Problem addressed

Despite a large increase in formal care provision in Europe over the past decade, informal childcare (for instance, by grandparents) still plays an important role in many Member States. This is particularly the case in countries where state provision of childcare to parents is limited and there are few opportunities to work part-time, such as Italy. Informal care, however, is not accessible to all parents. This can have a detrimental impact on the employability of some parents. It may also limit children and adolescents’ access to settings where they can mix with their peers and develop their social and interpersonal skills.

Innovative solution

Community Lab addresses child and adolescent care needs in the Borgo Panigale-Reno neighbourhood of Bologna, Italy, over the summer months by promoting autonomy and developing competences. Community Lab has partnered with various local associations and companies - notably Fondazione Ducati and Fondazione Golinelli - to care of children and adolescents by offering activities that aid their development. These local organisations are invited to develop and run activities using their own resources on a voluntary basis for one or two weeks over the summer. Organisations are not obliged to participate every year if, for instance, their capacity does not allow it. This flexible model has been running summer activities for children and adolescents for the last six years.  

There are three key aspects that make the initiative innovative. Firstly, its community-level approach that involves local organisations and volunteers providing workshops and training activities for children and adolescents. Secondly, its learning by playing philosophy and use of different pedagogical methods that cater for several different developmental needs in children and adolescents, from discipline to creativity. Thirdly, its intergenerational dimension, whereby whilst in care, adolescents can volunteer to support older people in their neighbourhood by helping them during morning and afternoon activities, chaperoning them, and giving them practical daily help. Storytelling activities help adolescents to develop their listening skills and helps to reduce the isolation of the elderly participants, aged from 80 years up.

All activities offered are free, apart from an EUR 10 insurance coverage fee. Some children and adolescents are exempt from paying the insurance contribution, as indicated by welfare services.

Key results and benefits

The project has received a lot of positive media attention. Each year, between 400 and 500 children and adolescents sign up to the Community Lab activities, and around 50 organisations provide their work and time for free, from June to September. In 2019, over 100 volunteers contributed approximately 1 000 hours of work, with as many as 55 activities. 486 participants enrolled, both girls and boys, for a total of 2 708 participations.

The success of the Community Lab initiative relies on training of volunteers (so they can best meet the needs of children), monitoring and evaluation, and partnerships. Monitoring and evaluation is carried out both internally, by gathering feedback from parents and partner organisations on what to do better and how, and externally, by the University of Bologna. An evaluation by the University of Bologna shows that Community Lab is an effective way of fostering social innovation and awareness of public service needs, through interaction with communities and an integrated approach across different sectors.

Potential for mainstreaming

Community Lab is an initiative that started with a regional call by the Emilia-Romagna Regional Health and Social Agency in 2012. Before the pandemic, plans were made to offer alternative care solutions not only during summer, but also throughout the year. Such plans have currently stalled.

Scalability and transfer to different contexts has been a key focus of the Community Lab method since 2015. The method is used in various local contexts within Italy to develop policies not only to care for children and adolescents, but also to address broader social policy issues related to health, wellbeing, housing and urban regeneration by giving voice to and empowering communities, and by relying on integrated local partnerships and volunteers. Key conditions for a successful transfer to other contexts would be an engaged, strong network of local organisations and companies that provide their own resources to offer a set of activities. Fruitful dialogue across public administration, communities, and local associations and companies would also be key in understanding local needs and providing tailored and integrated solutions.