Adapting to the pandemic to continue offering respite to families living with SEND
In 2020, BCF awarded £8,500 to Thames Valley Adventure Playground allowing it to adapt to the pandemic and continue to offer a safe and stimulating environment for children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.
The charity-run Thames Valley Adventure Playground offers a safe and fun environment for those with SEND to relax and play. It provides freedom in a safe and stimulating environment, helping children and adults to develop self-confidence, independence, and sensory and motor skills. It also provides parents and carers with much-needed respite from full-time care. Annually, it hosts 30,000 special needs children and adults, as well as their families and carers.
Due to the pandemic, Thames Valley Adventure Playground has experienced a large funding shortfall. It also had to turn away families during lockdowns, at a time when there was an unprecedented demand for the respite service that they offer. Those with SEND struggled to understand the challenges of COVID-19 and the disruption to much-needed routines. With widespread closures, their families and carers were also unable to gain respite for months at a time, worsening mental and emotional wellbeing.
The funding provided by BCF helped Thames Valley Adventure Playground to stay afloat during this challenging time and adapt to the pandemic by ensuring a COVID-secure environment.
In order to COVID-proof its 2.5-acre site, the charity needed to overhaul its infrastructure to comply with new hygiene and social distancing requirements. The funding went towards providing staff training, cleaning, purchasing equipment and PPE, signage and barriers, providing new wash stations, testing equipment, as well as creating new resources for staff and visitors.
Whilst some other respite providers were unable to carry on, the Playground was able to reopen to almost the same number of families and beneficiaries as before the pandemic. The joy of the children and adults with SEND returning to the park was clear, and 100% of visitors who provided feedback on email and social media said that they felt safe returning to the park.
Many families have commented on how the Playground has been a lifeline, providing breaks in a familiar and trusted environment that help them stay sane amidst challenging times. The park has noticed an upsurge in community spirit, and a greater awareness of how even the simplest of changes can impact the SEND community. One parent commented: “I managed to have a cup of tea and switch off for a few hours, after so long this felt like a real treat. Can we come every day?!”
"It was so difficult for so many charities during Covid and we couldn't support the thousands of families and organisations that we do without the generous donations of our supporters. The funding provided by BCF enabled us to reopen as soon as the Covid rules allowed and enabled us to keep both our visitors and staff safe.”
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