BOSP’s vision is to provide a range of high-quality leisure and respite services to children and young people with learning or physical disabilities and their families. Profound learning disabilities and critical illnesses blight young lives and put great stress on the family unit. Disabled and very ill children face discrimination and substantial barriers to participation in mainstream activities, resulting in the whole family becoming marginalised and vulnerable to depression, family breakdown and social exclusion.

With the support of ALMT, BOSP will deliver a new baby and toddler club in Basildon, called BOSP Tots. The weekly session will be for isolated parents who have a baby or little one with a disability. By participating in BOSP Tots families will feel less alone, knowing there are other families in the same/similar position and being with people who really understand what they are feeling and the struggles they are going through. Friendships will be made leading to reduced isolation and confidence will be increased. Families share ideas with other parents and BOSP’s specialist support workers who have experience in Makaton Sign language, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), medication administering, gastronomy feeds, behaviours and are paediatric and mental health first aiders. Families will be able to attend free courses on how to develop your child’s interaction and attention, helping your child to communicate, developing your child’s understanding, and sensory differences and Self-help skills. Co-dependency will be reduced by helping to prepare the family for being away from their child at pre-school or respite at BOSP.