‘Invaluable’ play schemes have to be suspended

Adur Special Needs Project is desperate to find a replacement as soon as possible, but admits it is a specialist role and finding the right person will not be easy.

The charity has been changing the lives of children and young people with special needs across the Shoreham, Lancing and Worthing area for almost 20 years.

The weekend play schemes, which are run at Glebelands Day Centre, in Middle Road, Shoreham, have always been of special importance to the families who use the project.

The children spend the day at the group and can take part in art and craft, cooking, music workshops, bouncy castle, sensory activities and minibus outings.

But the Saturday activities have had to be suspended until a new weekend play scheme supervisor can be found for the group.

Administrator Yvonne McKeown said: “We are advertising this post locally but it’s a specialist vocational role, and not necessarily that easy to find the right candidate.

“We have had a tremendous amount of positive feedback and support from our members’ parents. We urgently need to continue this valuable and much-needed service.”

She explained the project’s various clubs and groups not only gave the youngsters the chance to take part in a wide variety of fun, stimulating and challenging activities in a safe and caring environment, but the families benefited from well-earned respite at the same time.

One of the parents said: “Having two special needs children, both of whom need a lot of attention, it is impossible for my husband and me to do any ‘normal’ activities when they are around. The weekend play scheme provides us with precious respite so that we can go shopping and have lunch, etc. It is invaluable.”

Another parent added: “Our son is non-verbal, but I know that he loves the play scheme. He always sits by the window waiting for the minibus to pick him up, and comes home with a big smile on his face.”

The play schemes run on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month during school term times. The supervisor would need to have experience of youngsters with special needs, hold a minimum of a level three qualification in a relevant area of child care, be prepared to have a DBS check (paid for by the charity) and have some experience of staff management.

The position is a paid one. Contact Yvonne McKeown on 01273 441866 or email [email protected] for more information.