Sessions and Support Services
Scroll down to see our full list of day, evening and weekend respite clubs/support services
WEEKEND SESSIONS & SUPPORT SERVICES
SATURDAY CLUB (4 YEARS +)
10.00am to 3.30pm (5.5 hours) at the Pioneer School, Ghyllgrove, Basildon, SS14 2LA.
The BOSP Saturday Club is delivered at the Pioneer School in Basildon for children aged from 4-18 years. There are fantastic facilities at the school, and we are able to provide the children and young people with the consistency that so many thrive on. Children and young people attending have the opportunity to go swimming in the hydrotherapy pool where our trained lifeguards for the disabled ensure that the environment caters for the individual with appropriate music and lighting. The interactive soft play room and the adventure playground are extremely popular with our more active children who enjoy burning off excess energy with their Support Workers. BOSP hires highly qualified outside trainers to provide music sessions and sports coaching. The children and young people also have the opportunity to try their hand at arts and crafts and messy play.
Swimming kit, a packed lunch and drinks are needed.
BOSP Session Mobile: 07901 858457 (please only use on session days).
LET'S CONNECT (11 YEARS +)
10.00am to 3.30pm (5.5 hours) Out & About and at the Pioneer School, Ghyllgrove, Basildon, SS14 2LA.
Let's Connect is aimed at young people aged 11+ to facilitate the transition between the security of sessions at the Pioneer School and our Out & About activities.
The Pioneer School lies within close reach of the Festival Leisure Park, Basildon Sporting Village and Basildon Town Centre, all of which provide greater opportunities to encourage independence and life skills in the local community while supporting the young person's personal development.
At BOSP's 'Let's' Clubs, the children and young people aged 11+ often meet at the Pioneer School then leave to spend the morning enjoying social activities such as bowling, Drop-Zone, climbing wall or the cinema, along with lunch. This allows the young people to practise life skills, such as handling money, decision making, turn taking and road safety. The youngsters then return to the Pioneer School for the afternoon session where they can enjoy any of the other activities and catch up with their friends.
Sometimes Let's Connect goes further afield, utilising BOSP's wheelchair accessible mini-bus, to places such as Southend, Crazy Golf, Foot Golf in Brentwood.
Please contact The BOSP Office for session contribution fees.
BOSP Let's Connect Mobile: 07519 714807 (please only use on session days).
CHILL ZONE (18 YEARS + )
Various times, various venues/activities out and about in the community
Chill Zone is an Out & About Club for young people 18+ aimed at promoting independence through decision making, social skills and travel. Activities include amongst others, Adventure Island, foot golf, crazy golf, Canalability, theatre trips, clubbing and meals out.
The young people will often make use of public transport, whilst fully supported by BOSP staff. The young people are encouraged to be as independent as they can possibly be.
Dates and time are varied but mainly take place Saturday afternoon/evenings or Sundays.
BOSP Chill Zone Session Mobile: 07519 714807 (please only use on session days).
HOLIDAY SESSIONS & SUPPORT SERVICES
HOLIDAY CLUB (4 YEARS +)
10.00am to 3.30pm (5.5 hours) Pioneer School, Basildon, SS14 2LA
In order to provide our children and young people with the consistency they need, we use the Pioneer School as our base for many of our Holiday Clubs. BOSP aims to provide a wide range of stimulating activities during the holiday periods. This is achieved by bringing in experts from different fields to deliver diverse and exciting activities while maintaining our usual Saturday Club favourites such as craft, hydrotherapy swimming, cooking and sports. Recent special events at sessions have included dance workshops, pet therapy, puppet shows, football coaching and music sessions. Please contact The BOSP Office for session contribution fees.
HOLIDAY OUT & ABOUT CLUB (4 YEARS +)
10.00am to 3.30pm (5.5 hours) Out & About
Sometimes the club goes further afield utilising BOSP's wheelchair accessible mini-bus to places such as Southend, Tropical Wings and crazy golf at King George's Playing Fields in Brentwood.
BOSP Holiday Club Session Mobile: 07901 858457 (please only use on session days).
WHIZZY WOODLAND AWAYDAYS (BBC Children in Need) (8 YEARS +)
10.00am to 3.30pm (5.5 hours) Thriftwood Scout Camp, Brentwood, CM13 2DP
Thanks to BBC Children in Need, in addition to our hall based holiday sessions we hold Whizzy Woodland Away Days at the Thriftwood Scout Camp in Brentwood during the Easter, May Half term, Summer and Christmas breaks. Exciting outdoor activities such as abseiling, archery, mini-beast hunting, wall climbing, kayaking and BBQ's.
With different activities each day, the children and young people learn new skills in a natural environment while having lots of fun! Based in the lodges at Thriftwood, come rain or shine, we can guarantee fun! Recent special guest entertainers have included music therapy, Splat Circus and The Greatest Showman.
Please contact The BOSP Office for session contribution fees. If parental contributions are a barrier to accessing services, please do let The BOSP Office know.
