My Charity Page Charities

My Charity Page Reference

MCP-001181

Charity Name

Take-a-Break

Charity Number

1086774

Charity Description

Take-A-Break is a voluntary organisation which exists to provide Short Breaks for children and adults

who have a disability and/ or a life threatening illness.

INDIVIDUAL RESPITE

Children are matched on an individual basis with sessional workers or volunteers to access

leisure facilities within the community.

The child's individual needs and the skills and experience of the sessional workers and volunteers determine the matching process. Consultation is made with the child, parents and carers, referring agents and Take-A-Break staff to establish appropriate activities to access, considering many other aspects I.e. health and safety issues, geography of the area, times and days of the proposed session and financial constraints.

The length and frequency of the sessions are determined by the referring agent and/or the relevant funder. A regular session is proposed to the child and parent or carer. Sessions are typically weekly for 2 - 3 hours.

Children enjoy participating in a wide range of activities including; swimming, cinema, bowling, snooker, pool, crazy golf/pitch and putt, badminton, parks and gardens, nature reserves, children's farms and zoos, shopping, soft play and eating out.

Take-A-Break also supports children into community groups such as brownies and scouts and dance classes.

Parents and carers are asked to cover the activity costs of their child.

SATURDAY CLUB

Take-A-Break has five Saturday Clubs operating across Warwickshire situated in:

Baddesley Nuneaton Rugby

Coleshill Bedworth

Each club operates in a community building rented by Take-A-Break, all premises are risk assessed on a weekly basis in accordance with Take-A-Break's Health and Safety procedure.

Clubs are attended on a weekly basis for two hours. Take-A-Break staff are employed for three hours to allow for preparation and evaluation of each session.

Activities are varied and adapted to suit the individual needs of the children. Each club has a wide range of play equipment on site for free play, structured activities consist of arts and crafts, sports, cookery, music and drama.

Children also have the opportunity to access facilities off site including parks, leisure centres, libraries, cafes and shops, integrating children into their local communities.

The majority of places at Saturday Club are funded by referring agents. However places have been provided for children on a self-referral basis through additional funds raised by Take-A-Break.

Parents and carers are asked to voluntary contribute £3.00 per week to the running of the club.

PLAYSCHEME

Take-A-Break operates holiday playscheme activities during each school holiday, every six weeks,

in North Warwickshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth. Rugby activities operate during the three main

holidays of Summer, Christmas and Easter.

Holiday Respite operates from community buildings within the area, having suitable access, toilets, and changing facilities. All under 8’s venues are registered with OFSTED and are risk assessed daily during the respite period. Referring agents purchase places and additional Take-A-Break funding allows places for children on self-referrals.

Structured site based activities are provided including Arts and crafts, cooking, sports, music, drama, sensory, soft play and a wide range of equipment for free play.

Children have also enjoyed visits on to site from other organisations. The country side centre bringing farm yard animals for the children to hold/touch and feed, Zoolab UK sharing a range of creepy crawlies,

Outings off site are often to local community facilities including parks, libraries, swimming baths, leisure centres, bowling, cinema, zoos and theme parks.

Theme days are often incorporated into the playscheme with activities and trips reflecting themes such as animals, transport around the world,

Playscheme run for four hours each day and children are required to bring a packed lunch. Parents and carers are asked to make a voluntary contribution of £3.00 per day.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB

Take-A-Break currently runs an after school club from Oakwood School in Nuneaton for 3 evenings a week. The club is available for children over the age of 8 years and provides a range of extra curricular activities whilst giving parents and carers a longer break.

INTERGRATED YOUTH CLUB

Take-A-Break are working in partnership with youth and community service (formally known as area community and education service) to provide an integrated youth club for children living in North Warwickshire.

The youth club runs from Baddesley Ensor youth centre on a Tuesday evening from 6.30- 8.30 term time only.The youth club gives young people the opportunity to mix with their peers within their own community.

TINY TABS

Tiny Tabs is a group aimed at children aged 3-8 years providing a range of free play activities in a safe and secure environment.

The session runs from 10- 12.30 during school holidays, the number of sessions vary due to funding requirements. Parents and carers may drop their child off or are welcome to stay and play.

SPORTY TABS

Sporty Tabs is aimed at children aged 9 years and above providing a range of sporting activities such as football, hockey, tennis, netball, cricket and many more. The session runs for 3hrs during school holidays, the number of sessions vary due to funding requirements.

ADULT SERVICES

We provide support to adults with learning disabilities, to enable them to live their lives to their full potential and to gain skills, confidence to live independently and give parents and carers a short break. Adults must have learning disability, be aged 18 to 65.

FAB TABs /Adult Saturday Club

FAB TAB’s and Adult Saturday Club are site based activities for adults with

learning difficulties and operate in the Nuneaton and Bedworth part of the county. Structured site based activities are provided including Arts and crafts, cooking, sports, music, drama and sensory using a wide range of equipment. Services users are asked to make a voluntary contribution of £3.00 per session.

Netherfields

A social group for young adults is established in the south of Warwickshire. Service users attend a weekly evening session of three hours, held in the Netherfields building, Leamington Spa. Site based activities include: pool, snooker, darts, table tennis, bingo, television and videos, board games and general social interaction over a cup of tea and biscuits! Occasional trips off site include bowling and eating out.

The young people have an active role in planning site activities, shopping for supplies and organising outings. Places are limited and there is currently a waiting list. Service users contribute £1.00 a week to the running of their club.