Following the success of the Playday projects we were determined to provide summer fun for families even during the Covid-19 lockdown. The project adapted by creating themed play boxes filled with objects and ingredients for each of the themed activities alongside an activity booklet to guide families through the activities. These boxes were distributed at collection points across South Somerset.
We were very concious of national guidelines and social distancing so there was a larger design project to create signs to manage guests collecting boxes through a social distanced one-way system, there was also the design of a large activity booklet which featured all the activities across the four themes - arts & crafts, baking, sports and environmental - which included recipes, templates for crafts and more.
The promotion for these collection events needed to be digital to reach families during lockdown. A digital campaign was created on social media which:
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Reached over 63,000 people,
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Resulting in 13,000 engagements
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Distributed of 1,800 boxes, with an additional
200 boxes delivered to food banks, -
Directed families to SSDC website to download
the digital activity booklet.
The success of the Playday project led to the 'Summer School's Out Activities,' which also utilised digital promotions, reaching over 24,000 people and achieving 1,000 engagements. These activities attracted nearly 2,000 participants, and the booklet was downloaded over 360 times.
This digital approach was further replicated during the national lockdown, with daily children's activity sheets shared on social media, encouraging families to visit the SSDC website. Collaborating with the heritage team, the project incorporated local artefacts into activities, such as designing gloves linked to Yeovil's glove-making industry.