We have surveyed LS29 members and found a problem: many are struggling to find specialist childcare in the school holidays. 

Because of their special needs, most of our children are unable to attend mainstream holiday clubs and playschemes. The lack of childcare options is leading to boredom and social isolation for the children. Many of them travel a long distance to special schools in term time, so are a long way away from school friends in the school holidays. It’s also causing stress among the parents, who are unable to work, relax, do household chores, or give focused attention to their non-disabled children in the holidays, because they can’t find any respite care.    

LS29 Time is being set up in response to this. The holiday club will bring the children together with a focus on physical and sensory play, and learning life skills, like cooking, in a fun way.

 Around 20 children a day will be accommodated, so 40 a week throughout the holidays (we will have one day for secondary, one for primary age children). Because of the severity of some of the children’s needs, we will require a high ratio of trained staff to children – many need 1:1 care. To avoid the scheme being prohibitively expensive for families we aim to charge parents a normal mainstream playscheme rate of around £3 - £5 per hour. 

And this is the main reason we are fundraising: we want to subsidise costs to parents and fund specialist, trained staff. 

Many thanks for your support!