Compass Card Evaluation December 2013

Compass Card Evaluation December 2013

Introduction

The Compass Card questionnaire 2013 was developed with three key goals in mind:

To identify how often familiesare currently using their Compass Cards
To highlight current Compass Card Activities that are working well
To identify barriers to accessing current Compass Card offers and activities
To identify which new offers and activities parents would most like us to add to the scheme

Process and Workings

The questionnaire was designed by the Compass Card Development Worker and was printed as an insert in the June 2013 edition of Amaze’s Out of Amaze newsletter, which is sent by post or email to every family with a child registered on the Compass database.

We also handed out paper copies of the questionnaire at the Take Part sport event in June, and at various other Amaze events, including autism-friendly screenings at local cinemas, Compass Card Activities such as Fun Fit and the Amaze Info Fair in November.

Compass parents were also reminded that they could complete the questionnaire online, via a link in the Compass Team News weekly email, which is currently sent to over 1000 parent carers.

Statistical Findings

Between June and December 2013 we received 121 responses (76 online questionnaires and 45 paper ones). As of April 2013 there were 1400 families with children on the Compass database, so we estimate that the 121 responses account for 9% of the total survey group.

The response rate was much lower than for the previous Compass Card questionnaire in 2009, when we received 240 responses, which accounted for 21% of the survey group at that time. Compass registration has increased by 11% since 2009, so the reduction in responses isn’t due to a smaller survey group.

The lower response rate may in part be due to Amaze having sent out a comprehensive parent carer questionnaire to all Compass parents only a month before the Compass Card questionnaire was launched, plus several other online surveys were emailed to parents during the 6 months that the Compass Card questionnaire was open. When we launched the 2009 questionnaire, Amaze had yet to introduce online surveys and we didn’t send out our first extensive parent carer questionnaire until 2011.

The geographical spread and age ranges of returned surveys are shown below, with comparative figures for the total Compass membership (our survey group) on the right:

Ward: / % of all responses where postcode was given / Compass
Brunswick and Adelaide / 0 / 0.0% / 1.2%
Central Hove / 2 / 1.8% / 1.3%
East Brighton / 0 / 0.0% / 11.7%
Goldsmid / 5 / 4.5% / 2.7%
Hangleton and Knoll / 11 / 10.0% / 8.1%
Hanover and Elm Grove / 7 / 6.4% / 6.0%
Hollingdean and Stanmer / 3 / 2.7% / 6.5%
Hove Park / 3 / 2.7% / 3.7%
Moulsecoomb and Bevendean / 9 / 8.2% / 11.5%
North Portslade / 7 / 6.4% / 7.3%
Outside Brighton and Hove / 7 / 6.4% / 4.6%
Patcham / 14 / 12.7% / 4.5%
Preston Park / 5 / 4.5% / 3.4%
Queen's Park / 4 / 3.6% / 3.7%
Regency / 0 / 0.0% / 0.9%
Rottingdean Coastal / 7 / 6.4% / 3.1%
South Portslade / 7 / 6.4% / 4.9%
St Peter's and North Laine / 3 / 2.7% / 2.2%
Westbourne / 2 / 1.8% / 1.9%
Wish / 5 / 4.5% / 2.5%
Withdean / 5 / 4.5% / 3.4%
Woodingdean / 4 / 3.6% / 4.9%
Unknown / 11

As seen in the table above, the response group didn’t contain anyone from the East Brighton ward, although that area accounts for almost 12% of the survey group. This is disappointing as East Brighton is one of the most deprived parts of the city, with a large number of children with disabilities and special needs,so it is a particular target area for the Compass and Compass Card.

Other more deprived wards such as MoulsecoombBevendean and HollingdeanStanmer are also under-represented, but not to such a large degree. Hangleton & Knoll, which is another deprived ward, is slightly over-represented.

Patcham, one of the more affluent wards in the city, is greatly over-represented, which, twinned with the under-represented areas mentioned above, should be taken into account when considering the survey results.

The age range of responders’ children with Compass Cards is slightly different to that of the full survey group, with those aged 0-4 years being particularly under-represented. Children aged 5-10 are over-represented within the group, which may reflect the kind of offers and activities that parent carers are accessing with the Compass Card:

Age range of Compass Card holders: / % of all responses where age was given / Compass
0-4 yrs / 4 / 4.7% / 12.7%
5-10 yrs / 35 / 40.7% / 30.3%
11-16 yrs / 40 / 46.5% / 45.9%
17-19 yrs / 7 / 8.1% / 11.1%
Unknown / 35

Leisure and the Family

99% of parents felt that leisure is important or very important in their families’ lives, but only 32% thought that their children were getting enough leisure activities. In 2009 41% felt their children were accessing enough leisure.

What stops children doing leisure activities?

What encourages parents to try new leisure activities with their child or organise new activities for them?

Using the Compass Card

97% of parents find the Compass Card useful or very useful, which is the same as in 2009. 88% of parents report that having a Compass Card allows their family to take part in more leisure activities than they would if they didn’t have one.

