Frequently asked questions about Activity Breaks

Residential opportunities for blind and partially sighted children and young people aged 8 –17 years who attend mainstream school.

Who can apply?

Our Action Activity Breaks are designed for blind and partially sighted children and young people, aged 8 –17 years, who attend mainstream schools and colleges in the UK.

While visually impaired children in special schools have programmes tailor-made to their needs, their mainstream peers may occasionally miss out on social and recreational opportunities.

The aims of the Action Activity Breaks are:

To provide opportunities for participants to spend time with others who are blind or partially sighted. For many this will be their first opportunity to meet peers in similar situations and to share experiences.
To provide opportunities to increase personal independence and life skills.
To increase the range of opportunities to extend their social skills.
To help participants meet new challenges, to try new leisure activities in a safe and supportive environment and to set their own level of challenge for each activity, ensuring each individual maximises their personal achievement.

Applicants should be:

A UK resident in mainstream education.
Willing to attempt new activities.
Reasonably independent in self-care and mobility skills.
Keen to make new friends.

We endeavour to make activities accessible to all, but there may be an occasional exception because of an individual’s specific needs.

Please consider the overall content of the Action Activity Break’s programme carefully, together with the distance and travel implications, before making your final selection. Previous experience of any of the activities is not important, but participants should generally be prepared to ‘have a go’.

What does it cost?

The fee for each residential varies depending on the length of the break

This cost includes: all activities, accommodation and meals, entrance fees, equipment hire, transport, trips and the provision of trained staff. It does not include travel to and from the venue.

As the Action Activity Breaks are greatly subsidised, we are not able to provide any financial support but recognise funding can be difficult. However, third parties have previously funded some of the costs of places. So don’t let this stop you from applying but please call the residential leader for your chosen holiday to ask for details of possible funding organisations.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Who staffs the week?

All residential leaders are experienced in working with children. The high staffing ratio includes qualified teachers of the visually impaired, other professional staff and trained volunteers working under the direction of the residential leader.

A typical Activity Break has approximately 20 children. All staff and volunteers are required to provide two references and are checked to the enhanced level of disclosure via the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).

How are places allocated?

Our Activity Weeks are very popular and we receive many applications. You must apply directly to the Action contact for the Activity Break you have chosen before 16 April.

Priority is given to first time applicants.
We will seek to obtain a balance of gender, ages and levels of impairment. This will also need to reflect the accommodation available at the centre.
If we are still oversubscribed then we take applications on a first come first served basis.
We depend on the information given on the application form to ensure we have good staffing levels and safety arrangements in place. We take into account all additional information provided and match the available places as closely as possible to the needs of the applicant, other children coming on the activity week and the venue. It is essential that you complete all sections of the form fully and accurately.

Care and welfare

We pride ourselves on the high standard of policies and procedures. It is our policy to safeguard the welfare of all children on events organised by Action for Blind People.

The Children Act 1989 provides the legal basis and structure to the work of childcare and the Action Activity Breaks follow its requirements. We take the responsibility of being ‘in loco parentis’ very seriously and the safety and enjoyment of each individual is our primary concern.

All venues have been carefully selected and checked for suitability and safety.

Our policies and procedures are available on request or on our website.

Further information

To apply for a place on an Action Activity Break contact the residential leader for the chosen holiday.

For general information contact Lesley Inganni, Development Manager, Best Practice and Events (Children and Families) on:

t: 01642 233 439 or 07703 099 354

e: lesley.inganni@actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Information about Action Activity Breaks can be made available to you in your preferred format.

Download Action Activity Weeks information leaflets