CHIPS (Children's Integrated Playschemes)
Young People
We want to pay for two day trips out for the children attending our CHIPS Hertford 2017 Summer Holidays Playscheme.
About this cause
CHIPS offers play and social opportunities for children with special needs aged 3 to 19 living in East Hertfordshire and Broxbourne, in 5 locations. Uniquely in the county, our play sessions are for children who are unable to access ‘mainstream’ schemes along with their non-disabled siblings. We provide Playschemes for 2.5hrs for 30 Saturdays per year and day-long sessions during the school holidays, with trips out as funds allow. Currently CHIPS has 220 families with over 300 children registered. Simple play is vital for a child's development and at CHIPS, all children, regardless of special need or disability, have somewhere and someone to play with while parents/carers have a break from responsibilities. As a parent said 'We are so grateful for the respite...and the fun [she] has.'
How this cause brings people in the community together
CHIPS runs a 3-week Play scheme in the summer holidays for children with special needs and their siblings living in Hertford. It runs weekdays, 10am to 3.30 pm, hosting 20 children approx a day. Activities include swimming, sport, cooking and art. Alongside our qualified staff, volunteers, age 12-17, support us, as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. To enrich the scheme, we hope to plan in outings to the seaside, zoo or theme park. We offer safe, fun and inclusive activities for all our children over the long summer holidays. We offer parents/carers respite and our integrated approach allows all children within a family to attend one location. Trips offer new experiences, which parents on low incomes cannot always afford, allowing children to socialise out in the community.