Get into Summer

10 Jun 2021 03:04 PM

Supporting children and young people’s wellbeing.

Children and young people most impacted by Covid will be supported by £20 million to create opportunities to socialise, play and reconnect this summer.

Councils will receive £15 million and up to £5 million has been allocated to a coalition of 18 national partners to further strengthen and build on existing summer provision in addition to what is usually on offer. 

The support provided by councils will specifically target those aged up to 25 from low income households who may otherwise struggle to access such experiences during the holidays.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville yesterday said:

“Scotland’s children and young people have experienced significant disruption to all aspects of their lives as a result of Covid-19, including their wellbeing; education and social connections. They have told us that their mental health was a primary concern as a result of the pandemic and that they need a range of activity to help them reconnect with their peers and friends.

“We have listened and taken action. The £20 million of funding will support children, young people, their families and carers to enjoy the summer. Through our partners - local authorities as well as our national organisations – the summer activity will focus on mental health and well-being of our children and young people whose lives have been impacted by Covid.”

Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA Children and Young People’s Spokesperson yesterday said

“Over the past year children and young people have shown such resilience as the pandemic has limited many of the activities and support usually open to them .

“We are pleased that this additional funding will allow local authorities to build on their own regular summer programmes for children and young people and boost opportunities for those who have faced the greatest challenges due to COVID-19.

“Councils will provide a range of activities depending on local needs and guided by what children and young people themselves say will make a difference.”

Background

Local authority and national partners funding allocations: 

National partners – funding has been awarded up to:

Organisation

Allocation

Barnardos

£274,000

Early Years Scotland/Care and Learning Alliance

£200,000

Family Fund

£200,000

Historic Environment Scotland

£143,000

Mental Health Foundation

£300,000

Museums Galleries Scotland 

£280,000

Play Scotland

£384,000

Royal Botanical Gardens, Scottish Forestry & Nature Scot (partnership proposal)

£20,000

Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum (STAF)

£27,200

Scottish Association for Mental Health

£54,000

sportscotland

£1.4 million

Youthlink & Creative Scotland (joint proposal)

£1.25 million

Young Scot

£54,230

Who Cares? Scotland

£175,000

Total

£5,007,930


Funding for Summer of Activities for Children and Young People

(£15 million)  

Local Authority

Allocation

Aberdeen City

£418,000

Aberdeenshire

£562,000

Angus

£335,000

Argyll & Bute

£232,000

Clackmannanshire

£162,000

Dumfries & Galloway

£529,000

Dundee City

£432,000

East Ayrshire

£405,000

East Dunbartonshire

£184,000

East Lothian

£277,000

East Renfrewshire

£187,000

Edinburgh, City of

£846,000

Eilean Siar

£78,000

Falkirk

£443,000

Fife

£1,160,000

Glasgow City

£2,249,000

Highland

£721,000

Inverclyde

£201,000

Midlothian

£252,000

Moray

£256,000

North Ayrshire

£452,000

North Lanarkshire

£1,104,000

Orkney Islands

£68,000

Perth & Kinross

£397,000

Renfrewshire

£436,000

Scottish Borders

£353,000

Shetland Islands

£53,000

South Ayrshire

£295,000

South Lanarkshire

£882,000

Stirling

£213,000

West Dunbartonshire

£276,000

West Lothian

£541,000


The cross-agency Covid Education Recovery Group recommended that the summer programme focus on the wellbeing of children and young people.

A Scottish Government marketing campaign will launch the week beginning 14 June to help partners and local authorities promote the opportunities available to children and young people in their local area.