Meet Sara

Mum Shelley tells us about her daughter Sara, who has attended Challengers Play scheme in Farnham since 2018. Sara is 10 years old and has a learning and physical disability that impacts all areas of her development. She is also non-verbal and has complex communication needs.

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Attending Challengers has been immensely helpful for Sara’s mental health. It’s something she always looks forward to. She’s happy and animated when she lines up to go into the Play scheme and tired when she comes out – both signs of a great day for her! It’s especially beneficial to us as a family, as it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find activities for her to do out and about.

Challengers provides a safe, caring, and non-judgmental environment for Sara. She can enjoy the things that she loves, specifically the soft play and sensory room, and it gives her a chance to interact with children who have similar needs. Although she has not expressed this verbally due to her communication difficulties, I’m hopeful that she has built connections with other children who attend.

While Sara is at Challengers, both her father and I have some much-needed respite and time to focus on our other children. We know she is in safe hands, and having some time for ourselves means we are able to continue working and keep that very important part of our individual identities.