Family room sensory resources & 2019 Family Triathlon (360G-OCF-A495269)

This application is for 2 much needed areas of our work, the first is to enhance our offer to families who have children with additional needs. There are a growing number of families who have children with additional needs in South Oxford and Oxford city. The family room offers monthly open access drop-in sessions for these families to come for moral support from volunteers who themselves have children with additional needs, advice on their child’s condition from visiting professionals, introduction to BSL and a safe place to bring their child to play if they aren’t at school. The grant money will be spent on indoor sensory resources and a black-out den. The den will provide a quiet space for children to explore their senses through lights and textures. The bubble wall, accessory kit and bean bags will be used with the den. The second part of our application is for help towards costs of putting on our second family triathlon event in 2019 which we hope will be bigger and raise more funds than the triathlon held on 1st July 2018. We are seeking funding to cover costs for Insurance, First aider and park fees plus 10 hours of administration time for the project co-ordinator as this support is in addition to her usual role. On 1st July 2018, our first community family triathlon was very successful with over 130 parents and children taking part, raising over £6000 before costs of putting on the event. Running the event entails costs such as insurance, first-aiders, park hire & publicity. This year our costs totalled over £870. Funds raised go towards Tuesday sessions in South Oxford Family Room. These professionally run sessions provide weekly support for breastfeeding and wellbeing for mums with newborn and young children and their families. Tuesday sessions are free, inclusive, and take place a stone's throw from the city centre.