The Isle of Wight Council and NHS Isle of Wight are providing a range of planned short breaks
for disabled children, those with special and complex health needs thanks to funding provided by Aiming High for Disabled Children, now Short Breaks.

These short breaks are designed to provide positive, enjoyable experiences to increase the opportunities for children to make friends and help with independence. Under this initiative, parents and carers will be able to benefit from a well-earned break from caring for their disabled child. Alternatively, parents and carers can join their child in a new experience!

West Wight Sports Centre are also offering your child the chance of 1:1 specialist swimming tuition. This can be taken either as a private lesson or as part of a mainstream lesson. If you wish to make a booking for this, please contact Clare Griffin.

Contact details: Clare Griffin on 01983 752168
Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy play and a range of fun, rewarding activities, then your child might access play through the Play Rangers (£) who will provide play sessions at the special schools. These usually run at St. George’s School, Newport from 10 am until 13.30 pm. The cost is £5 per session. If you want to find out what sessions are on, please contact Lesley Forde at FIZ on 821999.. You may leave your child unattended if you wish.

The Play Ranger sessions offer a variety of indoor and outdoor play activities including parachute games, Nintendo Wii, arts and crafts, sporty games, gadgets and games, movies and lots more. There are limited spaces available and children will be booked on a first come, first serve basis. Siblings welcome if space allows.

Contact: Sophie Biggs 01983 823818 to book a place.
Email: [email protected]

Or, you might want to access one of the YMCA’s day camps (£) during the holidays.. These are based at Winchester House, Shanklin and siblings are welcome. The price is £18.00 for a full day; £10.00 per half day (08.00 – 13.00 or 13.00 – 18.00). There is a sibling discount of 10% for more than one child in a family attending. These are proving to be very popular so ring quickly if you still want a place.

Contact: Diana Jeffries 01983 862441
Email: [email protected]

You may not have heard of Nettlecombe Farm in Whitwell, who can offer you and your family the chance to visit a picturesque setting with plenty of small farm animals and coarse fishing lakes set in lovely grounds. You can either visit during the day and enjoy the livestock and large grassed areas and sports pitch or you can stay in luxurious self-catering holiday accommodation.

Family groups from four up to ten can access good quality, affordable accommodation in a delightful setting from £55 per night per family. However, you will need to book early: accommodation is already booked until mid-September as this is a very popular holiday destination.

If you enjoy coarse fishing, then eligible children can fish for free (if you bring your own rod and equipment). Alternatively, you can access tuition from the expert Lee Davison who is offering private lessons for individuals. Prices are advertised on the fliers – see downloads section.
Contact: Jose Morris on 01983 730783
Email: [email protected]

If you are more adventurous and fancy the idea of tree climbing, then Goodleaf Tree climbing (£) may suit your child. Here you can climb to the tree canopy or be hoisted to the heights with expert tuition. This opportunity is available for children of 10 years and above.

Goodleaf Tree Climbing are offering your children the chance to climb alongside their siblings at a flat rate.

Alternatively, your child might enjoy a bushcraft day in the woodlands exploring their natural surroundings. These days are pretty popular so to ensure your place, book early!

Contact: Abigail on 0333 800 1188 Mobile: 0797 0033 209
Email: [email protected]

Goodleaf are willing to be adaptable to climbs after school. If a Special Branch climber wishes to climb after school, Goodleaf will try to accommodate them by running a Special Branch climb after their regular climb.

The following short breaks are usually accessed through referral from the Children’s Disability Team:

Beaulieu House is a specialist residential unit which offers disabled children with severe and complex needs the opportunity for an overnight stay, giving their families some respite. Beaulieu House also offers tea visits, where your child can familiarise themselves with the setting and ‘outreach’ i.e. the opportunity to go into the community with support.

The Carisbrooke Contact Centre offers a range of services, but most importantly, help to enable your child to wash, toilet themselves and dress. This is called domiciliary care. The Contact Centre will also help your child to access the community with support from trained staff.

The Family Link scheme offer families of a disabled child the opportunity to link with another family. Carefully selected, these family links often last for years, giving the disabled child time with another family – whether during the day time or overnight.

Core Childcare have also been commissioned to offer a retained carer service to several young people through funding from Aiming High for Disabled Children.

Funding from Aiming High for Disabled Children has been given to support all the above services to enable them to offer additional hours to children and young people on the Island.

Term Time Clubs and Activities

The Isle of Wight Inclusives Football club (£ ) runs after school on a Thursday during the week at Sandown High School from 5.00 – 6.30 pm and on a Tuesday at Carisbrooke High School (please refer to Lesley Forde at FIZ 821999 in case this date has changed.) The Sandown club are organising a football festival whilst the Newport club enjoy playing league football. You pay £12 for a 6 week block booking or £3 per session. As these clubs have proven to be so successful, plans are in place to open a similar club in Freshwater. Parking is available. These clubs are open to all ages.

Contact: Julie on [email protected]

Two specialist clubs exist for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder:

Gamezone (£) normally runs on Tuesdays from 4.30 – 6.30 pm for teenagers at G Block, the Isle of Wight College. This has been very successful to date. A small charge is asked for; this helps to support the club and future activity planning. Age range: 13 – 17 years. Charge: £2.

Contact: Helen Hughes on 07789 191 071
Email: [email protected]

The new Lego Club (£) is running on a Saturday however the venue has recently changed from Newport C of E Primary School to the Riverside Centre. Please check the venue when you book your session. For 5 – 11 year olds. Charge - £2. This will be a specialist activity with structured sessions and if successful, there are plans to expand this club to include older children with tailored activities.

All sessions will run from 10.00 – 12.00, on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Contact: Gillian Elsom on 07771 920411
Email: [email protected]

Parents should attend the initial session with their child in order to aid familiarisation. Parents are welcome to attend further sessions if they wish.