BOSP Whizzy Woodland Away Days Session Mobile: 07901 858457 (please only use on session days).
FAMILY FUN DAYS
School Holidays - various times/dates subject to availability, BOSP's Skills for Life Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park
BOSP is able to offer our Skills for Life building exclusively to our registered families, within the school holidays. Families can book the sole use of the centre, with sensory room, interactive whiteboard (which is connected to an Xbox and Nintendo Wii, with games) 5-in-1 games table, arts and crafts and more.
With facilities to interest all ages, BOSP parents/carers, siblings and family members can all enjoy use of this inclusive space together, with the help of a BOSP support Worker on site. The venue will be sanitised before and after use.
£15 per session for the whole family. To book a session, please contact [email protected]
ACCESSIBILITY AT FAMILY FUN DAYS
The sessions are fully accessible for both children and adults. Attached to our Skills 4 Life building is a Changing Places, with inclusive toilet facilities and height adjustable change bed and sink to enable you to change your toddler/child/young person comfortably.
WEEKDAY SESSIONS & SUPPORT SERVICES
SKILLS 4 LIFE DAY OPPORTUNITIES (16 to 25 years)
Weekdays 9.30am to 3.30pm (term time only), out and about and at BOSP's Skills for Life Centre Wat Tyler Country Park
We understand at BOSP that some young people with learning disabilities do not attend full-time education five days a week. This can leave you wondering how to fill their spare time and for some Parent Carers, wondering how they will still go to work if their caring responsibilities resume weekdays.
We also understand that at some point many young people with learning disabilities will go onto supported living, either though choice or necessity, and that important life skills need to be learned beforehand to ease this transition. However, like most teenagers and young adults, they are not keen to learn from parents and family but would rather gain this experience and independence through spending time with their peers.
As Parent Carers, you have told us that you would also rather they do this in a small group of between four to six young people their own age, rather than at large Day Centre’s with people of all ages.
Our two new Skills 4 Life structured services consist of small groups with a high level of support, ensuring maximum learning and confidence building can take place for young people seeking possible future volunteer/employment opportunities and independence.
For a trial session or for more information click on the link below:
Find out more about our Skills 4 Life Transition Service
BOSP Skills 4 Life Session Mobile: 07935 010995 (please only use on session days).
FAMILY ADVOCATE
Transitioning to adult services is not an easy process, but at BOSP we can help. Kasey, our friendly Family Advocate, can assist you with:
- Obtaining a personal budget for your young person
- Improving your young person’s daytime and evening social opportunities
- Improving links with social care
- Increasing parent carers respite
- Accessing BOSP’s popular Skills 4 Life day programme
ACCESSIBILITY FOR PARENT CARERS
All our venues are wheelchair accessible. We have a Changing Places room attached to our building, with inclusive toilet facilities and height adjustable change bed and sink to enable you to change your toddler/child comfortably. We have staff trained in BSL (British Sign Language).
BOSP TOTS (5 years and under)
Tuesday 10am to 11.30am (term time only), BOSP's Skills for Life Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park
This inclusive group is open to parents, carers and grandparents of any babies and children age 5 years and under with any kind of additional need or disability. Sessions will include pre-school and sensory equipment, optional messy play, song circle, snack time, and visits to the park's adventure playground. It will also provide the opportunity to meet with others facing similar challenges and to receive help and advice from our specialist staff.
If you have a friend or relative who would like some support but they are worried about coming along on their own, please bring them along, we would love to see you.
The sessions with be held each Tuesday morning during term time from 10am to 11.30am, at BOSP's Skills For Life building, Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, Basildon, SS16 4UH. £4 per child. Places are limited. Book your place here
BOSP Tots Session Mobile: 07901 858457 (please only use on session days).
BESPOKE INDIVIDUAL SENSORY SESSIONS (0-25 years)
Term time only, not for general public hire, BOSP's Skills for Life Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park
BOSP offers bespoke individual sensory room sessions for children and young people, and their parent carers, who cannot attend a group session because their health needs preclude them or because it will be too overwhelming. Sensory rooms can help those with learning difficulties, developmental disabilities or sensory impairments learn to interact with the world around them in a safe environment that builds up their confidence and ability. Many benefits include: learning calming strategies to reduce a child’s or young person's anxiety or stimulating strategies to engage parts of the brain/build nerve connections that otherwise would not be stimulated; enhanced learning through play; improving balance, movement and co-ordination, visual processing, fine and gross motor skills; improving verbal and non-verbal communication - Interactive sensory rooms can help to engage withdrawn individuals, and equipment that focuses on sound can be especially helpful in encouraging vocalisation. Sensory environments can help de-stress and be highly absorbing, providing comfort and calm for overactive and distressed individuals. They can help children and young people learn to focus in a safe place so they are better equipped to deal with real-world environments where calm and concentration is key. Please contact The BOSP Office to book.
