![]() The Heart of CASP: A Mother's Love Inspires a Community It all began with a simple desire – Carmen’s love for her daughter and a determination to keep her career dreams alive. When Carmen needed childcare after her daughter transitioned to primary school, the mismatch between school hours and work schedules left her with a tough choice. But Carmen wasn't one to back down. Instead, it sparked a fire, a determination to build something bigger than just childcare – a community. From Humble Beginnings to a Family Affair CASP started small, a place for her daughter and a few others facing similar struggles. But something remarkable happened. It wasn't just an after-school program; it was a family. Parents rallied around the cause. They weren't just users, they were invested. They helped prepare food, organised activities and became a supportive network. CASP became a collaborative effort, ensuring every child felt loved and cared for. CASP takes shape. A defining moment arrived with the acquisition of a purpose-built building. This wasn't just bricks and mortar; it was a symbol - a physical manifestation of what quality childcare should look and feel like. The building was used to launch the 1989 Children’s Act, and hosted many parliamentary visitors to promote childcare issues, featured on TV, and hosted visitors from Sweden and other countries to promote child and family services. CASP was seen as a beacon in the community with every child from the local schools begging their parents to attend. Resilience in the Face of Change Change is inevitable, Government policies shifted, funding became scarce, and new communities brought new challenges. Regulations grew, paperwork piled up, and the focus shifted from free play to risk assessments. Yet, CASP persevered. The team adapted, navigating the changing landscape with unwavering dedication. What kept them going? CASP have survived for 38 years, the pride of surviving where others couldn't. Picture this, You're strolling through Camberwell Green, enjoying the sunshine, when you see a familiar face. It's a parent you remember from when their child used CASP services! You stop to chat, and they light up, sharing how much CASP helped their child. They tell you about the specific activities their child loved at the time, and how those experiences continue to have a positive impact on them as an adult. It's a heartwarming reminder of the lasting difference CASP makes in children's lives. Today CASP is facing a critical challenge – a lack of funding threatens to close their doors. But the story doesn't have to end here. With your help, CASP can continue to be a source of support for our community. Please consider donating to CASP. Every contribution, big or small, will make a difference. To donate, please visit our Crowdfunder. ![]() Bored children? Summer holidays using your paid holidays for childcare? Camberwell After School Project has the solution. We are running a summer playscheme from July 29th - August 30th, 8am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday. We organise lots of fun activities for your child including: Trips to the seaside Drusilla Park Cinema, Parks, Museum, Bowling, Cooking, Mask making, Arts & Craft and many more You can book your space on our services page HERE. Scroll down to Summer Holiday Playscheme ![]() We have some amazing news! Thanks to the incredible generosity of the St Olave's & St Saviour's School Foundation, CASP's summer play scheme is secured for the next three years! This generous grant of £3,000 per year from the St Olave's & St Saviour's School Foundation ensures the continuation of our ever-popular summer programme. It's filled with fun and educational activities that keep children engaged and entertained during the long summer break. The Foundation's support has been a tremendous help, and these summer programmes have consistently proven to be a hit with both parents and children in our community. We'd like to express our sincere gratitude to Cathy Matthews, Russell Walters, and the entire board of trustees at the St Olave's & St Saviour's School Foundation. Your continued support makes a real difference in the lives of children in our community, giving them a safe and stimulating space to enjoy their summer break. Thanks to this funding, we can look forward to crafting another incredible summer playscheme filled with unforgettable experiences for the children of Camberwell. Stay tuned for more details about what we have planned for the upcoming summer! Use the email link below to find out more ! ![]() Are you ready to make a difference while staying active? CASP is hosting a sponsored Walk/Run challenge. Whether you prefer walking or running this event allows you to participate in a physical activity of your choice while raising funds for a worthy cause. It's a win-win situation. As you know, CASP has been struggling to keep our doors open and is at serious risk of closing due to a lack of funds to balance our books. We will have a shortfall of £160k at the end of this financial year and need to raise the necessary funds to enable us to continue to provide our much-needed childcare service. By supporting CASP, you can greatly impact the lives of children and families in our community. Ready to Get Started? You could pledge to donate towards our target. You could organise a fundraising event on our behalf. Please let us know the area you are interested in taking part in. The walk will be a 5km loop around Burgess Park on 15th June 2024 This Easter at Camberwell After School Project our children joined the holiday playscheme, filled with fun activities and learning opportunities. CASP aims to give the children a journey that intertwines cultural exploration and culinary creativity. Flags became the first canvas for children's creativity. Each child crafted a flag representing their birth country or their family's heritage. Through this simple yet meaningful activity, the playscheme not only celebrated diversity but also sparked curiosity about different cultures. ![]()
As they proudly displayed their flags, the children shared fascinating facts they had learned, fostering an atmosphere of cultural appreciation and understanding. Next stop on their Easter adventure? The supermarket! But this wasn't just any ordinary trip. The children eagerly embarked on a mission to gather ingredients for their upcoming cooking activities. ![]() Armed with shopping lists, they navigated through the aisles, learning valuable life skills along the way. From scanning items to paying at the checkout, every step of the shopping process became a lesson in independence and responsibility. Back at the playscheme, it was time to put those ingredients to good use. With aprons on and sleeves rolled up, the children dove into a cooking extravaganza. ![]() One highlight of the day? Cheesy Worm Shapes! Mixing flour, butter, and cheese into a dough, the children unleashed their imagination to create whimsical shapes. From squiggly worms to hearts and flowers, each cheesy creation was as unique as the child who made it. And the best part? Taking their cheesy worms home to share with their families. Hope you liked them? If you would like to reserve a space for the summer holidays contact: [email protected]
You're invited to share and learn important ways in which adults from African and Caribbean communities can get actively involved in their children’s education and schooling. At present we have seen a number of school closures across Southwark; single year form entries; and many schools on the verge of turning into academies. In addition, Southwark Council has introduced a no exclusion policy. However, there is some indication that off-rolling - the practice of removing a pupil from the school roll without using a permanent exclusion - is taking place.
A number of Black children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are not having those needs met and parents are struggling to get the necessary support via the Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP). Do you need support and if so, do you know where to access it? Come along. Find out more. Have your say! Eventbrite Tickets: https://bit.ly/SBPF130523 Public Transport Info: tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/ Buses: 12; 36; 171; 345; 436 (Peckham Rd / Vestry Rd) National Rail: Peckham Rye; Denmark Hill Map: https://goo.gl/maps/38t6YGdfmBmtaEUp8 |
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