Actio is a dynamic partnership between Energize Shropshire Telford & Wrekin (the local area Sports Partnership) and PACC. Actio is dedicated to improving and developing activity opportunities for children and young people aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their Parent Carers in Shropshire. Actio aims to enhance the range, quality, and accessibility of activities, supporting children and young people with SEND to thrive.
Both Energize and PACC use their roles as strategic partners within Shropshire to inform and influence greater investment, support, and opportunities across Shropshire to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND, and their families. Both organisisations see the benefits of increasing physical activity and reducing isolation for the SEND community, and the impact this has on improving outcomes for all.
Actio manages the 'All In Short Breaks' activities commissioned by Shropshire Council available to eligible children aged 0-17.
The All In Programme is a 'Targeted Support Offer', this means that while those with complex needs can be members, the programme is funded at a level below specialist support. A child with personal care needs, requiring 1:1 support for safety and wellbeing, or where they may require medical interventions may find that activities need a Personal Assistant or a Parent Carer to remain with them and help provide this support.
Shropshire Council manage the membership process - they make decisions about who can and cannot be provided a membership number.
All In Short Breaks
All In Short Breaks is a Shropshire Council funded activity program. Children aged 0-17 can become members of the All In Programme if they find accessing community activities difficult and meet the membership criteria as set out by Shropshire Council.
Actio Partnership
As a partnership, Actio commission activities based on gap analysis and community feedback. Actio seeks feedback directly through the All In Programme and through PACC and Energize strategic roles, hearing from providers and families about what works, what ca be improved, and where they may be opportunities to increase activity offers in some areas or a lack of provision in others.
Influencing Community Activities
Part of the ambitions of Actio is to develop confidence in community providers to create sustainable activity offers across Shropshire. Some providers are part of the All In Programme for a short period of time while they establish themselves within the SEND community. These providers go on to find ways to offer a SEND activity without the support of Actio, which is amazing. Others stay with the All In Programme for longer to ensure that they can deliver their activity to children with SEND alongside their usual activity offers.