Kids love their new trikes at two London Adventure Playgrounds
“We have a young person who had been sitting on the sofa each session for months, refusing to go outside. When a social worker asked if he wanted to go on the new trike, he absolutely beamed and was so happy to be riding around. He doesn’t use words, but when asked about it later that day, he really smiled!”
– Kids Play Practitioner
Kids charity provides disabled children and young people, and their families, with practical, creative, lifechanging support across England. Through their services of early years support, activity clubs, adventure playgrounds, and holiday respite breaks, they empower disabled children and young people to learn, play, and grow with confidence.
Better Youth Spaces grants funded brand new accessible trikes at their Adventure Playgrounds in Hackney and Hayward in London, which enable disabled children and young people to take part in adventurous physical activity in a safe environment and with staff who are trained to support their needs.
Exploring by tricycle
Kids’ Head of Play and Social Development explained: “With this grant, we have been able to purchase specialised, heavy-duty bikes, designed to be safe and stable for the needs of the children with physical and sensory challenges. The bikes will support children’s motor development, balance, and self-regulation, boost their emotional wellbeing and social inclusion, and expand our excursions to nearby marshes and natural areas accessible by cycle paths. The bikes will empower the children and young people to explore their surroundings freely and experience their environment in a new, active way.”
Kids constantly seek feedback from the young people who use their services, and the introduction of these specialised bikes came from the young people expressing interest in this equipment and skill.
New equipment creates new experiences
With the Better Youth Spaces grant Kids were able to purchase specialised tricycles, which are specifically designed to the unique needs of the children and young people who will be using them. Kids’ Head of Play and Social Development continued: “Those who attend the playground will be able to take part in a brand-new activity which many of them have never been able to do before.
“We work with the whole family to support in the care of their children and in navigating the SEND system. Families report the sense of relief they feel knowing that, when at Kids playgrounds, their children are taking part in activities which they otherwise don’t have the opportunity to take part in, and that they are in a safe and secure environment to do so.”
Feedback from Kids’ Hayward Playground Practitioners
“Having our trikes has invaluably contributed to our ethos and the diversity of inclusive experiences we can provide. Our children are able to cycle around, practicing their motor skills, doing physical activity, and exploring in ways they never have before.”
“One child requires 1-1 support, is non-verbal, and tends to stay within the limits of the inside space. He is now able to use an assisted bike with his support worker and travel all the way around the large playground, seeing parts of the site he had never seen before.”
Feedback from Kids’ Hackney Playground Practitioners
“We are loving the new bikes. They feel solid, top quality, and really fun. As a play worker, it adds such potential to the sort of games we can play, we can jump on and off the bikes and zip around together. Hopefully we’ll be able to build trike rides and being outside into his sessions as we go into Spring.”
“‘M’ really enjoys playing as a Post Man, and with these trikes, he now has a Post Man Van to make his rounds in. He uses the trike to go and pick flowers and deliver them to everyone at the playground. With each person he would stop and say, ‘Special delivery for you!’. He was proud that by the end of the day everyone had a flower to show for it. At home time he asked, ‘Can we do bikes next time?’ and we were very glad to be able to say ‘Yes!’.”