The Active Play initiative is aimed at children and young people with disabilities especially those with a diagnosis of autism. This initiative is in order to address the deficit of services and respite, faced by families of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) highlighted by the current ongoing covid19 pandemic within our community.
Active Play will involve a variety of outdoor and indoor sports orientated activities using a dedicated multifaceted space and an endless range of equipment and resources delivered by trained staff and volunteers to engage children and young people with SEND.
This program is for children and young people between the ages of 8 and 25 years with special needs and disabilities from a disadvantaged background living within the Bexley and Greenwich boroughs.
We believe our children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) will benefit from a provision which promotes physical activity, social interaction and meaningful engagement.
With Active Play, we have created a safe space (and opportunities) for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities so their ‘gifts’ and
‘hidden talents’ are identified and ‘nurtured’ thereby supporting them at the earliest stage in order for them to reach their full potential.
Furthermore, we are proud to be responsible for a programme which will also help build strong relationships in and across our community.
Through ‘Active Play’ we aim to:
- Be the facilitators of fun!
- Create a safe space as well as opportunities for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities so their ‘gifts’ and ‘hidden talents’ are identified and ‘nurtured’ thereby supporting them at the earliest stage for them to reach their full potential.
- Facilitate meaningful engagement for children and young people who will be users of our service.
- Improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people with disabilities and their families.
- Connect different families from different backgrounds within our community and encourage them to get out of the lockdown experience which has impacted many families severely.
- Provide desperately needed respite service for families.
Studies have shown children and young people with disabilities as well as their
families experience mental health challenges even more so than those without disabilities. The current pandemic has also exacerbated this problem especially within families from diverse backgrounds.
In order to address this, alongside Active Play for children and young people, we also aim to facilitate well being programmes run by qualified and experienced professionals aimed at parents and carers and siblings of children and young people with disabilities.
- Ages 8 to 16
- Post 16 to age 25
During the school holidays, we will be in the position to offer more sessions apart
from only Saturdays. We welcome children and young adults with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) as well as those without.
- A large multipurpose indoor and outdoor play area
- Athletic games (indoor and outdoor)
- Ball games indoor and outdoor
- Health and Fitness
- Yoga
- Stimulating Excursions
There are activities that encourage engagement and interaction using a range of
endless resources. There will also be opportunities for children and young people
to be engaged in one of our ‘featured sports’ where they will be coached by our affiliates over a number of weeks.
Every Saturday between the hours of 2.30pm – 6.30pm. More sessions will be offered during school holidays.
Our Active Play sessions will take place at Harris Garrard Academy where we will be using the Academy’s multifaceted indoor and outdoor facilities.
At Jesse’s Place Foundation we value the outcomes derived from joining forces with affiliates so our children and young adults are impacted positively.
We will collaborate with organisations and multi disciplinary professionals in order to improve and strengthen the well being of all our children, young adults and their families.