Are you a dad looking to bond with your child through sports and activities? Champion Dads is here for you! We believe that every dad and child, regardless of abilities or health conditions, deserves the chance to connect and thrive together.
Our inclusive sports group is specially designed for fathers and children with disabilities and long-term health conditions. Whether it's wheelchair basketball, adapted soccer, or sensory-friendly fitness sessions, we offer a variety of activities that cater to diverse needs and interests.
At Champion Dads, we understand the importance of creating a supportive and welcoming environment where dads and their children can feel comfortable and empowered. Our experienced coaches and volunteers are committed to ensuring that everyone feels included and valued.
Join us and be part of a community that celebrates diversity, fosters friendships, and promotes active living for dads and their children of all abilities. Together, let's champion the power of sports and create lasting memories with your child!
What is Champion Dads?
Champion Dads is an accessible group providing support for children 5+ and their fathers who have a disability or long term health condition to access sports.
The location and dates will be confirmed soon!
Fathers can be biological, foster, adopted, step or any man who has responsibility for a child or children including grandfathers and uncles. If you identify as He/him, He/they - this group is for you and the children that you care for!
It is open to fathers who have disabilities, children who have disabilities or both.
This is a pilot programme that will run for eight sessions - we hope to continue it in the future!
Who is Champion Dads for?
Champion Dads welcomes 20 children per session to come together for a energetic and fun family experience. Our inclusive environment ensures that every participant feels valued and engaged, fostering a sense of belonging and community spirit. And here's the best part: attendance is entirely free!
We believe that every child deserves access to quality programmes regardless of financial barriers.
Should you feel inclined, you have the option to contribute to our group through donations, either in person with cash or conveniently online via our website. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps support our mission and ensures the continuation of our activities. We sincerely appreciate your generosity and support in helping us make a positive impact in our community.
This service will be for children with SEN disabilities, physical disabilities, children with complex disabilities and disabled children who are at high risk of exclusion from school. The group also welcomes children who are at the pre-diagnosis stage.
For parents, it is open to all fathers who have a disability (physical and invisible) including parents who are at the pre-diagnosis stage (e.g. on the waiting list to be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult).
Carers are welcome, but their information will need to be registered prior to attendance for them to be admitted (they will not be able to turn up on the day).
Champion Dad's Protective Measures
The sessions will be delivered by qualified Advance DBS staff, volunteers and trainers with a variety of certifications including Safeguarding Children, Safeguarding in a Learning Environment, Autism Awareness, ADHD Awareness and Safeguarding in Sport.
Parents or guardians must remain in attendance for the duration and we encourage their active participation where possible.
What happens at Champion Dads?
The two hour period will be broken up into four activities:
Activity 1 | 40 minute Sports | After being welcomed and oriented, children and their fathers will be invited to participate in sports activities and games using accessible equipment and sensory materials. If a child is not feeling up to this activity, a member of staff will be manning the creative craft station for the duration of this activity. |
Activity 2 | 20 minute Healthy Snacks and Drinks | Food and drink will be available to children and adults present. |
Activity 3 | 45 minute Sports and Games | Sports activities and games using accessible equipment and sensory materials will resume. |
Activity 4 | 15 minute sensory circuit | The sensory circuit will help reduce overstimulation at home post-club. |
Activity One
Fathers and their child/children with be invited to participate in one of the following available activities:
Accessible Football
Accessible Basketball
Seated Curling
Inclusive Golf
Inclusive Badminton
Sensory Dance
Inflatable Volleyball
There will be a crafting station that will open 10 minutes into the activity so children who become overwhelmed or overstimulated will have the ability to choose a quite task instead.
Activity Two
Water, fruits and vegetables will be available to all people who attend, adult and child, free of charge.
Juice, teas, coffees and other foods will be available for a small fee to help fund the group.
Alternatively, if you'd like us to provide a healthy pack-lunch for your child, this will available to add to your booking for £5.00.
Activity Three
During Activity Three, a second option from the above list of sports will be available along with games (like Relay and Rounders).
Activity Four
A sensory circuit is a form of sensory integration intervention. It involves a sequence of physical activities that are designed to alert, organise and calm children with SEN disabilities. The sensory circuit aims to facilitate sensory processing to help children regulate and organise their senses in order to achieve the ‘just right’ or optimum level of alertness.
Sensory circuits are designed to start with alerting activities, move to an organising phase and then finally to a calming phase. Doing the activities in the recommended order is vital. The right order results in a well-regulated, happy child. The wrong order may well result in a dysregulated, upset or irritable child and have the opposite effect.
Alerting
The aim of this section is to provide vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation within a controlled setting.
Example activities: Jumping/bouncing on a trampoline, skipping, running, rolling and bouncing on a yoga ball, animal walks, step ups, star jumps etc.
Organising
This section includes activities that require motor sensory processing, balance and timing. These activities help improve focus and attention. The child needs to organise their body, plan their approach and do more than one thing at a time in sequential order.
Example activities: Balancing, climbing, log rolls, throwing to a target, wobble boards, weaving in and out of cones, throwing and catching, jumping through hoops etc.
Calming
The calming activities are very important as they provide input to ensure that children leave the circuit and return to their homes calm, centred and ready for the day ahead.
Example activities: Proprioceptive and deep pressure e.g. yoga ball squashes, lying under a weighted blanket, linear swinging or rocking, heavy muscle work e.g. crawling through a tunnel, press ups etc.
Accessibility Features
Specific Accessibility Features for the site will be made available prior to booking. We will ensure that the location we choose will be the most accessible available option so that as many fathers and children can enjoy accessible sports.
All our crafts, messy play, and activities are designed with accessibility in mind - with adaptations and specific provisions so it is inclusive for all.
We will also have a sensory tent available in a quite space for children to use as they require throughout the session. The sensory tent is used at all our groups, programmes and events for children with additional needs.
Crafting Sustainability: Exploring Eco-Friendly Materials for a Greener Future
We will predominantly use natural and recycled materials.
The preference for using natural and recycled materials in crafts stems from several factors:
Environmental Awareness: Our thoughtfully selected natural and recycled materials, curated to inspire creativity and environmental stewardship! Our commitment to using eco-friendly materials stems from a deep understanding of their impact on our planet. By choosing natural and recycled materials, we reduce the demand for new resources, conserving energy and minimising pollution.
Sustainability: Embrace sustainability as you explore textures, colours, and patterns found in nature, transforming ordinary crafts into extraordinary experiences. Natural and recycled materials are more sustainable options because they can be replenished or reused without causing significant harm to the environment, unlike many synthetic materials which are derived from fossil fuels and may not be biodegradable.
Creativity: Let your imagination run wild as you navigate the challenges of working with unconventional materials, sparking innovation and fostering a sense of resourcefulness. Revel in the beauty of imperfections and irregularities, as they add character and charm to every creation.
Book your place!
Dates will be announced on our social media - keep an eye out for our next available day!
Step into a world of wonder and excitement at our Champion Dads for Parents and Children with Additional Needs! Join us for a magical experience where activity knows no bounds and every family can enjoy the fun of sports. Because every dad deserves the chance to be a champion!
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