Holiday Activities and Food annual report

Gateshead play-schemes running during school holidays have benefited from the HAF funding specifically for our SEND young people. 

The play-schemes were able to purchase sensory equipment which helped young people on our schemes engage in activities and to regulate when needed.

The fidget bags and fidget poppers were mobile, so they were able to be used when transporting young people to and from home, during outings and within the quiet and sensory rooms. The wobble and vibrating cushions allow for improving balance, core stability and muscle strengthening as well as providing a calming effect. The lycra has offered us the opportunity to provide young people with deep pressure, a firm tactile sensory input that provides proprioceptive input to the whole body, to help calm and regulate throughout the day.

The smaller, resistant, and pressure-rich toys help reduce stress and anxiety and can be easily controlled by the individual or supporting adult.

This has all helped create a suitable, calming and stimulating environment for SEND children who have HAF programmes at play-schemes and Family Hubs.

Feedback from our families of SEND children:

"Finding a supportive environment that I feel confident can stimulate, educate and entertain is difficult - somewhere where A is safe and also needs around his own behaviour to others can be managed positively. The HAF play-schemes have always delivered this for A."

"I thought the HAF kids programme was great. B told me the list of activities he enjoyed and each day he brought home his work, even made a police officer costume with felt! A firm favourite in the toy box still today. Most importantly this gave me vital time to get out to the shops to re stock the fridge, cupboards and get my essentials to run the home. Taking both boys to the supermarket is a no go for us which is why I would struggle without HAF. Not to mention the 'burnout' every SEN parent goes through. HAF is much needed respite as the only break at all in the holidays, a much needed service."

"N on a personal basis benefits hugely from the programme. It adds a bit of structure to his week when he struggles massively with not having the consistency of school available to him. Facets helps regulate him and his behaviour at home that evening and the following day vastly improves. It gives him his "fix" and happily goes about his evening choosing less demanding activities to engage in. Most importantly to us as parents is that N is really happy when he attends Facets which in turn makes us very happy."