Activities
At TOGs we run a youth club for children with disabilities, two evenings a week. During this time we aim to offer our members opportunities to try new activities and to meet new people.
We are open 6-8 every Monday and Wednesday and run right throughout the year.
During the summer, we spend as much time as possible outdoors. We usually spend our evenings at the local park or on the playing fields next to our centre. When we are out, we try lots of different activities such as parachute games, rounders, football, dancing, tag etc. Any thing you can think of- we play it! We have also got the use of our own minibus and occasionally visit other local parks e.g. Goytre Wharf, Pontypool; whether it be to play games or even take a leisurely stroll to get an ice cream.
Throughout the winter months we are usually confined to our centre. We try to make each evening as varied and interesting as possible. To do this we set up different activities in each room, with staff, the members choose what they would like to engage in. Activities can consist of arts and crafts, cooking, games, puzzles, Wii, Playstation, DVDs etc. We also have our very own sensory room that can be used for quiet time to relax. We hold a number of special theme nights when we are inside and this could include a party, team building activities, quiz night etc.
As far as possible activities are decided by our members, they have input into the planning of everything that happens at the centre.
We run a number of day trips throughout the year. This year we have run a trip, once a month on a Saturday. Trips that we have run in the past have included canoeing, golfing, climbing, the cinema, swimming, bowling, laser tag, zoo visits and much, much more! In the past we have even been on residential weekends!We have also been lucky enough in the past to organize special workshops for our members to take part in. We have just finished a ten week music project where our members were given the opportunity to create and record their own music or their own song. During the project members were given access to state of the art musical instruments and recording tools. Another workshop/ visit that was extremely successful was from a company called The Animal Zone. When this visit took place, the staff brought a mix of weird and wonderful animals for our members to look at and even hold. This included snakes, toads and lizards. We have also visited the local fire station on two occasions and been given a talk on the role of the firefighters. After, we could even sit in the fire engine.
We finish every year with a family party at Croesyceiliog Cricket club with food and dancing and a trip to the Pantomime.