SUNBEAMS PLAY
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Mission Statement
Our Mission is to provide: ☼ A happy and caring environment ☼ An inclusive and safe space with qualified staff and opportunities for growing and socialising ☼ Support for individuals and families. Our Vision A world in which autism is celebrated.
About This Cause
Sunbeams stands on the site of a previous respite centre for children and young people in Gt Yarmouth, but due to its closure by Ofsted in 2012 families affected by autism were left with no support. The founder and former manager Monica Bates was initially approached by children’s services and the early years team to ask if she would be interested in setting up a new centre. Following extensive research she found there were no provisions in East Anglia providing respite for parents of children and young people with Autism. Armed with this knowledge and through personal experience and a background in childcare she agreed. Sunbeams was formally founded in 2014, and after working with other local charities to initiate contact with families, opened with five children. Following registration with Ofsted we steadily developed services to incorporate families and grew to the establishment we have now. Today, Sunbeams Play is an Ofsted registered charity with an outstanding grade supporting neurodiverse people of all ages from 0 to 100+ and families affected by autism, a lifelong condition that affects social and communication skills often causing anxiety, depression and emotional turmoil for all concerned. We currently provide specialised out of school activities for 5 – 25 year olds, support for young carers, parents and carers, a late diagnosis group, individual support and training. In September 2023 we will open our ‘Stay and Play’ support to 0 – 5 year olds with any disabilities or additional needs providing early intervention, guidance and signposting. Activities provided are all differentiated and adapted to ensure a comfortable, safe and accessible environment for all those using the services, offering an holistic approach to family well-being, lowering emotional and aggressive outbursts, isolation and exclusion while raising self-esteem, confidence, family and community cohesion. Sunbeams has a commissioned psychotherapist who is working closely with members of Sunbeams who have been identified as needing support with wellbeing, stress, anxiety etc. Therapies are offered which include pottery, music and art, supported outings and trips as well as a community hotspot to help fight social isolation and loneliness as well as support with the cost of living. Future plans include creating a ‘one stop shop’ where all of our services can be offered from one building that is easily accessible and situated centrally with bus routes close by. We will be able to offer more services and reach more people, offer work experience opportunities and training, more availability for supporting lonely and isolated people and generally support the local community by creating a safe space to enhance quality of life.