Raising profile of special needs charity (From Your Local Guardian)

Croydon Champions to help raise the profile of special needs charity

12:00pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Croydon By Hannah Williamson

A special needs charity that provides summer play schemes for young people has been chosen as this year's Croydon Champions charity.

Whitgift Special Needs Activity Project (SNAP) is a special needs charity that provides a summer play schemes to disabled children and young people between the ages of five and 25 in Croydon.

Based in the Whitgift School, the scheme utilises the south school's classrooms, sports halls and swimming pool, during the summer holidays.

The charity runs two schemes, the Crocodile Scheme, for children and young people aged between five and 18, and the Alligator Scheme for 18 to 25 year olds.

The schemes are independent of each other, but are both run by volunteers who are supervised by scheme officers and group leaders.

Activities are organised both on site such as arts and crafts, and off site such as bowling, cinema trips and soft play.

Katherine Ahmet, chairwoman of Whitgift SNAP trustees said she was delighted the charity had been chosen, and she hoped the partnership would raise the charity's profile in the borough.

She said: "We have been operating in Croydon for a number of years now. Lots of people with disabilities do know about us, but so many young people don't.

"Despite our best efforts we fall off the radar and families who would really benefit don't know we are her.

"We hope to raise awareness of what we do and gain support people whether it is hands on support or financial."