School holidays are something that most youngsters look forward to, but many parents find that keeping their children happy, occupied and safe during those weeks is an ongoing challenge.
Balancing work commitments with childcare responsibilities can be a daunting task, particularly for low-income families and for those who have children with additional needs. Paying for childcare is an impossibility for many such families, but charity holiday clubs offer a lifeline, combining fun and learning in a safe and engaging environment for children at little or no cost.
Holiday clubs across Essex are offering structured activities that promote learning, physical activity and social interaction, which are all crucial for a child's development. Activities are varied, offering a combination of indoor creative work and outdoor learning in environments where children are safe and can make new friends. This helps children return to school feeling refreshed and ready to learn.
Charity holiday clubs also foster a sense of community, as families connect and support each other through shared experiences. They create a supportive network, helping to combat social isolation and strengthen community bonds.
Three local organisations running holiday clubs are among the initiatives receiving much-needed support from Essex Community Foundation (ECF.)
To find out more about ECF, how to give locally and charities receiving support visit: essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
MISTLEY KIDS CLUB
Mistley Kids Club has been running for nearly 25 years and provides a vital service to many families. The after school and holiday club is fully inclusive and offers childcare and respite care.
Manager Claire Moss said: 'Our main objective is to keep our children safe, whilst having the freedom to have fun in a supervised setting.
'The funding we have had from ECF has a massive impact on our work at Mistley Kids Club. It helps keep our fees to a minimum, which means we can deliver high quality childcare without having to charge the world for the service.
'We currently have 55 different schools using us in the school holidays and we offer lots of fun things to do, including group games, outside play, sports, dancing, arts and crafts, cooking, role play and gaming.
'We try to get as many outside entertainers in as possible during the school holidays, as we are unable to offer our trips out anymore, due to the volume of children we have attending.
'Our Saturday club is very special to us and the extra financial support we have had from ECF means we can have more staff to run the club.
'Many families are struggling, particularly families who are going to work. We have had more families join with us because all the adults need to go to work to pay the bills.
'We now offer an outreach service to our families needing support, whether it be attending meetings, giving advice, helping with form filling or being advocates for their children.
'Our club is used not only because we are fully inclusive for all the family, but also because we are able to keep our fees as low as possible, with the support of ECF’s grants. This means the parents can see something at the end of their pay packet.'
FIRSTSITE
Firstsite in Colchester has been running its Holiday Fun club since the summer of 2017, helping to make the school holidays enjoyable for disadvantaged children and their families.
Sally Shaw, MBE, director of Firstsite said: 'Living with economic challenges can lead to deprivation and inequalities which impact on the day to day lives of families. They are likely to have poor health, particularly mental health, which affects children’s education and increases feelings of isolation and loneliness.
'Firstsite’s activities during school holiday weekdays are enjoyed by 100 people each day. The programme is designed to alleviate the effects of deprivation and inequalities and aims to support families, helping to give children the best start in life. The day-long activity includes a free hot nutritious meal and creative activity for the whole family.
'This has now become part of Firstsite’s core activity and we are renowned for this initiative locally by the people who take part and by organisations who refer people to the programme. We have been recognised nationally for it by our main funder, Arts Council England and it was one of the reasons that Firstsite won the prestigious Museum of the Year award in 2021.'
SNAP
SNAP Holiday Clubs have been supported by ECF with a grant towards the costs of running holiday clubs for children with additional needs and disability in Brentwood, Basildon and other parts of Essex.
The clubs give children and young people with any additional need or disability the chance to interact with their peers and make friends.
Karen Boath, CEO of SNAP said: 'We are a parent-led organisation, with parents involved at every level of SNAP, including trustees, staff and volunteers. Their lived experience gives us a firm understanding of the needs of our families.
'The holiday periods pose numerous challenges for SNAP families. The absence of a school routine can be very stressful, as children with additional needs thrive on routine and predictability. This can lead to challenging behaviour.
'Also, families are unable to access many local mainstream services, due to a lack of understanding or specialist support and equipment. Our holiday clubs are vital to our families, as SNAP’s bespoke environment caters to each family’s needs and ensures that each child or young person can safely enjoy themselves and develop their skills, free from judgement, whilst their siblings and parents receive vital support.
'The sessions are unique, because there are few holidays activities that can support their individual needs and the wider family.
'The holiday clubs include Diddlies for pre-schoolers, Stay’n’ Play for ages six to 12, SNAP Plus for those over 12 and Sensorise/Mini-Sensorise for children with profound or complex needs.
'To meet the increasing demand for our holiday clubs, we also hold ad-hoc groups for families with specific needs who would benefit from smaller sessions, as well as individual sessions those unable to access group activities.
'Funding from ECF will enable SNAP’s holiday clubs to continue to provide a rare opportunity for children and young people with any additional need to make new friends in a safe and welcoming environment that is tailored to their needs. By meeting and interacting with peers, they improve their communication and social skills, reduce isolation and increase their sense of independence.
'Through activities, they experience an increase in confidence and self-esteem and an improvement in their overall mental health and wellbeing.
'Parents also benefit by seeing their child interact with their peers, without any expectations or judgement, which is hugely powerful for them. They also have the chance to meet with others who are in a similar situation and help them to realise they are not the only one struggling, alleviating feelings of isolation. Parents also have enhanced access to tailored advice and information from Family Support Advisers.'
To find out more about ECF, how to give locally and charities receiving support visit essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