£5 per child, per session. Tuesdays: 12.45pm to 1.15pm, 1.30pm to 2.00pm and 2.15pm to 2.45pm
Pre bookable sensory room sessions can also be found at the following locations. Please contact them directly for further details.
Northlands Park Family Hub, Davenants, Basildon, SS13 1QX. Telephone: 0300 247 0013.
The Megacentre Rayleigh, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh, SS6 7UT. Telephone: 01268 779100.
Basildon Library, Basildon Centre, St. Martins Square, Basildon, SS14 1EE. Telephone: 0345 603 7628.
EVENING SESSIONS & SUPPORT SERVICES
BIG BOSP YOUTH CLUB
Alternate Tuesdays (term time only) 4.30 to 7.00pm, Wat Tyler Country Park
Big BOSP is back as part of our Skills 4 Life programme for young people. This early evening club is a great place for young people with SEN to make friends, have fun and improve their social communication skills in order to develop their independence.
Activities include board games, quizzes, arts & crafts, treasure hunts, forestry activities, interactive group gaming, basic meal planning, shopping and meal preparation.
A light evening meal/snack is also included which the small group will prepare and eat together.
There is ample parking on site and gives parent carers the time to pursue their own leisure activities, pop to the local superstores for shopping or enjoy a stroll around the Country Park itself. Festival Leisure Park is also only 10 minutes away by car giving parents and siblings time to enjoy a meal or activity together.
Big BOSP Session Mobile: 07935 010995 (please only use on session days).
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB - (8+ YEARS)
Alternate Tuesdays (term time only) - pick up from Castledon School, Wickford until 6.45pm, Wat Tyler Country Park
Our after school club is a great place for young people with SEN to make friends, have fun, and improve social communication and life skills in order to develop their independence.
Activities include board games, quizzes, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, forestry activities, interactive group gaming and supporting the young people with their homework.
A light evening meal/snack is included which the group will prepare and eat together.
This club is currently open to pupils of Castledon School, Wickford. Please call us on 01268 553117 to enquire.
FURTHER SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
COUNSELLING - support in the comfort of your own home or face-to-face
BOSP is now able to offer Family Counselling to BOSP families.
This being our 30th year of supporting families, BOSP truly understands the challenges of caring for a child or young person with a disability or life-limiting illness, the effects it can have on the entire family and the impact having a disability can have on an individual’s self-esteem and well-being.
BOSP offers counselling sessions with qualified Psychological Therapist/Integrative Counsellors. Sessions are available for parents or carers who have a child or young person with a disability, siblings (young carers), grandparents or the child/ young person with the disability or life-limiting illness.
The sessions take place via Zoom from the comfort of your own home or office, but face-to-face sessions may also be an option weekends and evenings. Sessions are greatly subsidised thanks to funding from Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership and Angus Lawson Memorial Trust funding. If you would like to register your interest in this service, please call The BOSP Office on 01268 553117 or email [email protected] for more information.
Our counselling can support:
- parent carers
- couples
- siblings
- the child or young person with the disability/life-limiting illness
FAMILY ADVOCATE & SUPPORT
BOSP's Family Advocate, Kasey, specialises in early intervention support for pre-school children and 16+ support. She can help with any concerns around your young persons transition to adulthood, your relationship with social care, assessments and BOSP's Skills 4 Life day programme. Please email [email protected] or call The BOSP Office on 01268 553117.
PARENTS & CARERS PEER SUPPORT GROUP
This new group being run by Holly from SENCAPS Basildon, with support from BOSP and Silver Lining, starts at BOSP’s Skills for Life Building on Thursday 28th September from 10.30am to 12.00 noon. Holly now wants to share her knowledge and experiences of navigating the SEND system and offer advice and support to other parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. This group will offer a safe space with a chat and a cuppa for parents and carers to come together to help support each other along the way.
This is a free session, open to all parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. Free refreshments and book and magazine swap.
Alternate Thursdays, term time only. Contact Holly at SENCAPS Basildon on 07852 508007 for more information.
TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD
Support for parents and carers of young people with any special need or disability as they transition into adult services.
Come along and speak to Kasey, BOSP's Family Advocate. This free service can assist you with:
- Obtaining a young person's personal budget
- Improving links with social care
- Accessing BOSP's Skills 4 Life weekday daytime programme
Starting Thursday 11th January 2024, then alternate Thursdays, from 10.00am to 11.30am at The BOSP Office. Free to attend.
1:1 in-person or telephone support available. Contact Kasey at The BOSP Office for more information.
SEND ADVICE & SUPPORT SESSIONS - ANY AGE
BOSP are teaming up with SNAP Charity to deliver monthly parent SEND advice and support sessions at Wat Tyler Country Park, Basildon, for Basildon families who have a child/young person between 0 – 25 years with any additional need or disability or waiting upon diagnosis.
Session: Mondays one per month
From 9.30am to 11.30am
Book your place by emailing [email protected]
If you can’t make this date, look out for the next one!
