Inclusive Play sessions for disabled children

Aim

The APE Project are seeking funding to help towards the annual costs of running inclusive play sessions every Saturday for disabled children

APE is an acronym for Art, Play, Environment and these are the three key principles that drive our mission to enhance the lives of children and young people through the provision of open access freely chosen play opportunities and quality activities.

We aim to deliver supportive environments and workshops for children and young people promoting creative problem solving, sense of self worth, co-operative learning, resilience, risk taking, and development of social skills. We provide stimulating, challenging, exciting and educational experiences in a safe open space where children feel valued and supported.

St. Pauls and the Adventure Playground - In 2017 the APE Project took on the management and running of St. Pauls Adventure Playground through a Community Asset Transfer from Bristol City Council. St. Pauls is in an area that has seen, and is still in the process of much change. A melting pot of once a predominantly Afro Caribbean Windrush generation is now joined by an influx of families from Somalia, East Africa and the Middle East, many finding refuge in this city fleeing from war torn homelands. This rich mix of people is not always an easy marriage and St Pauls Adventure Playground is on the frontline. Our playground is a space where people come together - a neutral family focused centre, which helps people makes friends, breaks down barriers and eases tensions between disparate communities. We open the gates to St Pauls Adventure Playground 3 days a week and welcome around 150+ children and 75+ parents and carers to play, meet, make, experiment, get creative, eat and find support. 

The Project - The APE Project run Saturday sessions for disabled children and currently have around 55 families registered with an average of 26 at each session. The majority of these are aged between 0-13 years. Activities include: 

• Cooking on the open fire - popcorn and apple fritters
• Crafts: paper mâché, giant insects, origami, slime
• Photography and shadow puppets
• Sports and fun with specially adapted bikes
• Circus skills
• Spray paint bikes
• Reading books
• Dress up and face painting
• Outdoor play - boarder swing, fully inclusive enclosed slides, swings, nets
• Sensory Room
• CHAMP and crash mat arena
• Sensory garden / large outdoor musical instruments

The sessions run from 10-12 each Saturday morning. Below is a break down of the costs: 

Why is it important and what are the benefits

• 92% per cent of families with disabled children say that finding care for disabled children is more difficult compared to non-disabled children (Counting the Costs, 2014).

• The majority of disabled children participate in a limited number and range of leisure activities (Fair play for disabled children: Bevan foundation report, 2010).

• Positive relationships will be built as children try out activities alongside each other. 

• Physical activity leads to improved self – esteem and confidence. It will also improve balance, spatial awareness, coordination and motor skills. 

• Our activities provide an outlet for physical energy, reduce anxiety and support positive behaviour. 

• Nearly 50% of people living in poverty in 2019 were families where a member has a disability.

• Children can develop a sense of accomplishment as they tackle a new experience. 

Developing body awareness and a range of movement options for disabled children can bring general improvements in coordination, and also help to raise confidence and self-esteem. By helping youngsters feel more at home with their bodies and giving them the chance to explore what they can do will promote trust, cooperation, communication and language. The activities and exercises we promote can improve collaboration, team working and social skills, as well as breaking down stereo-types and stigma’s about disabilities.

This project successfully funded on 23rd March 2021