Summer activities
School holidays, especially the long summer breaks, can be isolating and boring for many children, particularly where the family is on a low income and have other kinds of social problems to manage. Some of the children we work with do not enjoy a childhood characterised by play, fun, activities and enjoyment in an environment free from stress and harm. Summer activities, play schemes and themed holidays allow some continuity of the structure provided by the school in children's lives. The benefits of these schemes are immense and by being given the opportunity to participate children that need to, can connect with friends and sympathetic adults. These experiences broaden their horizons and are often carried all through their lives.
At Brentwood Catholic Children's Society, we have traditionally helped children referred to our Social Workers that would benefit from structured activities during the long summer holidays. Indeed, in our very beginnings we had a caravan in Clacton for families to use. Nowadays understanding the needs of children has changed and the Society may pay for a child to spend a week at somewhere like St John Bosco Camp, or a community play scheme where they might build their confidence and self-esteem, increase their sense of wellbeing and encourage positive thinking. Places for these kinds of holidays are funded entirely by your donations:
Jamie (real name withheld) at the age of 14 years had never been away on holiday with or without his family. Attending the St John Bosco Summer Camp helped strengthen his friendships, improved his social and communication skills and reduced the chances of him getting into trouble through boredom and poor choice of friends. He returned to school in September with a more positive and helpful attitude.
It is your donations that improve children's life chances. A small donation will allow us to carry on our valuable work during the holiday periods and can make a significant difference to a child's sense of wellbeing during the summer break. Help us to create their memories.
Thank you.
