Engaging Activities Provided Through #HealthyHolidaysLeeds

TeamDaniel is a Community Organisation based in Leeds which raises awareness of the prevalence of mental health issues in children and young people.

The #HealthyHolidaysLeeds programme enabled them to provide a wide range of activities for childer and young people.

 

• Can you describe your organisation and the people/communities you support?

TeamDaniel is a registered charity, formed in January 2020 to raise awareness of the prevalence of mental health issues in children and young people. TeamDaniel’s goal is to raise money towards opening safe spaces in Leeds and London and bringing in counsellors and organisations that can talk about different mental health problems that commonly occur in children and young people alongside signposting to available services.

 

• How have you been supported by Leeds Community Foundation and what has this funding enabled you to do? 

TeamDaniel successfully applied for Leeds Healthy Holidays funding last year and thanks to Leeds Community Foundation we were able to deliver our very first Summer and Christmas holiday programmes in Yeadon. We worked in partnership with Bee Happy Kids, an Ofsted registered childcare provider running activities from 9am-3pm four days a week.

We provided a range of fun, inclusive and positive activities for children aged 8+ who are in receipt of free school meals. Activities included Arts & Crafts, Dance, Drama, Animal Yoga, Indoor Sports (Ping Pong, Hockey, Tag Rugby, Obstacle Courses, Football, Beachball Games, Balloon Tennis), Build a Bear Workshop and a Bouncy Castle.

We also tried to engage parents by organising sessions such as a Bake Off, children verses parent’s activities, hosting traditional sports days and providing opportunities that families can take home, such as giving flap jack kits, recipe cards and ingredients for families to make together and improve their skills.

 

• Can you give us an example of an individual and or group and how they have responded to this work?

 

Feedback from parents and children has been excellent:

Dylan, aged 10

The club was amazing. I have never been to a holiday club before so it was scary at first but all the staff were kind and they made it fun for us. The activities we do are great and we do so many activities that I have never done like tag rugby, archery and challenges.

Parent

I want to say how caring the team are and what a difference it’s made to my family.  My daughter has attended since the first camp in summer on every school holiday as part of the funded places.  She asks if she’s going and when and she gets very excited to go.  She comes back showing me all the wonderful things she’s made, and telling me all the wonderful things she’s done.

This Christmas Club she made a bear on one day, on another day she met Santa and got a present! Not once has she said she doesn’t want to go.

It’s not just made a difference for her but for me too.  This school year has been so different because of this club. Usually I’m so anxious about having her and her brother at home during the holiday because they both have learning difficulties.  Knowing that my daughter is coming to a place that is fun and exciting and positive has reduced my stress levels immensely and also meant I feel good instead of guilty about giving her enough to do.

I cannot thank the team enough. I’m so grateful for this change. They really go out of their way to help.

 

• What challenges and opportunities do you face as an organisation in the current climate?

Like most charities, the pandemic has had a huge impact on our plans. We have been restricted on what programmes and activities we have been able to deliver and it has hindered our ability to host much needed fundraising events that help support our work.

 

• How is your organisation preparing for the future, and what kind of funding is needed?

Due to the pandemic we are now reviewing our business plan and looking at what can realistically still be achieved and what plans we may need to adapt or put on hold. However, we are still very much focusing on raising funds to developing safe spaces for children and young people in the future.  Young people’s lives have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and our aim to bring in counsellors and organisations that can talk to children and young people about their feelings alongside signposting to available services is even more vital.