ESCAPE SUPPORT GROUP is a Somerset based charity that provides activities, days out, events and mini-breaks for children with disabilities and their families.
ESCAPE recognises the need for families to have opportunities to spend quality time doing fun things together – not just the child with the disability. Families often find themselves, through no fault of their own, excluded, mis-understood, and, sometimes, subject to prejudice, simply because of the additional needs of their child(ren). We aim to redress that balance by empowering and enabling families - allowing them the opportunity to visit locations, experience events, and participate in activities which might otherwise be unavailable to them.
Having a child with a disability can often be isolating, and stressful. Not only are families coping with the day to day (sometimes 24/7) care of their children, they are often having to deal with the ‘system’ to ensure the best outcomes for them - e.g. Health, Education, Social Care, Benefit Entitlements. Siblings, too, often have to miss out on things and are often classified as young carers, but through joining ESCAPE members are surrounded by like minded families who know, and can empathise with, what it is like to have a child with specific needs within the family, and can feel relaxed in company where they don’t feel they have to justify themselves or their children. They can just be themselves and have fun, which promotes emotional wellbeing for all.
Our remit is to provide fun activities, allowing the children the opportunity to experience a positive childhood where they are integrated fully, and are able to share experiences that will enhance and enrich their lives, which other children and families often take for granted. These activities boost morale, increase confidence and self-esteem, improve social skills, decrease behavioural difficulties and develop and strengthen friendships.
Everything ESCAPE does is heavily subsidised – our aim is to cover 50% of costs - to ensure affordability for everyone, and excellent value for money. We often provide transport (including wheelchair accessible vehicles) to and from the locations ensuring the day is as stress free as possible for our members. This subsidy is made possible through ESCAPE’s own fundraising, numerous grant applications and from the support of many local individuals and organisations.
There is no “criteria” for joining ESCAPE, other than having a child who has a disability, learning difficulties, or specific individual needs, within the family - we therefore support a wide spectrum of needs and currently provide support to over 170 families.
