About our service

   At every Challengers scheme there are lots of staff so that you can leave your daughter or son with us and there will always be someone for them to play and be with. The breadth of activities that we provide mean that we can offer disabled young people something to do and somewhere to go from the age of 4 to 25.

Download our Guide to Challengers Play and Youth Schemes.

Playschemes: age 4 - 12

We encourage and support children to make free choices about the activities they take part in and friends they make. There is no strict timetable for the day. All activities are available to children all day. This is what we call free play. Playteams will often offer a themed activity programme - for example space travel. Most important of all, Challengers is a place where children are safe and can have fun playing and being together. Go to our Playschemes page

Youth schemes for teenagers: age 13 - 18

Challengers youth schemes are caring, relaxed and friendly places where disabled young people can be teenagers while they make friends, try new activities or just hang out with support from Challengers youth staff. Young people do fantastic things when they are at Challengers, exceeding and challenging everyone's expectations of them. Go to our Youthschemes page

Young adult schemes: age 18 - 25

Young people still might need places to go even when they become adults. So Disability Challengers run a programme of activities for young people age 18 - 25. We change the approach and style of the young adult scheme so that it is appropriate for young adults offering a non-institutional and non-patronising environment. Go to our Young Adult Schemes page

Inclusion

Too many disabled children and young people are excluded from essential play and childhood experiences. No child should be excluded from playing and, later, teenage experiences. We work to make sure that all children and young people are included at Challengers. At every scheme there are spaces for children and young people who have complex impairments and who need 1:1 support, including children with complex medical conditions.

We provide play and leisure for disabled children and young people first. Then, once the scheme is established and the demand by disabled children and young people is met and the children and staff are ready - we include non-disabled children. We call this Inverse Inclusion. We have done this successfully at Challengers Dorking holiday playscheme and are working towards Inverse Inclusion at our centres in Farnham.

Tell us what you think

We hope that you will always feel able to talk to Challengers Leaders or members of the Play and Leisure Team about Challengers schemes. However, you can always write to or ask for an appointment with Disability Challengers Operations Director, Jonathan Dobson (jonathandobson@disability-challengers.org or 01483 230 930) or Chief Executive Officer, Margaret Ward (margaretward@disability-challengers.org or 01483 579 390). If you have any particular concerns, they will initiate an inquiry on your behalf.

Download the latest analysis of parent feedback.

Challengers staff

Challengers Leaders are experienced, competent staff who guide and support Challengers teams. Leaders receive regular support and management from the Play and Leisure Team through the year, including: training weekends; first aid; behaviour management and monthly Leader training meetings.

Challengers teams also have lots of very important play and youth workers - important because they make the day for your child. Challengers has loads of cool young workers with loads of energy for play. Staff play with and engage children and young people, they don't just supervise them. While staff play with children we know where they are, we know they are happy and we know they are busy, engaged and safe.

Recruitment and OFSTED

All Challengers schemes are inspected by and registered with OFSTED. Go to www.ofsted.gov.uk and use the Challengers scheme name (for example Challengers Dorking) to search for our inspection reports. All Challengers staff (even the Fundraisers!) complete enhanced CRB disclosures and Leaders complete a suitability interview with OFSTED.

Work with schools and local authorities

 

Local authorities - flexible breaks for families

Part of the Disability Challengers service is the work we deliver young people who receive a care package from their local authority (Social Services). Local authorities can either spot purchase sessions at Challengers or services can be delivered through a Service Level Agreement (SLA). While a child is at Challengers, the family can use the time as a flexible break from caring. This can be offered as part of an assessment of need by a Social Worker or Care Manager.

If you work for a local authority and would like to discuss how you can use Challengers please speak to a member of the Play and Leisure Team to find out more about our schemes and how Disability Challengers charges local authorities for the service. If you anticipate supporting a family to use their Direct Payments to use Challengers please call us - we will use a 'local authority' charge for children and young people using Direct Payments.

Emergency placements in term time

Disability Challengers are able to offer emergency placements to children and young people who are not at school, often because of their behaviour or who are waiting for an appropriate school placement. The service is delivered at our Challengers play and youth centres by senior Challengers staff. Please call the Play and Leisure Team on 01483 230 930 to discuss the emergency placement service, the availability and costs.

Schools - come to play at Challengers

We run play sessions for schools as part of the full time programme at the Challengers play centres in Guildford and Farnham. Schools use the playcentres for 'play visits' as part of the programme offered at school. The sessions give pupils a chance to play in a safe place while being observed by teaching staff. Activities can be facilitated at Challengers to coincide with and include aspects of the school curriculum. School visits are charged at £4/child/session.