Kids (charity)

KIDS is a UK-based charity which provides a range of services for disabled children, young people and their families. The Kids ethos is to work in partnership with parents and carers to enable disabled children and young people to develop their skills and abilities and to fulfill their potential, irrespective of their particular impairment or condition.

History

KIDS founder John Mulcahy began providing short breaks for disabled children and young people in 1970, with help from Earl Compton, the charity's first patron. Over the next 40 years, working collaboratively with parents and carers, KIDS introduced new services by identifying the specific needs of its users.

KIDS helped introduce a UK system of Cued Speech in 1975 and established The National Centre for Cued Speech in 1976.

In 2003, Kids merged with Kidsactive, a charity providing safe and inclusive adventure playgrounds for disabled children and young people in and around London.

In 2010, KIDS merged with Strut, a Lincolnshire-based disabled children's charity which had provided respite and play and leisure services. The service is now called KIDS Strut and still provides play and leisure services to disabled children and young people in and around Lincolnshire.

References

    External links

    KIDS’ services and areas of work

    Home learning, or Portage

    Home learning, also known as Portage, is an early education intervention programme which recognises parents as the main educators for their child. The service is for disabled children aged up to five years (mainly pre-nursery stage) or whose development is causing concern. In partnership with parents, we plan individual programmes for each child. Weekly or fortnightly visits are made where toys and equipment are left for the family to work on during the week. The activities are based on the toys and equipment. We focus on encouraging the child to reach the next stage of their development. All achievements, large or small, are celebrated!

    Key working

    The key worker service is offered to those families who have a child with severe and complex needs where there are a number of professionals involved. The key worker will work in partnership with families to oversee and coordinate the delivery of these services and provide families with a single point of contact for information and advice and for emotional and practical support. A key worker will:

    Mediation

    Mediation services provide meetings between parents of children with special educational needs (SEN1) and their local education authority, particularly when there has been some kind of disagreement around how best to meet the child’s needs. Mediation is an informal, voluntary process where parties in disagreement meet in the presence of an independent mediator. The mediator is neutral and impartial and does not put forward suggestions or solutions to the disagreement. It is the parties themselves who decide on the outcome of the meetings through willingly participating in the mediation process. Over 80% of mediations with our service result in some kind of agreement.

    Play and leisure

    KIDS’ play and leisure services provide fully trained, CRB checked staff in specific settings who can support and supervise participants’ activities to help them to get the most out of their sessions.

    Adventure playgrounds

    KIDS adventure playgrounds provide an opportunity for stimulating, inclusive, adventurous play on a closed access site. Playgrounds can offer an accessible green space within an urban environment, where children can freely choose their play in a setting which supports their requirements. Priority is given to children and young people with specific requirements and their siblings. However, young people within the right age range who live in the surrounding community are also welcome.

    Saturday and after-school clubs and play schemes

    These schemes take place in a variety of locations and provide stimulating, inclusive play outside of normal school hours and during holiday periods. Children are encouraged to choose play activities, with the emphasis on fun and enjoyment.

    Short breaks

    Short breaks for disabled children and young people were the first service provided by KIDS. They can relieve the strain on the family and reduce stress on parents while giving the child or young person an opportunity to get away from the family home, enjoy new experiences, make new friends and meet new people.

    Residential

    Residential breaks are the best option for some children and young people. These need to be in settings as much like an ordinary home as possible, with specialist equipment unobtrusively available to maximise independence. Only small numbers of children or young people will stay at any one time, creating the feeling of a sleepover. While parents and siblings have a break from caring, disabled children and young people can enjoy new activities, experiences and a wider social network, helping them to develop social and life skills and enjoy independence from their families.

    Non-residential

    On non-residential short breaks, KIDS workers take the child or young person out into a community setting, such as a trip to the cinema, bowling or getting a haircut, enabling them to have a positive experience while giving their families a short break. Alternatively, a KIDS worker can care for the child or young person in their own home while the rest of the family go out.

    Sibling and young carer support

    Sibling and young carer projects provide support for children and young people who have a brother or sister who is disabled. Siblings and young carers often have significant responsibilities for their disabled brother or sister. Our projects give these young people the opportunity to meet others, make friends, share experiences and have fun. Sibling and young carer projects arrange activities in small groups and have regular meetings outside of the family home. Work with parents and the Parent Partnership Service(s) Parent Partnership Services gives support and advice to parents and carers whose children fall into the government’s special educational needs (SEN2) category. The service helps to explain:

    Youth work

    KIDS is proactively developing its work with young people and adults, whether in partnership with youth services, with other voluntary providers such as the YMCA, or through KIDS. KIDS also supports, enables and empowers groups of young disabled people to participate in the running of their own youth clubs. KIDS staff support young people in getting their ideas out into the open, working out costs and writing and applying for these applications so that these young people can take more responsibility for their groups.

    Transitions

    KIDS transitions services directly support young disabled people to make the transition from adolescence to adulthood: a time when a lot of the support they are able to receive may be coming to an end. Young disabled people aged between 16 and 25 years take part in fun and inclusive sessions where they can meet new friends, learn new skills, enjoy new experiences and discuss their future plans. Transitions sessions focus on young disabled people learning independent living skills and gaining confidence, and promote their access to college and work opportunities. We coordinate mentoring, where older members can work with younger members, and nights out to age-appropriate pubs, restaurants and theatres to improve social skills and independence.

    Our Patrons

    Cherie Blair

    David Cameron

    David Furnish

    Elton John

    Elizabeth Hurley

    Notes for Press