Springboard looks to the future

As a new academic year is about to start a North Somerset charity is offering specialist play sessions to new families.

Springboard Opportunity Group, which supports children in the county with disabilities and additional needs is offering play sessions at its purpose-built centres in Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon, and at outreach services at children's centres.

This September marks the start of its 26th academic year of operation.

The charity was set up by a small group of parents in 1986 who desperately needed help with their very young children and since then it has continued to put children and families first.

Springboard's promotions officer Gareth Powell said: "Last year was all about celebrating our quarter century.

"But now, we've made some behind-the-scenes changes and improvements, and this term we'll be looking forward to the next 25 years!"

One of those behind-the-scenes changes has been the appointment of a new business manager, Linda Shaw, to help the charity raise funds, and make the most of the donations it receives.

Gareth continued: "Specialist one-to-one care isn't cheap to provide, and so we have to make sure we do everything we can to make the most of what we have.

"With that in mind, we have reviewed and reorganised the way we operate, in order to provide the playroom staff (and the children with whom they work) with the maximum support."

As well as its specialist play sessions for children under the age of five with disabilities and additional needs, Springboard also runs outreach services at Children's Centres across North Somerset; a successful Early Years Inclusion Service, supplying support to enable individual children to attend their local pre-school or nursery; and a Family Support Service, which takes early action in order to prevent little problems becoming big issues. 

Gareth said: "No-one else in North Somerset offers these services. As a charity and service-provider, we receive part of our funding from the local authority. We rely on fundraising and individual donations to provide the rest, and enable us to continue our invaluable work.

"All across North Somerset, there are children starting school this September who would not have been able to do so without the support of Springboard."

Anyone who would like to donate to Springboard can visit www.springboardweb.org.uk, or the charity's Facebook page.