accordgroup.org.uk /value-for-money
4. Holiday Kitchen
Holiday Kitchen began in 2013 as an experimental programme funded by Children in
Need. This was scaled up in 2014 when it was delivered across 11 sites in low income
neighbourhoods in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull. Building on this success, over the
summer of 2015, Holiday Kitchen ran in 23 community settings and in the West Midlands,
supported 83 families from 22 ethnic backgrounds with 127 children, and across Greater
Manchester 119 families with 278 families were engaged.
Further funding has been received as a result of delivering Holiday Kitchen, including £15,456 WRAP funding to deliver a Love Food
Hate Waste programme in Birmingham and significantly 2016 will see a project in collaboration with Birmingham City Council’s
Strategic Commissioning Team for the People’s Directorate to deliver Holiday Kitchen to 10,000 participants this summer and to
mainstream the programme within ongoing delivery going forward.
The evaluation of the summer 2015 delivery presents a compelling case that the programme not only reduces holiday risk factors
related to food poverty, debt, emotional health and social isolation, but positively contributes to community well-being assets,
networks and resilience during holiday risk periods.
A PHE (Public Health England) funded follow up study was launched in April 2016 focusing on sustained impact during the 12 week
period which followed families attending Holiday Kitchen and the potential value of including Holiday Kitchen type programmes as
part of integrated support packages offered to vulnerable families.
The study concluded that Holiday Kitchen is a programme that complements Public Health England priorities of ensuring every
child has the best start in life; and a reduction of health inequality and place based health is achieved in a cost effective manner.
For approximately £15 per person/day over eight days during summer holidays the vast majority of participant families experience
notable mental well-being benefits in the short-term.
Significantly, the study evidenced that over time there appears to be a continuum of programme impact for participants. The
meeting of short-term needs has gone on to foster medium term applied knowledge, and in some cases sustained behaviour
change in relation to one or more of the programmes key objectives.
The well-being valuation proxies calculated by HACT provide a basis for understanding the significance
of these outcomes. The proxies for improved social inclusion (£1,850), increased confidence for
young people (£9,283) and adults (£13,080), relief from depression and anxiety (£36,766),
alongside the value to families of improved nutrition and stronger family relationships
generate significant social value that far exceeds the relatively low level of investment.
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Accord Group