FAMILIES OF DISABLED CHILDREN CALL FOR PERM PLAY, EXERCISE, AND SOCIAL CENTRE IN BRISTOL. Families of disabled children in the South West have called for more support for a campaign led by award-winning Bristol charity Gympanzees to open a permanent facility in the city. Project Home Appeal is raising funds to build the first-ever Gympanzees centre, which will support the 66,000 children and young people with disabilities living within an hour of Bristol. 77% of disabled children cannot access regular leisure facilities and are twice as likely to be lonely compared to their non-disabled peers. Gympanzees provide play, exercise, and social opportunities to disabled children and their families to improve health and help end this isolation. The charity was recently presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation for their inclusive leisure facilities.
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72% of parents with a disabled child suffer mental health issues because of isolation. Leila, a parent from Bristol, said, “Leaving the house when you have a disabled child is almost like a military operation. You have to get ready, you have to think ahead, you have to do the research, about accessibility, about changing places.” Emma, from North Somerset, said,
“As a parent of a child with disabilities accessing fun and days out has been a challenge. Isabella was invited to her best friend's birthday party.
