Experiment proved a need for summer holiday clubs
AN experimental holiday club for children aged five to 12 years old was trialled during the summer months of 1973.
For five Fridays in August, the children met at Swadlincote’s Pingle School to take part in the experimental club organised by the Department of Social Services for the area - the first of its kind to cater for this age group in the district.
Two members of the department, Miss Barbara Finch and Mr Smillie, were given the task of setting up the venture and approaches were made to the local schools and the youth service for premises and volunteers to help in the running of the club.
As a result of these negotiations they were allowed to use the youth wing at Pingle School, together with the help of a number of members of the staff.
Speaking in August 1973, Miss Finch said: “The children themselves have all thoroughly enjoyed the club and have eagerly awaited the start of activities at 10am each Friday.”
Activities included swimming, football, cooking, clay modelling and doll making and a general sing song at the end of the session.
Something of the club’s success could be seen in the fact that despite some members being on holiday, the original numbers trebled over the weeks to 60 children.
Miss Finch said: “At that stage we had to unfortunately restrict membership as we had neither sufficient accommodation nor volunteers to help with the activities. Children were arriving from all over the district.
“What has been proved is an overwhelming need for such activity clubs in the school holidays.
“There is much can be gained from them. Once our club was established we were delighted to receive offers of help from mothers, who now regularly run the refreshments side. About six local teenagers have also helped out.
“It would have been impossible to make this experiment a successful venture without the sterling help of the Pingle School staff, the mothers and teenagers who helped.
“We would like to do something similar during other holidays”.