Poor take up of free child activities

I run free events for work. We usually go on 50% of our Eventbrite bookings actually showing. And these are organized adults with strong interest in the event. Stuff gets on top of people, things slip people's minds, family emergencies, illness, etc. I imagine there's even more going on for your target families. You can't take it personally.

What's the actual numbers? 25% could be 2 people or 200 people.

By the time you allow for sick kids, people forgetting, running late, rain if its outside, big football tournament on etc, a 75% turn out is good going.

75% attendance rate is really good, even for a paid for event, let alone a free one. I would guess this is your first planned event? Don’t take it to heart, those are acceptable numbers.

It wasn’t a complete waste of time. You got 75% of people to turn up over several weekends. That’s a lot of people reached.

Indeed.

Honestly OP, 75% is pretty good! I think next time if you go in with different expectations you won't feel like this.

75% attendance sounds pretty standard?

Kids that would really benefit from free events are often not the ones that come to free events. If you want to really provide access to free opportunities to excluded/hard to reach families you need to do more than advertise them widely . Their parents need to have trust built up, they need to be really encouraged to attend, there might be other barriers to attendance- how do they get there, can their little siblings come, will their parents feel uncomfortable because it’s unfamiliar location. Will their mental health that day be ok. Etc etc

it being free isn’t the only thing that breaks down barriers to participation.

Kids that come to free events often have parents who could pay £5 for it.

I run groups for the NHS and we always expect 20-40% of people won’t turn up. We understand that with our particular client group, that cancellations/do not attends go with the territory (due to variable symptoms, anxiety, problems with transport etc).

I think with families it would be a similar rate but for different reasons. Unplanned illness, tiredness, meltdowns or even just because they have a better offer! 75% is a good turnout from my experience.

it sounds like you’ve done a really positive thing though and I’m sure the people who attended got a lot from it. I agree it can be frustrating but try to focus on the positives.

Hi OP, a 75% attendance rate is really good! I organise free events for work and we assume 1/3 no shows. Next time I would overbook it slightly, say 10%, or you could ask people to book to register interest but do admittance on a first come first served basis.

75% attendance is fine for this sort of event and saying things like “total indifference” and “feel empty” is excessively negative. It was a successful event so stop spoiling it in your head.

I agree with this.

I also think it's hugely optimistic to expect 100% turnout at these things. Life with children is unpredictable - as well as all the above, you also have things like illness, other commitments, family crisis, etc.

People aren't generally too fond of their kids being targeted as the ones deserving pity, which is how being the only ones with letters in their bookbags would be interpreted.

They're also more likely to work weekends, have problems sorting out travelling there for drop off, returning for pick up, money for clothing, snacks and lunches, look after other children - it's a lot easier for one of two parents to drop their kid off in the car with everything they need than it is for one parent wrangle the smaller child 20 minutes to the bus stop, wait for bus 1, wait for bus 2, drop off, wait for 2 buses and walk home, then sit there for 35 minutes before having to leave to pick up again.

And that's even before it's being run by somebody who complains they aren't showing enough gratitude.

75% turnout for a free event is pretty good, OP. My work runs a lot free business events and we plan for 50% no shows. As PP have said, you can definitely overbook these things by at least 10%. Even for a fabulous fancy hosted party you won't get 100% attendance. Life gets in the way sometimes.

Charge for a ticket and then offer rebate against food/drink on the day?
It’s hard incentivising anyone these days.

Was it indoors or outdoors? We had a free event booked yesterday. It was outdoors in our local park. The rain here was torrential yesterday and there was no option for us to cancel the free tickets.

Do you have the option to cancel the tickets? This might help reduce the no-shows.

This is a good shout. A reminder email a few days beforehand that has a link to click if you can no longer come, then you can offer to others on a waiting list.

Our local family hub charges a five deposit which is returned upon attending for special events

Maybe give people an easy out reminder the week before?

That's just rude of them

Also poorer families face so many barriers to these things

Booking optimistically but then getting to the day and finding you have no money left for bus fare.

Running out of food so having to choose to go grandma's for the day instead because you know she'll give the kids a meal.

Panicking on the day that the children's non school clothing is shabby/embarrassing and they'll look bad in a theatre etc

Relying on another non resident parent who doesn't show

I run a food bank. When we do HAF programs we go into the deprived schools and offer to host on the premises at no cost to them. Broadly works.

When I've been one of the "unfortunates", I haven't accessed free schemes because I cringed at the thought of being treated like or at the least feeling like a charity case.

The well off, middle class people have no such qualms so they're more likely to attend.

If you can’t charge a nominal fee then I think in your marketing next time (if there ever is a next time!) stress that the event is usually £9 but available for free. Run a waiting list and implore parents to cancel to free up these free spaces to children who can come.

Perhaps you already did all of that…? In which case, I don’t really know but you have my sympathy. Don’t give up though

OP I have organised similar things and it is galling when people just don’t turn up. The best way I’ve found to do it is have some kind of charge even if a returnable deposit or just a small amount to cover drinks and biscuits for example(obviously it workable with the funding). It is very upsetting though when you spend so much time to offer something for the community.

I'd focus on the fact that the majority did attend and I assume had a wonderful time.