub(NUFC)

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Foundation.TheseKickssessionsattractedpupilswhohadnotpreviouslyattended,andwhoofferedfeedbackstatingthattheyhadonlydonesonowthankstotheassociatedfoodoffer.StreetGamesisnowworkingwithNUFCFoundationtoensurethatthese302pupilsareretainedaspartofaterm-timeprovision.Whereolderpupilsweresuccessfullyattractedtothesepositiveactivities,broadercommunitybenefitswereseen.JJSportsCoachingranactivitiesonthreesitesinWalbottle,inthecity’sWestEnd.Theyattracted60olderpupilsdaily,duringwhichtimethelocalfirebrigadereportedhalfasmanysecondaryfiresbeingset,withonefireofficercommenting:"…abigpartofthatisthatthekidswereintheseholidayprojectsenjoyingthemselves,andnotoutonthestreetsgettingintotrouble.Arsonandanti-socialbehaviourhasreducedmassivelythesepastfewweeksandit’sbecausethesekidshavesomewheretogo”.FamilyengagementFamilyengagementwasattheheartofallNBSEdelivery.Manydeliverypartners,suchasMonkchesterCommunityCentre,pridedthemselvesonincorporatingfamiliesintotheirprovision:offeringaplaceforthewholefamilytocometogethertoenjoyfoodandactivities.Othersprojectsalsooperatedoutofcommunitycentres-venuesthatwerewellknowntolocalfamilies-andwhichinsomecasesalreadyrancommunitycaféeventswiththeinvolvementoflocalpeople.InCowgate,afamilysessionwasrunonTuesdaysandThursdays,whichincludedcookingandphysicalactivityforthewholefamily.Onemumwhoattendedwithherthreechildrencommented:“Theprojectwasgreatasitgavethewholefamilysomethingtododuringtheholidays.Itisonlyacrosstheroadandsavedmealotofmoneyfeedingthechildrenandtryingtofindthingstokeepthembusy.Thefoodhadbeendifferenttowhatwewouldnormallyeat,andthekidshavealltriedandlikedmanyofthenewthings.Wehavecookedstirfryandmadewrapsathomeandplantotrydifferentfillingsinthesausagerolls.Iwishthiswasoneveryholiday!”

6. SustainabilityandlegacyThesenseofpositivitygeneratedthroughoutthecityasaresultofNBSE'sactivitieshasledtomanypeopleaskingfortheprogrammetoberepeatedinfuture.OliviaBruce,aCommunitySportActivator,whoworkedonthedeliverywithTyneMetCollege,commented:“Itwasabrilliantopportunitytogetkidsactive,makenewfriendsandmemories.Someofthesekidssaidtheyusuallydon’tgetthisopportunitytobeinvolvedinsportscampsandIpersonallythoughtitwasagreatideatoopenupafreesportscamp.HopefullyinthefutureitcanbeofferedtomoreschoolsacrossNewcastleandNorthTyneside”.

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StreetGamesandNCChavealreadycoordinatedplansforsomedeliveryintheOctoberhalfterm,withsupportfromUnisonandfundingfromtheLondonMarathonTrust.NBSEdeliverypartnersalsocamebacktogetheron21stOctobertoplanfor2020.Whileprogrammesultimatelyneedtobefundedexternally,StreetGamesisalreadyexploringafundingapplicationtoalocalgrant-makingtrusttosustainNBSE.Whilethiswillnotraiseanythingliketheamountneededtoprovideauniversaloffer,itwillallowforgreatercoordinationandplanningtotakeplace,whilealsoactingasa'magnet'withwhichtoattractadditionalfunding.ActiveNewcastlehavecontinuedtheirworkingrelationshipswithdeliverypartnersandaredevelopingbothfreeanddiscountedforyoungpeoplewhohavesignedupfortheirKineticcards.Parentsalsoreceiveregularemailcommunications,highlightingopportunitiesthattheycangetinvolvedinthroughoutthecity.Newcastlenowhasapoolofhighlyengagedcommunityandsportsgroups,allwiththetrainingandexperiencerequiredtokeepupthegoodworkoftheNBSEprogramme.Thereisalsostrongcommitmentfromthecity’scouncillorsandtheNCCtosustainactivityin2020.InHull,thecoordinationworkundertakenbyStreetGamesinitsunsuccessfulapplicationneverthelessledtoafourfoldincreaseindeliveryacrossthecityinsummer2019.Newcastle’sculturalinitiative‘CityofDreams’ranasummerprogrammeinparallelwithNBSEcalled‘MakeSomethingBrilliant’.Itdeliveredacross27sitesoverthesummerholidays,butstruggledtoengagelessaffluentgroups.ThesuccessofNBSEhasbroughtaboutacommitmentfromtheCityofDreamsprogrammetoworkwithStreetGamesandNCCtodevelopacombinedprogrammefor2020.Thisisanimportantstepasitwillallowdisadvantagedpupilstoaccessculturalandenrichingactivitiesallacrossthecity-somethingthattheypresentlydoatfarlowerratesthantheirmoreaffluentpeers.Thesedisadvantagedyoungpeopleneedgreatersupporttounderstandandtoaccessthesenewactivitieswithconfidence,somethingthatStreetGames'structuredprogrammeofactivitiescando.StreetGamesandNCCarecommittedtosupportingthisnewdeliverynetworkinordertoachievefurtherpositiveoutcomesacrossthecity-helpingitsyoungpeopletolivehealthier,happier,moresuccessfullives.Someofthedeliverypartnershavealreadybecomeinvolvedinplanstolaunchsocialprescribinglocally,andtotrain120coachesandvolunteersinyouthmentalhealthfirstaidaspartofStreetGames’#21by21campaign.Thosetrainedduringthisprocesswillgoontorunatleast10newcommunitysportprogrammesinareasofdeprivationandhighyouthcrime.TheseprogrammeswillbefundedbythePeoples’PostcodeLottery,andwillworktopromotelong-termpositivebehaviourchange.Summary

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1. Thecity-wideapproachischallenging,butsubsequentyearswillbefareasierthanthistrailblazeryear.Itisinconceivablethattheprogrammecouldhavedoneaswellasitdidwithoutatightrelationshipbetweenorganisersandthecitycouncil.However,thisdoesnotmeanacitycouncilisnecessarilythebestdeliverer.

