Description
The All Stars scheme is delivered for three weeks each summer and offers fun and challenging sport/physical activity, art and healthy eating sessions to children aged 7 – 17 years with a disability and their siblings. The children are referred by the SHSCT, with the majority of the children having Autism and or a learning disability and a small number having a physical or sensory disability. 60 - 70 children attended from across the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon areas.
The Summer Scheme is managed by the Sports Development team and the coaches from the Every Body Active 2020 Programme assist with the delivery of the sports activities.
Results and impact
For many of these children, this is the only community leisure provision they can access during the school holidays. Feedback from parents is very positive with many reporting benefits including increased confidence, learning new skills and having new experiences, making new friends and gaining independence. The families benefit as they have some respite and some appreciate that it gives them time to enjoy with their other children.
The range of sports and physical activity sessions work well and the response from evaluation forms indicates this. Sports sessions are well adapted to include everyone and the staff work hard to ensure all of the children experience some success. The mix of activities ensures all of the children find an activity that they really enjoy. The programme includes Boccia, Multi Skills, Football, Dance, Rugby, Climbing Wall.
Each week the group attend Craigavon Water Sports Centre for a day. This is usually one of the most enjoyable days of the scheme. The trikes prove popular and many of the children take a turn at steering the speed boat, a thrilling experience which undoubtedly gives a little confidence boost to many of the children. Archery and Canoeing are also on offer.
Arts activities vary each year, but examples include den building, clay modelling, animation and painting.
96% of parents rated the scheme as ‘very good’
Type of activity
Programmes promoting activity
Place: Gilford, Co Down, United Kingdom
Territorial level: Local
Organizer: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
With financial and training support from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust