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SNAP’s vision is to provide a safe environment offering a wide range of support and specialist services with the aim to increase resilience and empowerment within our families. SNAP’s ethos is about strengthening all members of the family.
SNAP Charity
SNAP is an Essex charity whose aim is to inform, encourage and support families with children and young people who have any special need or disability, allowing parents and carers to grow in strength and knowledge so they are better equipped to give the best possible help to their children.
From its Brentwood base, SNAP offers a helping hand to thousands of families who need support. No formal diagnosis or professional referral is necessary to access SNAP services, available to families of children and young people aged 0 to 25.
The charity’s vision is to provide a safe environment offering a wide range of support and specialist services with the aim to increase resilience and empowerment within our families. SNAP’s ethos is about strengthening all members of the family.
“When parents first come to The SNAP Centre they often feel isolated and don’t know where to turn, but with SNAP’s support they grow in strength and knowledge and become better equipped to give the best possible help to their children,” says Karen Boath, SNAP CEO.
Registered Charity No.1077787
External Evaluation of SNAP
SNAP’s Helpline and Face-to-Face sessions were the focus of an external evaluation funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and conducted by evaluation specialists Eastside Primetimers. Based on a wealth of feedback from parents and carers, the research tells a clear and consistent story of the real and lasting positive impact that SNAP has on family life.
The external evaluator for the report, Neil Smith, found that SNAP occupies a pivotal role in the lives of the families it supports.
“Praise for SNAP is consistently very high. A parent and carer will typically describe their experience as essential, vital and lifesaving. They uniformly report there is no other service like it, and even for those families who are newer to SNAP there is an immediate impact and a ‘change of trajectory’ as one parent put it.”
“Without SNAP’s support I doubt I would understand my child at all. I doubt they would be verbal and I am quite sure they wouldn’t have a full Statement of Education, an Occupational Therapist, or the amazing opportunity of a placement at an appropriate school.
I could list so many things SNAP has given us a family but most importantly you have given me the confidence to fight for my child. You have given my child a chance for a brighter future. We are indebted to you all for listening, understanding, supporting and encouraging.
SNAP is the reason I hear my child say Mumma.”
The strategies employed to achieve our objectives:
- Education, training and support for parents, carers and professionals working with children and young people
- Activities, courses and therapies for children and young people
- Activities, courses and support for siblings
The SNAP Centre offers a wide range of services:
Parent Advice and Support
- Helpline (telephone and email)
- Face-to-Face Parents Support
- Specialist Talks and Training Courses
- Library of Specialist Books and DVDs
- Website with comprehensive SNAP Directory of useful contacts
- Online Information Network
- Counselling
- Education Advice Sessions
Activities
- Parent and Pre-school Children’s Sessions
- Yoga, Drama and Activity Groups
- Music Therapy
- Holiday Sessions
- SNAP+ Group for Older Children and Young People
- Sibling Support
- Multi-Sensory Room
- Specialist IT Suite
Key Statistics
Here are a few key statistics highlighting the work that SNAP does with families
All figures are correct as of December 2022.
0
Families have been supported by SNAP since we began.
0
Families are currently receiving our support
2022 Statistics
Number of families with children and young people with have any additional need and disability supported in 2022
Year on year there is an increasing demand from families for SNAP’s services.
Inform
0
Participants in training courses and talks
0
Face-to-face parent advice appointment and surgeries
0
Helpline telephone calls and emails
Encourage
0
New Families Registered
0
Children and young people attended clubs and activities
0
Children and young people attended holiday services and individual sessions
0
Total children's services attended
Support
0
Counselling sessions for parents and families
0
Siblings young carers supported
0
Current families
0
Children and young people with additional needs
You can find out more about SNAP’s work and finances in our Annual Report and Accounts and find a further slice of SNAP life in our SNAP Matters magazine.
Case Studies
Family Case Study
“Having somewhere to go, where she can be effortlessly Ava, is a gift.”
That is how mum Liz sums up SNAP who have been helping her severely disabled daughter for the past eight years.
The value of being a SNAP Volunteer
Volunteering for SNAP is a really rewarding experience bringing many benefits to both the charity and to the individual themselves. With more than 120 volunteers, of all ages, SNAP offers a stepping stone to future employment or other pursuits.
Recent News
Session Spotlight: Sensorise
This holiday session is for families with children with more profound and complex additional needs and their siblings
Keeping safe online
SNAP has gathered some information sources that offer some tips and guidance to help navigate this tricky topic…
Leaving a gift of love and hope
Senior Associate at Birketts, Natasha Senior, shares how leaving a charitable legacy in your Will can have an astounding lasting impact
New SNAP Matters out now!
The Autumn edition of SNAP Matters is out now and it is an essential read for all things SNAP-related
Swimming superstar earns more than a medal!
Nine-year-old Dexter Lighterness took on a big challenge in July completing Tri Sport Essex’s Try-a-Tri taster triathlon for first-time triathletes.
Follow Us
Helpline: 01277 211300
Email: [email protected]
9.00am until 5.00pm Monday to Thursday
and 9.00am until 3.00pm on Friday.
Volunteer for SNAP
Helping out at our centre or supporting one of our many activities. Find out more »
