Woodland Warriors is an outdoor company, that helps children of different age groups and from different backgrounds to learn basic life skills, through outdoor play. Sessions take place at the Memorial Park in Wickford, Essex and we have young people attend aged from 4 to 16.
The outdoor setting helps to relax the mind, body and soul, enhancing endorphins within the brain to relax and relieve anxiety and stress. This provides a foundation, from which to learn and enhance life skills such as: self-confidence, making and maintaining friendships, self-regulation of emotions and gives an appreciation for the natural world. The parents who come along have also expressed how they find the time outdoors, mixing with other parents who have similar life experiences, to be very therapeutic and have likened it to an outdoor parent support group.
Throughout the sessions, children will be able to participate in a wide range of activities from balancing and using core muscles on the tree swing, to climbing rope ladders and trees. They will develop problem solving skills, learn about the creatures and their interesting lives in the undergrowth and above the canopy, and there will be opportunities to make tools, learn how to safely make fire, and identify animal tracks. No two sessions are the same, with different activities each week.
Woodland Warriors sessions take place:
· Tuesdays 10am-12.30pm
· Saturdays at 10-11.30 and 11.30am to 1pm
“I love the sensory swings and making and doing things like cooking on the fire. I get to see my friends and we can play. I don’t feel like the only one that has autism anymore.” – child participant
“I love Tiffers, she makes me laugh and knows lots of stuff, she’s fun!” – child participant
“A very relaxed and unpressured group where needs are accepted and respected. My children love it. Children are invited to join in but not pressured in any way” – parent
Join Emma and Gwen of Gweniems in their beautiful garden workshop to enjoy relaxing crafting sessions, where you can get to create stunning items, chill out and chat with new friends.
Join Emma and Gwen of Gweniems in their beautiful garden workshop to enjoy relaxing crafting sessions, where you can get to create stunning items, chill out and chat with new friends.
Age Range 7-16.
Venue: Rose Court, Russell Gardens, Wickford. Take a look at their Facebook page to see the workshop and the amazing items they help you make. www.facebook.com/gweniems
Create a beautifully decorated item each week, such as a mandala painted terracotta pot, a pen holder, keyring or coaster.
You do not need a diagnosis of anxiety or autism/adhd/dyslexia/dyspraxia etc. to attend this group. If you feel it will benefit your child/teen’s mental health and help them to make friends, then please book them in. We keep the sessions small, with a max of 5 children/teens, plus parent/carers.
We will provide biscuits and water and tea, or coffee for adults. A parent/carer is expected to stay with the child/teen during the session.
The cost for each session is £6.50 per child, which includes all the materials. Some sessions are just for 1 week and some run over a number of weeks, if the craft project is more complex. A 1 week session is £6.50, 3 weeks is £20. etc. We are able to offer the sessions at this reduced rate as the costs are subsidised by MyOTAS, using grants received from the Co-Op, Local Giving (Magic Little Grants) and Wickford Community Singing Group.
We are delighted to offer yoga classes in conjunction with Special Yoga, specifically designed for neurodiverse children (e.g. autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyslexia, OCD, social anxiety, sensory processing disorder, etc.). These sessions are subsidised by Local Giving and Essex Short Breaks.
Classes are held at St Mary’s Church Hall, Church End Lane, Runwell, Wickford. There are two sessions 4-5pm for younger children and 5pm-6pm for tweens/teens.
Class sizes are limited to 4 children with a parent/carer who is welcome to join in, so that they can continue to practice with their child at home. Ticket price is £7.50 for a parent and child ticket. Additional child places are £5.
About Special Yoga and mindfulness
Special Yoga includes yoga practices of movement, breathing and relaxation combined with sound, rhythm and sensory integration techniques. Mindfulness is having awareness of what’s happening internally and around you in the moment. It is the practice of being receptive to your emotions, thoughts, behaviours and physical state which can help to process events from your external environment. When distraction takes over, regulating the state of mind becomes more of a challenge. Children can use mindfulness techniques to learn how to regulate their breathing patterns, balance energy levels, remain calm, as well as relieve any physical and emotional tension, giving a greater sense of control over the mind and body.
The benefits of Special Yoga and Mindfulness include: