Working with Disadvantaged Families: Need Reccys for Cheap/Free Activities for Parents having Access to Children esp. After School Hours

[pinkplanes]

As the title suggest, I have service-users on v. low income with limited contact time with their children but they seem to see them either after school or have set hours. A lot of them have multiple debts but they seem to just take them out for something to eat ie. McD's etc. so this impacts on their money issues even more. I can't think of anything where they can take them to as a lot of venues will be shutting by then ie. libraries, museums etc. Naturally, they wouldn't want to hang around the house where the children are residing as they would like to have some privacy/bonding time away from the person who has guardianship. So, activities like making creative things or playing board games aren't really viable. The weather will be brightening up soon, so it's possible to go to parks etc. (Even going to one now is still do-able but for a v. short time before it gets dark).

Anyone with any suggestions?

Hello pinkplanes,

This is a really interesting question and I'd be curious to know too. One of my next listing priorities for this site is 'useful support groups and services'. Places to go is a helpful extension of that.

Some libraries are open until 7pm on some days. We don't include opening times in our library listings here but the individual listings link to the council pages that do.

There are heaps of free and cheap things to do at weekends and during school holidays, in our What's On listings. Is any of the contact time at weekends? At this moment, our Easter listings include a lot of holiday camps and bookable workshops but, in a week or so, the many free drop-in events in parks, museums, galleries, libraries, shopping centres etc will be there too.

After school, most activities are classes and clubs. I wonder whether some of the drop-in groups in churches would fit the bill? Example here. There will be lots more of this sort of thing.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

Just checking times - after school is about 3.15pm until when? 6ish, or later? Do they need to eat, or is the expectation that the children go back to where they're living to eat afterwards?

Free galleries - New Art Exchange and Nottingham Contemporary - are open until 6pm Tue-Fri.

Eden Soft Play in The Meadows does a reduced rate for Meadows residents of £2 per child and is open until 6pm most days. They also do a community meal, 5.30-7pm on Wednesdays, £2 per adult, £1 or 50p for children here

Hi LEN,

Thanks for responding so quick. I don't work with families per se, but I do come across some now and again. Atm, I have someone with contact with their two DDs at 11 and 9yo, but I don't know their personal arrangements with the guardian. Although you have mentioned the two art galleries, none of those will have events so late in the day. Thanks for mentioning The Meadows link, I didn't realise that the Super Kitchen was there too (I'm aware of the others in the City plus other orgs.) and the Messy Church. I'm not sure how far my service user would want to travel if it means catching two buses each way. (Didn't stop me when I was a young mum back then).

It would be great if you can compile a new list of such activities for Nott'm as I'm sure it'll be useful for many people in the community.