How often do families use their Compass cards?

20132009

Weekly / 45 / 20.7%
Fortnightly / 30 / 24.8%
Monthly / 38 / 31.4%
Less than once a month / 20 / 16.5%
Every couple of months or less / 5 / 4.1%
Weekly / 88 / 37.5%
Monthly / 90 / 37%
Few times a year / 49 / 20%
Hardly ever / 10 / 4%
Never / 1 / 0.5%

It is difficult to directly compare the 2009 figures with 2013 as different time scales have been used, but when you look at Monthly and Less Than Monthly usage, they do appear to be similar. It wouldn’t be correct to draw the conclusion that weekly usage has decreased over the past 4 years, as in 2009 parents weren’t able to choose Fortnightly, so had to choose either Weekly or Monthly instead.

Compass Card General Offers

What general offers do parents want more of?

Compass Card Activities

45.5% of families have been to a Compass Card activity, 42.1% haven’t and 9.9% didn’t know if they had or not.

Which existing Compass Card Activities have they used and how do they rate them?

% of families / Rate it as very good / Rate it as good / Rate it as average / Rate it as below average / Rate it as poor
Autism screenings / 27.3% / 66.7% / 30.3% / 3.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Family swim / 21.5% / 80.8% / 15.4% / 3.8% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Starfish swimming / 12.4% / 46.7% / 46.7% / 0.0% / 6.6% / 0.0%
Trampolining / 9.9% / 75.0% / 8.3% / 8.3% / 8.3% / 0.0%
Saturday Active / 7.4% / 66.7% / 22.2% / 0.0% / 11.1% / 0.0%
Story Magic / 7.4% / 44.5% / 44.5% / 11.1% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Sama / 6.6% / 75.0% / 0.0% / 25.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Table tennis / 5.8% / 42.9% / 42.9% / 14.2% / 0.0% / 0.0%
BHISP / 5.0% / 66.7% / 33.3% / 0.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Homework clubs / 4.1% / 40.0% / 40.0% / 20.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Bandbazi / 2.5% / 66.7% / 33.3% / 0.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Y Club Youth Club / 1.7% / 50.0% / 0.0% / 50.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Crew Club Youth Club / 0.9% / 0.0% / 50.0% / 50.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%

More comments on parents’ experiences of Compass Card Activities are in Appendix I.

What has stopped children accessing Compass Card Activities, or stopped them accessing more?

More comments on what would encourage parents to sign their children up for Compass Card Activities are in Appendix II.

What particular Compass Card Activities would parents like Amaze to add?

More comments about what activities families would like are in Appendix III.

Compass Information

How useful do parents find the various ways in which the Compass Team communicates with them?

Very useful / Useful / Not useful / Don't know/
not answered
Compass Card News ebulletin / 66.9% / 23.1% / 1.7% / 8.3%
Compass team ad hoc emails on specific topics / 55.4% / 30.5% / 1.7% / 12.4%
Amaze Facebook group posts / 25.6% / 21.5% / 7.4% / 45.5%
Twitter posts / 3.3% / 8.3% / 15.7% / 72.7%
News etc on Amaze website / 33.1% / 28.9% / 6.6% / 31.4%
Written info through post / 37.2% / 31.4% / 12.4% / 19.0%

More comments on Compass information and how the team communicates with parents are in Appendix IV.

Appendix I

Parents’ further comments on their experiences of Compass Card Activities:

I tried to get him onto the trampolining but there was a long waiting list (some time ago). Because my son can pass as someone without LD (until you have detailed involvement) he very much opposes going to things that are solely for special needs kids. He prefers to go to an activity like trampolining or table tennis that everyone uses, but where the staff are aware that not everyone is the same. I realise this doesn't apply for all SN kids, but a large part of the battle is trying to maintain scarce confidence.

Earlier time for Starfish - 5.30pm start puts a lot of people off joining & I'm afraid they will stop running the course as only 4 families are currently taking part & they need at least 3 learners to run the course. More info on how this course fits in with national standard swimming levels - unsure as to what level my son is at. Maybe they could do their own 'starfish'levels - this would help with sense on achievement. More availability of instructors to go into the pool (there is one) as we have to be in the pool with our kids. More feedback on how our kids are progressing.

Applied for a couple of the activities in past years but nobody ever got back to me

He really loves trampolining and the staff are very supportive and inclusive without being obvious

Freedom leisure swim offers are great and help out when I can't afford a carer and can't be outside, e.g. after Xmas; most often teaching staff want training and are very positive about including our children - which helps my child and myself to feel relaxed and enjoy the activity.

Karate the teachers were very aggressive in manner and made my son feel pressurised and unsafe.

Well trained staff who understand SEN

More information about activities

Will probably access some of these when she is older.

Very good Sealife Centre because of discount, even though my son only stays a short time

We used the Starfish swimming group twice, the time of day was not suitable: 5.30pm on Mondays only

Just more money saving would be good

Free swimming is great, much appreciated and really good for daughter.

