As a parent who has been supported by Playskill since 2020, I have witnessed first-hand the extraordinary impact this organisation has on children with additional needs, their families, and the broader community.

What Playskill provides is far more than a service, it's a lifeline, a community, and a source of strength that continues to sustain families long after they leave its programme.

Harry's journey

When my son Harry first joined Playskill, our focus was naturally on what it could offer him: specialist support to help him learn, grow, and develop the skills he needed to flourish. Playskill did all of that and more. Their dedicated staff created a safe, nurturing space where children are understood, celebrated, and encouraged to become the best versions of themselves.

The profound improvements I saw in Harry - socially, physically, emotionally - are a testament to Playskill’s expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment.

Support for the whole family

But the true measure of Playskill’s impact extends far beyond the child.

It embraces siblings, giving them days out and the chance to simply be children in an environment free from the pressures of home.

It reaches out to grandparents with appreciation and respite.

It lifts parents out of isolation by offering opportunities to come together, share experiences, and rediscover that it is not only acceptable but essential to take time for themselves.

How Playskill changed me

While Playskill transformed my son’s life, the deeper truth is that it transformed mine as well.

As a father navigating years of difficult diagnoses, hospital visits, and emotional challenges, Playskill became my foundation. It gave me purpose at a time when it was hardest to find any. It gave me strength when the weight of circumstances felt impossible to carry alone. It made me feel part of something bigger - a community where every struggle is understood and every step, no matter how small, is celebrated.

It gave me strength when the weight of circumstances felt impossible to carry alone.

A crisis - and Playskill steps in

When my spine collapsed and I was told I might never walk again. Playskill stepped in to the gap, supporting my family when I physically could not. Their commitment allowed my family to cope, persevere, and stay hopeful through circumstances that might otherwise have overwhelmed us.

Four years later, fully rehabilitated, I have walked more than 150km and raised nearly £25,000 in Playskill’s name - not because the walks were easy, but because the organisation deserved nothing less.

Lessons that last a lifetime

Even during the toughest of these challenges, when extreme heat, injury, or exhaustion forced me to stop early, I realised that the resilience I relied on was rooted in the very values Playskill teaches our children that:

• finishing is not always what matters,
• challenges are meant to stretch us,
• it is okay to lean on others,
• what matters most is the determination to get up and try again.

These are not just lessons for children; they are life skills that I carry with me every single day.

What Playskill means

In every sense, Playskill is a beacon of hope for families like mine. Their impact is profound, far-reaching, and transformative. They change lives — not only of the children they serve, but of every parent, sibling, and grandparent who walks through their doors.

What does Playskill mean to me? Quite simply: everything.

Rob - Harry's dad

Read our previous story from both Harry's mum, Danusia, and Rob.