Reports Database

Funded two-year-old childcare in Cambridgeshire began in 2009 as part of a national pilot (Pilot) being rolled out by the Department for Children, Schools and Families . The intervention was targeted at disadvantaged families with the aim of improving outcomes for children and narrowing the gap in educational achievement between them and other children . Improved outcomes and support were also sought for families.

Selected children’s centres worked with disadvantaged families with 2-year-olds in their reach area, and the Early Years and Childcare Service identified high quality provision in the children’s centre reach areas to provide the childcare. The trajectory for funded places has gone from 120 in 2009 to 600 in 2012/13 and is due to rise to 1,200 in 2013/14. The SROI framework has been used to forecast the impact once 1,200 disadvantaged 2-year-olds are in childcare.

Working with both schools and educational centres across the UK Excite-ed provide training and support to adults who work with 7-16 year olds to provide activities in online game design, app development and programming. This enables them to deliver innovative clubs, known as “apps clubs” and curriculum programmes. Excite-ed also intend to form and develop links with commercial gaming organisations to bridge the gap between industry, schools and pupils.

By using popular technology such as app game design, Excite-ed aim to increase awareness and understanding of health, wellbeing, social and cultural issues amongst young people aged 7-16. Whilst promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) skills and bringing different social groups together.

An online portal www.planet-excite.com showcases children’s online games as well as the apps developed by young people taking part in the Excite-ed activities. These app games are sold and 15% sales revenue is donated to the school.

Gardening in Mind provides the opportunity for people with mental ill health to increase their skills and knowledge through the development and management of allotment space. The food produced is sold to disadvantaged groups and the local community. The service is for people aged over 18 who are experiencing mental ill health.

This project combines the advantages of ‘green’ exercise with an awareness raising drive to improve knowledge of the links between nutrition, physical exercise and mental health and wellbeing.

The project site is a large plot made up of five allotments which provide a beautiful green space in the heart of the city. Vegetable beds are complemented by fruit trees, borders, seating area and a working water well. The plot, lovingly tended by service users, volunteers and staff, is a peaceful and tranquil environment which offers therapeutic, practical and social benefits to all participants.