Glasgow parents worried about the cost of school holidays

More than 60% of parents in Glasgow have reported feeling anxious about the cost of keeping their kids entertained over the summer.

Article Source: ParkLives
Last Updated: 4 July 2017 13:21

with many anticipating spending an extra £64 a week, or £384 over six weeks, on days out compare to an average week during term time.

Three in ten Glaswegian parents are set to splurge over £100 a week, or a staggering £600 for six weeks.

The survey of 2,000 parents conducted by ParkLives, an initiative by Coca-Cola Great Britain in partnership with Glasgow Sport, also found that over two thirds (68%) of local parents struggle to find ideas for things to do with kids over the summer holidays that don’t cost a fortune.

Almost half (47%) of parents in Glasgow say that seeing photos of other families on social media makes them feel pressured to do more things with their kids in the school holidays, yet almost 8 in 10 (81%) parents say they are put off visiting many attractions because of the cost.

The findings come as ParkLives Glasgow, which offers fun, FREE activities in local parks, launches its summer 2017 programme today that will see even more family activities added to the timetable, including Quidditch, Karate, and Play in the Park.

Kirsty Garrett, Sport Development & Physical Activity manager at Glasgow Sport, said: “The school holidays should be a time for families to relax and enjoy spending time together, so it’s concerning to hear so many parents in Glasgow are feeling worried just at the thought of it.

“We’re ramping up our ParkLives programme in Glasgow over the summer to give local families even more choice when it comes to finding fun, free activities to do together. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-fuelled adventure or simply want to relax and play games, ParkLives has something for everyone and it’s completely free.”

Rose Ashmole, ParkLives session leader, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone into parks across the city during this year’s summer break. We’ve got all sorts going on for the whole family like Den building, Garden Games and Basketball so everyone can enjoy the holidays without worrying about the cost.”

Now in its third year in Glasgow, ParkLives runs in 10 cities nationwide and is part of a £20 million commitment by Coca-Cola Great Britain to invest in community-based programmes. Activities are delivered by local teams from Glasgow Sport to help to bring communities together and improve wellbeing. Sessions typically last around one hour and are hosted by fully trained, friendly leaders and volunteers from the local area. Activities are group-based and participants can go at their own pace, while meeting like-minded people.

Liz Lowe, ParkLives lead at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “We want families to be able to look forward to the school holidays without money worries. All summer long ParkLives will be helping families to make the most of their local green spaces, giving them a chance to take part in all the free activities we are hosting and enjoy some quality time together.”

The ParkLives summer timetable has begun, and will run throughout the summer months.

To find out more about the programme and save a space in sessions, visit www.parklives.com