DISABLED children have been painting, building sandcastles and taking some time to relax in sensory areas at a stay and play group in Chelmsley Wood.
Social Life Opportunities (SoLO) set up the free sessions during the summer holidays in Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre for youngsters to have fun with their parents and siblings.
The stay and play session run from 11am until 2.30pm and the final session is on Saturday, August 27.
These sessions were set up for families who have a child with a disability find it hard to access suitable places – particularly during school holidays as many venues and activities can be too busy and overwhelming or simply inaccessible.
Parents said that this was “a wonderful opportunity to spend time with their child, to get out of the house and play in a safe and friendly environment where their child is accepted for who they are and their support needs are catered for” as well as a chance to meet other parents in similar circumstances.
Lesley Beer, chief executive at SoLO said: “Our Chelmsley Wood shopping centre venue is a large open indoor space – with plenty of room for moving about – with lots of activities – painting, playdough, sandpit, Lego, train tracks and cars – and even a ball pit.
“We accommodate for preferred activities and if there is something a child really likes that we don’t have, we will go out of our way to have that available at a future session.
“We have two sensory spaces as well – one woodland themed and one dark – as well as quiet areas to relax and be away from the action.”
For more information, or if anyone is interested in helping fund for this provision to continue contact SoLO on 0121 779 3865 or [email protected]
