THE Crediton Special Needs Playscheme committee members were delighted recently when they had the opportunity to speak to students at Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton.

Four representatives, Gill Carey, Emily Lewis, Andrew Drayton and Kate Rice, spoke with students at their assembly and explained the advantages to them of volunteering to help the Playscheme deliver its planned programme of day trips for local children with special needs.

The members explained that Crediton Playscheme run day trips during the summer holidays as well as a Christmas outing and a residential weekend at The Calvert Trust. To be capable of delivering this programme, volunteers are needed to provide the one-to-one care that is essential.

The students were told how much fun is involved in the actual days themselves and the benefits that the children gain from being able to attend them.

They were given the point of view of a parent and how the days out with the Playscheme alleviate some of the pressures involved and allow parents to spend quality time with other siblings within the family group.

The presentation was concluded with the advantages that being a volunteer can bring to that individual: such as the inclusion on a CV of the extra-curricular activity, the fact that, if required, the Playscheme can, (and has on many occasions), provide references for higher education and/or work placements, applications and interviews.

All of this in addition to the intangible “feel good” factor that doing work like this can give.

Emily Lewis, the group’s Supervisor, could not have been more pleased with the response from students at the end of the presentation saying: “We really didn’t expect that level of interest and to have so many students come and give their names to us at the end was fantastic.”

Gill Carey, Secretary, was equally enthused and welcomed the opportunity: “The Playscheme would like to offer a big ‘Thank you’ to Lucy Jones from QE for arranging for us to talk to the students.

“It has been very worthwhile and, if the response is anything to go by, we will have greatly increased our pool of volunteers for the summer.”

Crediton Special Needs Playscheme is a charitable organisation where all committee members and volunteers (of all ages) give up their free time to help provide a fun, educational and varied programme for local children who may otherwise not have the opportunities to take part in such activities.

Children vary in age between six and 16 with a broad range of additional needs and are usually referred to the scheme by a health, education or social services professional.

Crediton Playscheme has operated for more than 25 years with many children having benefited from the work it has done over this time. Virtually all of the grants and donations that help run the scheme are used for the benefit of the children, directly providing the days out.

A year of activities can cost between £5,000 and £7,500, dependant on the activities provided.

Volunteers and donations to Crediton Playscheme are always welcomed and anyone interested in volunteering or would like to provide a donation to the group, or find out more on behalf of a child with additional needs, should please email: [email protected] or telephone 07447 447 257.