Accessible activities for children and young people this Autumn

October Half Term is nearly here and for some of you that won’t feel very different to the last seven months. We hope you are all keeping safe and well.

Although the situation regarding COVID is still fluid and uncertain, it's good to see more and more activities on offer that can be enjoyed safely and we hope you'll be able to find something that interests you and your children.

As you may be aware, our Buzz Network Co-Ordinator, Beth Carter, is now on maternity leave and Claire Pritchard is her replacement and now in place.  Some of you may recognise or know her from Southampton Parent Carer Forum. She has been part of the Short Breaks journey that Buzz has been on since 2017 and is passionate about the children and families that we support. If you have any comments or suggestions about the Buzz Network, do get in touch - she'd love to hear from you! 

Our friends from Southampton Cultural Services have organised a series of sensory and creative workshops at SeaCity Museum and Southampton City Art Gallery over the next few months. 

These are:

The Mayflower Story - Sensory Stacks!
SeaCity Museum
Saturday 24 October, 2pm to 4pm

What would it be like to sail across the world 500 years ago?  What might you take with you? What would you see?  What would you hear? Join the learning team to collect and create objects you might find on your journey, then design and print your own sea themed bag to keep them in.  These sessions are designed to be relaxed and inclusive and your children are welcome to join in with as much or as little as they want to.  We hope that the whole family will find something you enjoy!

The Mayflower Story - Make a Clay Ship!
Southampton City Art Gallery
Thursday 29 October, 2pm to 4pm

Get messy and creative and make your very own clay sailing ship, inspired by the Mayflower’s journey.

Join the learning team to find out, then create, design and print a sea themed bag.

These sessions are designed to be relaxed and inclusive and your children are welcome to join in with as much or as little as they want to.  We hope that the whole family will find something you enjoy! 

A (Smelly!) Southampton Christmas through Time
SeaCity Museum
Monday 21 December, 2pm to 4pm

Find out what Christmas was like years ago and… what it smelled like!  If that’s not your thing, don’t worry.  You can also use a pestle and mortar to grind your own herbs and spices, make a pomander and other traditional decorations and create a snowy Southampton scene. These sessions are designed to be relaxed and inclusive and your children are welcome to join in with as much or as little as they want to.  We hope that the whole family will find something you enjoy! 

How do I book?

Please email the council's Cultural Services Team and let them know the following:

• The session you want to attend
• The number of adults and children attending
• Any information you think it would help us to have about yourselves, including children’s ages
• Confirmation that one of your group is a MAX card holder
• A contact number and email for yourself
• Whether you would be able to attend an morning session on the same day should the afternoon session be oversubscribed

The Gallery and SeaCity Museum are trialling relaxed openings of their venues, where lighting and sound will be adjusted to make the experience less daunting and a dedicated member of the learning team will be on hand to support families during their visit. 

The Gallery is always free but, as these are trial sessions entry to SeaCity for the relaxed opening will also be free.  The dates and times for the relaxed openings are as follows:

Sea City Museum: Saturday 7 November 2020 – 2pm – 4pm
Southampton City Art Gallery: Saturday 16 January 2021 – 2pm – 4pm

If you'd like to attend then please email the council's cultural services team. 

Active Nation is excited to announce the resumption of activities from October! Here’s a run down below on each session:

After School Club – held on a Monday afternoon at Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, a chance for kids to let off some steam after school! Have a bounce, listen to some music or take penalties against our session leader, while parents and guardians relax with a tea of coffee.

Donutting – A firm favourite as ever! Flying down a slope on an inflatable ring, what’s not to like!? The brilliant Ski team will be delivering these sessions on Tuesday afternoons. Please note that any children that require extra assistance will need their parent or guardian to be on hand due to social distancing guidelines.

Archery/Climbing/High Ropes – Feeling adventurous and need an adrenaline fix? This is the session for outdoorsy-types! Sessions will rotate between archery, climbing and high ropes on Wednesday afternoons.

Instructed Swimming – Held at Oaklands Community Pool on a Friday, this is a great chance for kids to regain their confidence in the water! Our usual session leaders will be helping you make a splash in the learner pool. From November onwards we are very much hoping to have use of a full-sized pool – watch this space! Please note that these sessions are half-hour long and are bookable in a family ‘bubble’, allowing our session leaders to provide more one-to-one support!

How to book

You'll need to book in advance and show your booking confirmation email when you arrive for your chosen sessions. Visit this website to book and for more information.

You can also contact Active Nation directly if you have any questions about these sessions.