2. Scalingupprovisionbyinvolvingorganisationsthatarenotdesignedtoinvolvedisadvantagedcommunitiesinwarm,non-transactionalrelationshipscanbefinanciallycostlyandresource-intensive.Considerableamountsofadditionaltrainingandsupportareoftenrequiredinthisscenario.

3. Whereattendanceswereclosesttotarget,withahighpercentageofFSMpupils,deliverypartnerssharedsimilarattributes–chiefly,abodyofstaffandvolunteerswhowerecommittedtothesuccessoftheprogramme.PeoplelikeDenise,theschoolsecretaryforBroadwoodSchool,whoworkedtirelesslytocreateabuzz,andtoensurethatallpupilsinneedknewaboutthesessions.

4. Successfuldeliverypartnersweretangiblyembeddedintheircommunities.ThisincludesdelivererssuchastheMonkchesterCommunityCentre,whosestaffandvolunteersbothliveandworkinthelocalarea-somethingthatgavethemagreatstartingpointintermsofidentifyingandengagingpupilsandfamiliesinneed.Theseprojectshadopenandwelcomingatmospheres.

5. Thecultureofthemosteffectiveorganisationswas:locallyvalidated;trustedbytheirusers;nevertransactionaland,ideallyrunbylocalsorpeoplewhomightbelocal.

6. Leisurecentrestendedtoundershoottheirtargetnumbers.7. Collaborationwaskeytosuccess:TheBykerCommunitytrust,acoalitionof

communitysportsandartsgroupscametogethertojointlydeliverforpupilsintheBykerarea.Here,ondayone,amothernewtotheprojectandarecentimmigranttotheUK,arrivedwithheryoungdaughter-who,inthewordsoftheprojectleader,"wentfromstayingontheedge,notsayinganythingatall,torunningaroundscreamingwiththeotherkids".

8. Successfulpartnerswerethosewhowellestablished:whereprovisionpre-datedNBSEandwasexpandedtoincludemoredaysandfood.Forexample,ActiveNewcastle’sworkinparksandNUFC’sKicksprogrammeswereallexpandedanddidwell.

9. Olderparticipantstendtopreferlaterstartsandwantdedicatedactivitiesfortheiragegroup.

10. Manyfamilieswelcomethechancetojoinin,butsomeareunabletoaccompanytheirchildren,andrequireaprovisionthatreflectsthis.

11. Bringinginexpertstoenrich,cook,ormeetthePAGenhancesquality.12. Datacollectionisanightmareforallconcerned.13. Dataanalysisisnotyetcomplete,buttherearestrongindicationsthatmost

attendeestravelledlessthan1miletoprovision,anddistancesfurtherthanthishadanegativeimpact.

14. Organisationsnewtoworkingwithindisadvantagedcommunitiesneedalotofsupporttoembedthemselvesandtoearnlocaltrust.

15. Therearemanyemergentpropertieswithinthedelivery,suchas:allyearroundprovision,familyactivities,women’sgroups,ladsanddadsprovisionetc.Coordinatingthesummerwithcontinuationfundingwouldhelprealisetheirpotential.

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16. Alongerlead-intimeisrequiredtoengageschoolsinthedevelopmentofsummerprogrammes.ThosewithahistoryofprovidingsummeractivitieswereabletostepupquicklyforNewcastle'sBestSummerEver.Earlyconversationsarerequiredtounderstandcyclicalmaintenanceandaccesstoschoolsduringsummerholidays.

17. Thedevelopmentofaunifyingbrandforthecitytogetbehindcreatedaplatformtocollaborateandpromotetheprogramme.Thisalsohelpedreduceanystigmalinkedtoafreeholidayprogrammeandalsohelpedtonullifyrivalrieswithotherproviders.Itcouldbecomethebrandthatsignifies‘freeandgood’todisadvantagedfamilies,andgoontobeusedbyotheragencies.

18. Provisionoftripsanddaysoutbythelocalpartnersisvitalincreatingpositivememoriesforchildrenandyoungpeople.Thisisalsoagreatwaytoengagefamilies.

19. Theuseoflocalparksandopenspaceswithexperiencedyouthworkersandsportscoachesprovidesagreatalternativeforthosechildren,youngpeopleandfamilieswhodonotwanttoaccesslocalcommunitycentresorschools.

20. OffersundertakenbyschoolsandforSENpupilstendtogenerateahighercostperhead.

21. Amorevariedandresponsivemealsserviceisdeliveredbyprojectsprovidingtheirownfoodorinpartnershipwithalocalprovider.

22. Partnerswelcomedthesupportofacentralteamandtheabilitytoaccessadditionalstafftoenhancetheirlocaloffers.

23. TherewerebenefitstoStreetGames(charitableorganisations)andNCC(publicorganisations)workingtogether,combiningStreetGames’networkandflexibilitywiththeNCCsresourcesandreach.