Análisis de oferta y demanda en el mercado

The literature review highlighted a lack of academic research on holiday provision. Consequently, little is known about the need for holiday provision and the challenges faced by families and communities during the school holidays. Whilst there exists grey literature on examples of programmes of holiday provision, the issue remains underexplored with gaps in the research; there is little evidence on the types of organisations delivering holiday provision as well as the range of activities and types of food offered at these holiday clubs. Furthermore, there is currently no national database on the location of holiday clubs, and so it is not possible to determine whether these clubs are located in areas of greatest need. As a result, the APPG on School Food has recognised a need to identify the scale of the provision and the location of these holiday clubs (APPG on School Food, 2015). Thus, in this chapter the following research objectives of this thesis are examined: objective (ii) relating to the geographic location of holiday clubs; and objective (iii) relating to the types of organisations delivering holiday provision.

Reports published by the third sector illustrate the challenges low-income families face during the school holidays and the kinds of organisations providing services in response to these needs. A report by the CPAG in Scotland (2015) highlighted a need for holiday provision for low income families in Glasgow and identified a range of challenges experienced by families during the school holidays. These include: the cost of feeding children in the absence of FSM provision; the risk of falling into debt or having to borrow money; the difficulties of sourcing affordable childcare; and the emotional pressures faced by parents to provide holiday experiences. Whilst the CPAG in Scotland study focused on families living in Glasgow, further research is required and would be useful to identify the need for holiday provision in other regions of the UK. There is evidence of housing associations, local authorities, community groups and faith groups responding to this perceived need by establishing food and activity clubs that operate during the school holidays, examples include: Holiday Kitchen; TLG Make Lunch; Kitchen Social; Fit and Fed; and Cardiff Food and Fun. However, these examples of holiday provision can only provide a snapshot of some of the larger national and regional programmes operating across the UK and little is known about the scale of holiday provision (Lambie-Mumford & Sims, 2018). In addition, there is a lack of research on how holiday provision is delivered and the challenges experienced by the providers, the settings used by holiday clubs, target demographics and staffing of holiday clubs (Lambie-

Mumford & Sims, 2018).

Third sector reports on holiday provision demonstrate that holiday clubs typically serve food as part of their provision (Forsey, 2017; McConnon, Morgan, Godwin, et al., 2017; Wolhuter, 2016).

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Whilst many clubs offer a range of enrichment activities in addition to food provision, a principal aim of holiday provision remains to attenuate the risk of food insecurity in low income households during the school holidays (Forsey & Mason, 2015). Food insecurity is associated with the ability to access healthy and affordable food and there has been a notable rise in the number of emergency food provision schemes to support those most at risk (Lambie-Mumford, 2013). Unsurprisingly, therefore, foodbanks are playing an increasing role in the provision of emergency food parcels for children, particularly in areas where childhood deprivation is high (Lambie-Mumford & Green, 2017). A recent study established an association between neighbourhood deprivation and pre- school children experiencing food insecurity (Benjamin Neelon, Burgoine, Gallis, et al., 2017). In order to better understand the issue of food insecurity and to match need with provision, there is a need to establish if holiday clubs are located in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, as has been the case with foodbanks. Previous research illustrates that persistent poverty is highest amongst ethnic minority groups (Baranard et al., 2017) so it is important to not only consider the geographic area in which holiday clubs operate but also the communities that access this provision. Kneafsey, Owen, Bos, et al. (2017) highlight the challenges associated with food provision

supplied by third sector organisations. Charity-led food initiatives are delivered in a piecemeal approach because of their often restricted access to funding and availability of financial reserves. The result is that, often, the most marginalised are excluded from this type of support (Kneafsey et al., 2017). This finding is consistent with the result of other studies which illustrate that voluntary organisations that rely on local philanthropy tend to be located in areas of least need (Clifford, 2012; Salamon, 1987; Salamon & Toepler, 2015). Third sector organisations operating in less deprived areas benefit from local philanthropy, more resources and volunteers to help undertake their advocacy work. The corresponding lack of this in the most deprived areas is referred to as ‘voluntary sector failure’ (Salamon, 1987). Further evidence is needed to identify if holiday clubs are operating in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and reach out to those most in need i.e. in ethnic minority areas and offering support to all low-income families.

Over the past decade there has been growth in the number of food aid projects and foodbanks distributing emergency food parcels to support people at risk of food insecurity (Forsey & Mason, 2015; Lambie-Mumford et al., 2014). The largest foodbank provider in the UK, Trussell Trust, accounts for approximately two thirds of all emergency foodbank provision in the UK. Figures from the Trussell Trust demonstrate this growth in foodbank use: their foodbanks distributed 1.3m emergency food parcels in 2017/18 compared to 347,000 food parcels in 2012/13 (Trussell Trust, 2018b). This partly reflects the growth in the number of foodbanks with over 420 foodbanks established in 2017/18 compared to 345 foodbanks in 2012/13 (Trussell Trust, 2018b).

Furthermore, the data reveals that, during this period, over a third of all food parcels were provided for children (Trussell Trust, 2018b). Similarly, there has been anecdotal evidence from third sector reports and the media suggesting a growth in the number of organisations delivering holiday

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provision and serving food (BBC, 2018; Mayor’s Fund for London, n.d.). Thus, further research is required to identify the scale of holiday provision and determine if the emergence of holiday provision and the provision of food at holiday clubs are recent phenomena and akin to the growth in use of foodbanks by low income families and children (Lambie-Mumford & Green, 2017).

The aim of this study is to provide context for this thesis and to fill the gaps in the literature on the need for holiday provision and the delivery and location of holiday clubs. This study will be split into two parts, Part A and Part B, which corresponds to two data collection points in 2016 and 2017. Data collection for Part A of this study took place in 2016 and examines the location of holiday club and identifies if holiday clubs operate in the most economically disadvantaged communities in England. In addition, this part of the study examines how civil society

organisations, local authorities, schools and housing associations are supporting families during the school holidays. The data collection for Part B of this study occurred in 2017 and examines the potential growth in the number of holiday clubs across the UK. Part B of the study also explores the delivery of holiday provision and examines the target demographic, food provision and staffing at holiday clubs.

3.2. Part A: Location of holiday clubs and delivery of holiday provision