Summer 2023

Book full weeks only (no part weeks) and there will be a restriction of 10 days per child over the three weeks of the Playscheme

Since 2004 our aim at CHIPS Guildford has been to give 200+ vulnerable and disadvantaged children aged 5-11 from the deprived areas of Westborough, Park Barn and Stoke in North Guildford school holidays full of new friendships, exciting activities and fun at low or no cost to their families addressing the inequality in opportunities we have for this locally. We do this through our inclusive, safe and stimulating Easter and summer holiday play and respite provision that our annual evaluations show meets our objectives of increasing the children’s confidence and self-esteem, improving their physical and mental health and developing their social skills – schools tell us our impact is long-lasting, particularly for the high number of children we welcome with additional needs whom return to school happier, ready to settle back into a routine and proud of what they did over their school holiday! Since 2017 we have also been offering free cooked, nutritious lunches to all children attending to help alleviate the impact of food poverty. More recently, following a successful pilot in August 2021, we have expanded our provision into Ash.

Playscheme content is based on feedback from children, parents/carers and the particular issues in our area. Activities include arts, crafts, cookery, music and dance to develop the children’s social and communication skills, self-expression, self-esteem and confidence plus lots of child-led free play. We also carry out lots of outdoors play including building dens and bug hunts to get the children active in their own environment plus we offer a sports programme that develops physical skills through informal sports, coached activities, obstacle courses, tag rugby, football and rounders. Alongside this, to give the children the chance to try something new, we provide activities around a different theme every year. In recent years we have been to space, explored jungles and travelled back in time! We welcome children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and ensure that they are fully included in all activities.