Neighbourhood-Based Children's Services
Whitehawk After School Project (WASP) is our neighborhood-based children's service ion East Brighton, a recognised area of deprivation with 62% of children living in income deprived households and two super output areas (SOAs) within 3% most deprived nationally.
The project opened in September 2003 to provide affordable, inclusive and child-centred out-of-school care for children that live on the Whitehawk and Manor Farm estates. Helping them to learn new skills and develop new interests in a safe environment, whilst having fun.
Core activities include a term-time collection service via walking bus from two local primary schools to take children to our Ofsted registered after-school club and the provision of school holiday playschemes that:
- Engage children in a range of play experiences that will contribute to their education, health and development of life-skills
- Provide an affordable childcare service enabling parents to access employment and training opportunities and achieve economic well being
- Provide flexible respite care and support meeting the needs of vulnerable families
- Provides work placement and employment opportunities to enable local people to gain new skills and improve career choices
Working closely with children, young people, adults and local organisations we aim to contribute to the economic and social rejuvenation of the area and improve the quality of life of local families.
Achievements
An excellent Ofsted report - the inspector said:
“Children participate in a range of stimulating and exciting activities. Staff set up an extensive, varied range of play opportunities both indoors and outdoors. Staff work closely with the children and help them to develop socially, physically and emotionally.”
- Up to 32 children every day are offered a choice of activities inclusing art and crafts, cooking, drama, sports, games, specialist activity workshops and trips. 120 children access these services every year.
- 8 young people gaining accredited qualifications through work experience placements at the club., 2 young people taking part in work experience placements and 4 young people employed by the project
- 15 parents/carers accesing training opportunities thereby gaining accredited qualifications and increasing their basic skills
- 23 East Brighton residents securing employment or increasing the amount of hours they work as a direct result of our childcare service.
"Without the club I would not be able to attend college. It has been a lifeline."
"The club has enabled me to go to college. As a single parent I could not afford to pay for an expensive club or childcare."
"If it wasn't for the after school club I couldnít have gone back to work full time as I haven't got to pick my kids up and leave work early. I know my kids are safe and well looked after and this eases my working day. The workers correspond professionally no matter what problems they face with the children."
Walking Bus
A walking bus collects children from local schools and is run in association with eb4u Neighbourhood wardens.
Links
Equal Brighton and Hove
www.equalbrightonandhove.org
European Social Fund
www.esf.gov.uk
Brighton & Hove Children's Information Service www.brighton-hove.gov.uk
Child Care Link www.childcarelink.gov.uk
Early Years Development Childcare Partnership (EYCDP) www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk
West Sussex www.westsussex.gov.uk
New Deal for Communities www.neighbourhood.gov.uk
NCH Action for Children www.nc hafc.org.uk
Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk
Sure Start www.surestart.gov.uk
Our Projects
We currently run 15 projects across Sussex.
For a complete listing of all our projects, please see our Services Directory.
Bridge the Gap
"In 1978 IMPACT’s original vision was to: 'Bridge the Gap'. That is to provide services for hard to reach, excluded communities and individuals across Sussex, to ensure access to services and support where there is clearly identified need. We continue to maintain this vision and I am continually inspired to see the range and quality of our services, the dedication of our staff and volunteers and the number of people we are able to help"
Mike Long, Chair
