Balsall Heath CATS was set up in 2004 by local families that found it impossible to access play and leisure facilities for children.
We formed as a group to help local children and young people with disabilities be part of the local community and to support, develop and appreciate their different potentials. Our group now supports over eighty families and networks closely with over twenty organisations.
We work with families from diverse backgrounds, isolated by their circumstances, who often face multiple barriers to accessing support and services. Amongst us we have the skills and the experience to engage with families and individuals who are often excluded. We are able to offer informal support and informed signposting to meet individual needs be they cultural, communication, disability access or financial issues, or often all of these things together.
Our core activity is delivering play and leisure opportunities for local children and young people with disabilities, from those with physical disabilities including multiple and complex to those with learning and behaviour support needs. We provide training to parents and volunteers so that they can learn a range of ways to support the children in activities and developed consultation methods for all the children and young people to tell us about the services that they want to see in their area and how they should be delivered.
We provide families with the chance to experience theatre, cinema, bowling and day trips with the support of our workers, volunteers and fundraisers. We run social events and activities for those we work with and the wider community and have supported families at their own special occasions to make sure their children can be fully involved. Our proven track record sees us receive many self-referrals. We have developed significant experience which has enabled us to put quality inclusive play and youth provision into practice.
Our ambition is to run regular after-school, weekend and holiday provision from a bespoke building to ensure that all children and young people have the opportunity to play, grow and be independent.
CATs Parent
How CATs Makes A Difference
It is our great good fortune that a friend recommended CATs to me. What I have found with CATs was true, uncomplicated respite! I am able to leave my son in a group of truly good people. He is as happy to be there as I am, to leave him. On most school holidays we are offered mornings or afternoons where he is taken on trips and/or involved in youth activities appropriate to his disability.
No challenge seems too great for this group and he has even been taken on a day trip to the beach which he enjoyed tremendously. I can’t see how this group could be improved and am profoundly grateful for it.”