11-year-old James raised £230 for Incredible Kids through gaming marathon

We’ve been blown away by one of our regular brilliant kids, James, who has over doubled his fundraising target to support our service. This summer, James completed a 24-hour live stream of himself playing the video game Fortnite in the hope of raising £100 on JustGiving to help give back to our charity. 

We spoken to James and his parent Holly about about their Incredible Kids journey and why our play sessions make a difference to their family.

James, why did you first join Incredible Kids?

My aunty Kerri and my cousins were going to Incredible Kids for ages and she told my mum to sign us all up and eventually she did. We didn’t go to many places often because me and my brother find it really hard to be in places with too many people, and my brother used to walk away from us if he wasn’t being watched. Aunty Kerri said that Incredible Kids was a safe place for us all to play and it wasn’t busy.

How did you feel about your first week at Incredible Kids?

I stayed next to my mum when we first went. I loved the outside ramp, it had rained the night before and me and my brother Leon and sister Poppie, got really wet jumping in the massive puddle. No one told me off or told me to stop which was good. I had water inside my wellies and the people that worked there found it funny when I walked over and tipped the water out. The people were all really nice and I loved it and didn’t want to go home. We had biscuits and I was allowed to help make hot chocolate, which was fun.

Holly, how has your child James benefitted from Incredible Kids?

My children have the best time there, I try and go every Saturday morning to the quiet sessions as it’s a smaller group. They have been able to gain social interactions that they didn’t always have access to. We tried doing clubs outside of school and different trips out but these don’t always go too well and do cause a lot of stress for them but they love their weekly trips to Incredible Kids.

I have 4 children – James is 11, Leon is 8, Poppie is 5 and Oscar is 1 and a half. We started going when Oscar was a few months old. It is so safe and fun there that even Oscar can walk around and get involved in various activities. The staff are incredible, so fun and attentive to the children’s individual needs all round and never judge the children or the parents. I love how they get stuck in with the activities with the children and talk to them.

James, what do you enjoy most about Incredible Kids?

Every week we get to play with my cousins in a place where none of us get judged for doing the things we like to do. The people that work there make everything fun and there is always something new to do and if we want to do something, all we have to do is ask and they help us set it up. They always join in with us too and make things really fun.

Me, Leon, Poppie and my cousin Josh have been digging in the sand and adding water to make rivers and they have helped us get things to carry water or help us dig. Sometimes there are different people that visit, my favourite has been the Mad Science man who shows us experiments and we make slime.

We go to the morning sessions and we get to make our own toast with fruit, chocolate spread and strawberries. My brother Leon and my cousin Evie have been learning how to use a knife safely as well.

Holly, how have things changed for your family since joining Incredible Kids?

They have a safe space to run around and get out of the house every week and this has helped so much – not just for them but for me. I am able to have an adult conversation, seek any advice that I need, actually have some breakfast and watch my children have fun which doesn’t result in stress and dysregulation. I never thought I’d be able to take my children to a space that suits all their needs at the same time, it’s just amazing and we love it there.

Inspired to put the fun in fundraise? Find out ways to get involved with Incredible Kids.

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