Wandsworth is host to an exciting week of learning, new experiences and fun for local families from Monday 24th July 2023 to Friday 28th July in Battersea Park. Wandsworth’s Big Play Out is just one part of Wandsworth Council’s way of supporting young people and families during the Cost of Living Crisis and the school summer holiday when many children can experience a lack of activity and finances are stretched. Places have been made available to families in receipt of free school meals and in low income households. The fully booked scheme will welcome a huge 1200 visitors per day.

Research shows that holidays can also mean an experience gap, with children from low-income households being; less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health and more likely to experience social isolation.

The totally free, jam-packed week is a collaboration with Wandsworth Council, Enable, not for profit Battersea Summer Scheme and Smart Hospitality and takes place over a full week in Evolution London, Battersea Park. Designed for ages 5-16 years it will offer a great range of fun activities with something for every age across dance classes, music workshops, exercise classes, sports activities (tennis, football, table tennis, boxing etc.), a reading corner, movie sessions, food education workshops, inflatables and soft play, art classes, a disco, games and crafting. These engaging sports and activity, skill-building and music and visual arts sessions are delivered by Junction Elite who provide affordable Football for kids of all abilities and needs. Doddington Roof Garden who will provide gardening and food education sessions and Live Karma Yoga providing yoga and HIIT for all ages and Putney School of Art and Design hosting printing and card making workshops.

Enable CEO Ian Mitchell says; ‘We are very excited at Enable as an organisation which connects communities and gives access to important opportunities for our local community, to deliver this ambitious week to those who need it most. School holidays can be real pressure points for families and for children who experience disadvantage at these times. We are proud to deliver support alongside Wandsworth Council to help alleviate this with free and accessible offerings.’

Battersea Summer Scheme have been providing such opportunities since 1992 and this collaboration sees an extension of their work into this holiday program which enacts Battersea Summer Scheme’s aim of conquering boredom, providing adventure, developing self esteem and personal skills. As part of their Community Use Strategy, Smart Hospitality have kindly provided the Evolution space free of charge along with packed lunches for all children across the entire week.

In addition, special workshops will be held at Wandsworth’s Big Play Out summer holiday programme, where children are invited to join an hour-long workshop to explore some of the music from the upcoming summer concert series Battersea Park in Concert through the visual arts. The artwork created at these sessions will be displayed at the In Concert events.

We look forward to welcoming Wandsworth Councillor Kate Stock, Cabinet Member for Children, Mayor Councillor Juliana Annan to the event.

Councillor Kate Stock says : “The Wandsworth Big Play Out is a whole week of completely free fun activities. The summer holidays can be a stressful and expensive time for cash-strapped families, so there will be no hidden extra costs and children will also get a free nutritious lunch. This is part of our work to make sure young people and families get the support they need during the Cost of Living crisis. Children on free school meals can also sign up for other free activities via our Wandsworth Connected scheme, and we will again be providing free school meal vouchers throughout the holiday”

Special thanks go to;
The Culverstone and Vigo Scouts for the kind donation of books
The RSPCA for the kind donation of books
Demelza for the kind donation of books
Riverside Radio
Waste Not Want Not