Holiday Club

The New Testament Church of God Holiday Club provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment that will meet, challenge and develop each child according to their individual needs.

We involve parents and carers and work across all communities challenging prejudices and celebrating diversity. Creating an environment that helps children to have a happy and healthy start physically, emotionally and socially. In 2008 the holiday club registered 89 children from a multi-cultural background. We reached our maximum registration figure on the first day of the holiday club in August 2008.

The holiday club was able to provide services for children and young people aged 5yrs – 14yrs old, combining arts, music, drama, crafts and sporting activities. We offered a wide range of themed activities based around Junior Heroes of the bible and workshops delivered by trained play workers and specialists in different areas of expertise, supported by adults and youth volunteers.

Social Activities:

Sports and games programmes were provided at the Sobell Leisure Centre which consisted of trampoline, badminton, football, ice skating, basketball and a bouncy castle. Many of our younger children were able to access the Sobell Safari Soft Play area.

Parks and Leisure Facilities:

Children and young people from the holiday club travelled to Clissold Park where they were able to engage in and access a wide range of facilities. These included a butterfly tunnel, an aviary and a large animal enclosure. The central aim was to promote the use and enjoyment of woodland and to help children and young people make their own choices about activities, risks and access to independent play. A meal funded by the holiday club used the parks local café run from the park Mansion and catered for all the children who attended the Club. The groups also took part in other organised activities such as football coaching and cheer leading.

Street Athletics:

The holiday club in partnership with the organisation Street Athletics ‘08 was able to provide an opportunity for the children and young people to work with former Olympic Gold Medallist champions Tessa Sanderson, Linford Christie and Darren Campbell. Children and young people were engaged in various sporting activities, involving many young people of all ages from the community competing and having fun. The outcome of this is that two of our young people were successful in gaining places in the finals which took place at the London Eye to determine those young people who qualify to train for the 2012 Olympics.

Enjoying and Achieving:

The Hackney Eco-active recycling Project came along with a team who taught the children to value and appreciate their environment. The workshop used various resources focusing on subjects such as science, geography and problem-solving.

Children worked individually and in small groups to create and design a piece of armour. The workshops were fun and enabled the children to make positive contributions by building relationships, sharing and turn taking.

Special Educational Needs:

Children who had special educational needs were supported through close liaison with parents. Staffs were secure in their understanding of the code of practice and ensured all children were fully included and received the support they needed. The children enjoyed their time at the Club and gain confidence through consistent routines and close relationships with the friendly, caring staff.

Overall the children enjoyed and participated in a rich variety of purposeful opportunities which were provided in a well-organised environment.

The holiday club was reported as an extremely successful project. Comments and views were compiled from parents, carers, and staff.

We had 50%, who were newcomers from the community

93% of our parents were extremely satisfied with the care of their child.

7% were satisfied.

Crucially it is children and young people being engaged in spontaneous, independent self-led activities, which represent the ultimate goal of our Holiday Club’s initiative.