My daughter is still too young for a lot of the activities on offer, however, we shall definitely make more use of the compass and when she is older (almost 3, but the soft play has been great, thanks)

The ice skating was brilliant for our child as otherwise it would have been too expensive. Any travel price reductions for travelling into Brighton (as we don't have a blue badge) would be extremely useful. Also things that siblings can also join in.

Not much for severely disabled 8 year old to do that is inclusive really

Ticked yes as use card on a regular basis at the cinema

Staff are great at Saturday Active club. Good change of venue.

We found the cricket club both of my boys go to through Amaze and they have been going there now for over a year now and love being part of a team and belonging to a wonderful club who treat them like everyone else and not for what they have which is ASC and ADHD

Was paddle round the pier a compass card activity? This was fantastic.

Starfish swimming, not enough teaching occurred in the session.

I think the card is a great idea but we've found at the few places we've used it at the card discount is the same as the normal disabled discount.

Would like to try more soon

What worked out really well was the disability cricket you did in 2011 for Portslade Cricket Club ..well 2 years later my youngest son is still playing for the club and now plays in the u11`s team and is made to fill part of the team no matter what disability he has :) ..oh and on 7 July the was the top scorer by scoring 14 runs 3 of them were 4`s :)

With regular activities my child has become more used to doing these things which is great for development

Possibly school groups, special needs, days out with school friends & teachers

More activities specifically for wheelchair users & more training for staff at venues around wheelchair users

If ever I have tried to use the card, it has been accepted as proof of disability, e.g. at a theme park. Brighton Wheel were great

He had to wait a while for his turn he hates waiting and he was so overwhelmed he couldn’t understand instruction and he is so tall Ididn’t feel he was safe

He loves going swimming, good thing about a compass card is he able to take a friend aswell,which helps to mix with other adults.

Love Duke of Yorks. Please to get discount at Brighton Festival

Sama and YMCA trampolining are FAB!

My child tends to exist between the SEN and the mainstream world so not all of these activities are suitable, but that isn't anyone's fault!

I think there needs to be more activities for young people with severe learning disability/ PMLD as a lot if these activities are way beyond sons physical abilities but he still needs 'wearing out' to help him sleep!

Staff lovely at the homework club at local library. The two difficulties with it were the antiquated computer system which wasn't compatible with what my child had already started at school (brought along to finish on a memory stick), and the mother and toddler group meeting for an hour at same time made it very noisy, busy environment and hard to concentrate so it was easier for my child to come home and do the homework! Also, it was such a lengthy complicated process if you want to print anything out, it was so frustrating for my son and made it all a stressful experience. So he doesn't go anymore. This is at local library. The staff were great though, it’s the equipment/ noisy environment that were the issues.

Something near Fiveways for teens

I always had a good experience!

Posters/stickers saying CC accepted

The card makes a vast difference in them going swimming/cinema with friends. They would not go otherwise. King Alfred receptionist lost their 2 cards & was not unsympathetic about it!

We have been to the theatre on Compass Card offers, and had access to events in the Brighton Children's Festival for free and have really enjoyed those and appreciated the opportunities.

Looking forward to U-Sport each month

We really like free swimming, and free DVD rental at B&H libraries as my son is a big film fan, and emails and texts about discounted theatre shows. As my son is high spectrum Aspergers, activities that are targeted at mixed groups rather than specifically autistic are of more interest to us.

Mainly use for cinema - Odeon which is a real money saver and library which means we can get loads of DVDs out and not worry about the cost

Superb table tennis coaching and amazing value for money

Joining the gym at the Prince Regent has been very good.

Bowlplex charge more in the holidays. No offers are on during the holiday. Have had to complain several times

The free DVD service from the library is very worthwhile

I have found that the staff at King Alfred swimming pool don't always like the Compass Card as they only allow 1adult & 1child

Only used CC for swimming

Appendix II

Parents’ further comments on what would encourage them to sign up for a Compass Card Activity (or more if already using them):

I signed up for several things with Gullys and then there were family problems and we didn’t attend any. What was worse, things were so fraught I didn’t get the chance to say so that someone else could have been offered the place. I should imagine this would have made the organisers mad (understandably). However when you have additional pressures this must be quite common. I wondered if some system of texting prior could be set up (rather like happened for the Clinique evening recently)?

Absolute assurance that staff will be Autism aware. As my son gets older we will do more activities as many are off limits at present because he's only 6.

Inclusive groups not solely for people with disabilities as he will not feel 'different' by attending

Age ranges

Cater for child with severe learning difficulties

Suitable to child's needs

Range of activities to include the whole family, aware some already do include siblings

If I see my child enjoys an activity I want to take her. By it being supported on the Compass card scheme I feel more welcome, and feel they will want to have my child attend.

More discounts then they could have a go at a wider range of things

Something that would suit my child

Teenager based

Knowing that A's special needs would be catered for by staff

At the moment she does enough for a 6yr old, will need more when she's a bit older so I will look then.

More activities for under 5yrs old

Age suitable