Children's services
A whole load of sass, smiles, and surprises at school holiday programme in Walsall
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The Mayor of Walsall and local families enjoyed a fun-filled, variety-show themed afternoon in Bloxwich last week, as part of the council’s successful Holiday Activity and Food programme.
‘Sassy’s Got Talent’, hosted by Sassy Sensory Surprises was an afternoon for eligible families to come along and get involved with a variety of different activities.
Hosted at Bloxwich Active Living Centre, families took part in dancing, magic tricks, yoga exercises, circus acts, singing and plenty more quirky talents.
Sassy Sensory Surprises is one of seventy-five different providers that deliver the council’s Holiday Activity and Food programme, also known as the HAF.
Their mission is to deliver diverse, inclusive, sensory sessions and leisure activities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, catering to a wide range of interests and abilities.
Activities include things such as fun days, circuits, arts and crafts, music and dancing sessions, light-up sports, animal encounters, magic shows, discos, and adapted swimming and sports.
Toni Leigh, Director at Sassy Sensory Surprises CIC, said, “Myself and the sassy team were absolutely thrilled with the outcome of our new event, Sassy’s Got Talent. We wanted to show our children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) that anything is possible, that you can try new things, dream big, and be whoever you want to be.
"We are incredibly grateful to be able to showcase our inclusive provision within Walsall. For us, it’s about reaching as many SEND families as we can, because we understand how limited SEND provisions can be, and how vital it is that children receive the right support on the HAF programme and feel included.
"Our inclusive sensory sessions are truly unique. The sassy team takes the time to connect with families on a personal level, and it's that personal touch that makes the biggest difference. As a parent of a child with SEND myself, I understand the challenges families face in accessing inclusive, sensory-friendly services. That’s why I’m passionate about making sure our spaces are welcoming, accessible, and supportive for all the family.
"We give our heartfelt thanks the council’s HAF team for their continued support over the years. We look forward to continuing our work together to bring more, inclusive SEND friendly events for families across the Walsall borough.”
“ What a brilliant time we had at Sassy’s Got Talent last week. The whole afternoon was jam-packed with joy from the second I arrived.
From plate spinning to Bhangra workshops, to good old fashioned bean bag games, there really was something for everyone to get involved with and have fun.
The HAF programme provides wonderful experiences to the borough’s children and young people during the school holidays, and I congratulate and thank all the team at Sassy Sensory Surprises for inviting me to such a fantastic event. “
Walsall Council was awarded £1.7m of funding from the Department for Education (DFE) to deliver the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in 2025, which supports the council’s mission to ensure children are happy, healthy and well.
The programme is aimed at children and young people aged 5 to 16 years eligible for free school meals and offers activities for them to learn and develop new skills, form friendships, do things they enjoy or try something new, all whilst benefitting from a healthy and nutritious lunch.
More information about the HAF programme and what it offers can be found on the council’s website: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/children-and-young-people/holiday-activities-programme-haf
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