Later in life, my mother retrained as a social worker, dedicating her career to supporting families and the elderly

One of her most impactful initiatives was a series of summer play schemes designed to give parents much-needed respite. These programs were tailored to different age groups over a three-week period:

  • Ages 3–5: A play-based program with occasional local outings

  • Ages 5–8: A series of day trips and adventures

  • Ages 8–12: An immersive summer camp experience where she took the children away for a week of camping

In my early 20s, I often helped out at these schemes and accompanied her on the camping trips

During these years, my mother often faced skepticism from the council regarding the "Return on Investment" (ROI) of such programs

To her, however, the value of this work was never about spreadsheets; it was about a story she shared with me years later

Now retired, my mother was working in a charity shop when a man walked in and approached her. "Are you Mrs. Hughes?" he asked

When she confirmed she was, he looked at her with tears in his eyes and asked, "Are you the person who took me to the seaside?"

As part of those summer programs, my mother always ensured the children visited the coast

For many of them, it was the very first time they had ever seen the sea

The man, now fully grown, told her, "I was so scared to paddle in the water. You held my hand, and that was the first time I ever tasted sea salt."

He had never known exactly where that life-changing trip had taken place

My mother told him it was Lyme Regis

With a smile, the man explained that he was planning to take his own children there, so they could experience the magic of the sea in the same place he had first discovered it as a boy

Conclusion

This encounter serves as a powerful reminder that the true "Return on Investment" in social work isn't always measurable in the short term

While the council looked for data, my mother was busy building core memories

A simple act of holding a frightened child’s hand by the shore created a ripple effect that spanned decades, eventually coming full circle as a father prepared to share that same wonder with the next generation

The photo was taken in 1987