Markfield Project receives funding for fully accessible play sessions

An adventure playground in Tottenham has received £250 funding to create accessible play sessions for children with profound disabilities this Easter.

Markfield Project in Markfield Road, was awarded the funding from the Tottenham Youth Fund, thanks to a campaign called ‘Zack and friends.’

The campaign was launched by parents Sue and Brian Leveson, whose severely disabled son Zack Leveson, 16, regularly attends the Markfield centre.

Zack has severe brain damage resulting in being unable to control his movements, and he cannot speak. This makes playing outside extremely difficult.

The £250 top tier grant award will help set up the Easter pilot session, providing support for communication as well as manual handling for three children like Zack; giving them the chance to play outside in a supported environment.

The whole project will need £4,000 in total for ten to twelve sessions for six children, considering the costs of carers, hoists, and a Changing Places toilet. Fundraising efforts to create more sessions for children with the severest needs are ongoing. 

Brian said: “Profoundly disabled children need hoists and people trained in manual handling to help their mums and dads lift them in and out of play equipment. […] Without this specialised support, children with severe needs, as well as their families are often left isolated.”

If the pilot play session is successful, more sessions will be added on a monthly basis.

Markfield Project’s director, Sarah Miller, said: “Markfield is delighted to be able to run a dedicated play session this spring especially for children like Zack with very complex needs – thanks to the generous support from the Tottenham Youth Fund.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming Zack and friends to the Markfield playground for some fun and adventure”

The Tottenham Youth Fund is an initiative that allows local people aged eleven-19, to resource their Tottenham based youth projects. The fund was set up by Haringey Labour councillor, Seema Chandwani, Tottenham MP David Lammy, and Dr Victor Olisa, who all congratulated Zack on the fund win.

Brian said he felt “unbridled joy” when Zack’s proposal was accepted. He and Zack created a video to say thank you for the funding, using alternative communication, including pictures of Markfield with its park and swings drawn by Brian, and a communication switch with an audio recording thanking the Tottenham Youth Fund.

Brian said: “The play area will offer a rich, sensory first-hand experience of the natural world, with space and freedom to explore and try things out.

“There will be space for whole-bodied, expansive movement, as well as opportunities for adventure, risk and challenge.”

To watch Brian and Zack’s thank you video, head to:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h7xKVeMk7_4