Parks for Play provide inclusive, affordable and high quality play sessions to children and young people with disabilities and additional needs. 

Parks for Play is an exceptional charity created by families with disabled children, play and youth experts 20 years ago.

We pride ourselves on never excluding a child from our service, regardless of their disability, background, emotional needs, or challenging behaviour.

We specialise in ‘Play’ which is self-directed by children and young people (our members) and facilitated by a diverse team of play workers.

We offer inclusive play sessions

Our services & approach

At Parks for Play we run several play groups throughout the year, catered towards children with additional needs and their siblings. Groups run on Saturdays during term times, and we have holiday play schemes over the half terms, Easter, Summer and Christmas breaks.

Our youth service runs on alternative Sundays and provides club sessions which promote independence and leisure opportunities.

Please note, all sessions are booking only.

We also run a programme of inclusive trips and treats for exciting play adventures across the city when funding is available.

At Parks for Play we investment in planning for every individual child. Before coming to a session we find out all about the child’s likes & dislikes, triggers, play preferences, independence goals, medical needs, behavioural challenges, communication needs and family support needs. 

We do this for each child and young person that accesses our services before they attend so that we can ensure that we are meeting their needs. 

We welcome children and young people with the highest and most complex needs, alongside their siblings to enjoy fun and enriching opportunities which are developed to facilitate playing with their peers and develop their social, emotional and independence skills. 

We cater for different age groups

  • Over 4’s (school attenders)
  • 1.5hr session
  • 9.00 – 10.30
  • During term time Saturdays & dates during the holidays
  • Under 12’s
  • 2hr session
  • 11.00 – 13.00
  • During term time Saturdays & dates during the holidays
  • Under 12’s
  • 2hr session
  • 14.15 – 16.15
  • During term time Saturdays & dates during the holidays
  • Ages 12-15 
  • 10.00-12.15 (2 hours, 15 mins)
  • Ages 16+ 
  • 13.00-15.30 (2 hours, 30 mins)
  • Alternate Sundays

Our Safeguarding Statement

Parks for Play recognises that we have a responsibility to promote the well-being of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to work in a way that protects them from harm. We do this by valuing, listening to and respecting every child and young person and by creating a safe environment where children and young people feel listened to and comfortable to share their concerns – an environment where they can flourish and thrive.

Parks for Play staff are all trained in safeguarding children and young people and have a legal responsibility to seek further advice from other safeguarding agencies should we be concerned about a child or young person’s welfare.

Any such action is always taken with the best interests of children, young people and their families and with the aim of identifying appropriate support for everyone involved.

Our origin story, principles and team

Parks for Play history

Parks for Play was created by a group of parents with children on the autism spectrum. Large green spaces for their little runners, who had a spirit of adventure bigger than their sense of consequence, made visits to parks more challenging than comforting. 

These parents decided to turn their world inside out and create local play services that gave traditionally excluded children priority access to inclusive community services.

Play principles

Parks for Play are committed to creating resilient children through play opportunities. We base our actions around core Play Principles. including;

  • All children and young people need to play
  • Play is a process that is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated.
  • The role of the play worker is to support all children and young people in the creation of a space in which they can play.

Our team

Our team of play workers are a diverse group of amazing people who will encourage children to explore and learn through play. Every team member has an Enhanced DBS check and has training in safeguarding children. Our training package also includes:

  • Play training
  • Understanding Autism
  • Complex behavioural needs
  • Non-verbal communication

How we fund our essential service

Funders

We are grateful to all our funders who support our essential service and operational costs with grants. 

Over the last few years these are:

  • National Lottery Community Fund
  • nPower Business Solutions Foundation
  • Dens of Equality – Short Breaks for Disabled Children
  • Children in Need
  • The Children’s Quarter – Bring it on Brum
  • Comic Relief
  • Cooperative Dividend Fund
  • Avison Young 
  • Neighbourhood Development & Support Unit, Birmingham City Council.

Donations

We run small fundraising events and raffles to raise funds for resources and organisational core running costs. 

Your donations supports creating inclusive play experiences for disabled children and their families. Please support our charity with a one-off or monthly donation if you can.

Prices

We charge our families reasonable rates to access our play sessions:
  • £6 for a single child or young person
  • £10 for 2 children or young people
  • £12 for 3 children or young people.

We believe that cost should not be a barrier to your child or young person attending, so please get in touch if it is.

Venue hire & parties

When we are not running our play sessions we have a wonderful indoor and outdoor space for people to hire for meetings and parties.
 
Every penny you spend on hire goes straight back into the charity so we can deliver our services.
 
Looking for a safe space for your child or young person’s party? Look no further!! Why not party with the play experts!