Support During School Holidays: Real impact for Researchers and their families

Thanks to continued backing from the Wellcome Trust's Institutional Fund for Research Culture, the initiative has helped remove a key barrier faced by many researchers and staff with primary caregiver responsibilities: how to manage limited opportunities for childcare support during school holidays while progressing research, training, or leadership work.

Over the past year, over 190 holiday camp places have been offered through our trusted local providers.

Feedback

Feedback has been incredibly encouraging, not just in terms of children’s enjoyment, but also the real difference it has made to the academic and professional progress of their parents.

Here’s what some of our researchers shared

“I managed to collect the last time points in a time series of sample collection, analyse the samples and include the data in a publication I am working on.” 

“I was able to attend a management training course that I would have missed if this opportunity had not been availed.”

“It let me contribute to our projects without having to take time off just because it was the school holidays and leaving everything to colleagues without kids.”

“I was able to undertake more writing for my PhD thesis.”

“I was able to complete a paper and submit it during that week, and two ethics applications for two studies.”

Others highlighted the mental space the programme provided

“It helped my mental health and wellbeing as I wasn’t worried about how to organise my son’s time while I was working.” 

“I could go to work and focus more... Mentally and financially I was calmer. Children have 145 days off from school and this programme really helps.”

For those newly settling in Dundee, the support went even further

“The holiday camp came at a time when my son and I really needed it. We had just relocated to the UK. It helped him meet peers, adjust to the culture and settle into school life more easily.”

Several parents described the initiative as “life saving"

“Please keep this going. The financial help is appreciated, but even more so is the quality of care and the fact that the children genuinely enjoyed it. That makes a huge difference.”

Thank you

We’d like to thank all involved in making this support possible, from the Wellcome Trust, to our local partners, to the researchers who’ve shared their experiences so generously.