A brand-new £2.5M playground, Butlin’s SKYPARK has opened today at the home of entertainment’s Skegness resort – designed specifically so children of all abilities can play together, shoulder to shoulder.
The state-of-the-art playground is equipped with a wheelchair-accessible trampoline and roundabout, sit-up swings for support and sociability, and wheelchair-friendly walkways and ramp, to ensure no child is left on the side lines.
To celebrate the opening, new national research reveals the majority of parents believe children with additional needs do not receive sufficient support, with three quarters (75%) saying more should be done in this area.
Nearly seven in ten parents (69%) would welcome the opportunity for them and their children to learn more about children’s additional needs – including physical and sensory impairments, learning disabilities and autism. Butlin’s SKYPARK will provide a space for children and families of all abilities to come together, socialise and play.
What’s more, the research found that almost half of parents (44%) have had to cut back on play opportunities for their children in the last 12 months due to financial concerns. With parents on average spending £100 (£94.31) per month on paid for activities, such as assault courses and soft play.
Despite UK parents cutting back on paid for activities, they unveiled that the top skills they feel their children develop through socialising and playing with others include; confidence (55%), sharing (51%), cooperation (46%), patience (42%) and respect (41%).
Marking the official opening, TV personality and autism awareness campaigner, Christine McGuinness, visited Butlin’s SKYPARK to celebrate the brand-new playground. The star understands the importance of play for all abilities due to her own experience, having been diagnosed with disorder during adulthood, aged 33.
Christine is also mum to three children, Felicity, Leo and Penelope, who have all also been diagnosed with autism.
As an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, Christine is determined to raise awareness of the disorder, and champion the benefits of encouraging children of all abilities to play together.
Christine McGuinness, said about the launch: “It’s fantastic to be involved in the launch of Butlin’s SKYPARK. I know first-hand just how important play is for all children, but to have an environment where kids of all abilities can play together is really special.
“Children with additional needs such as autism can often lack confidence and need that extra support when it comes to communication. It’s really encouraging to hear that nearly 70% of UK parents are open to learning more about the additional needs some children have.
“By allowing kids to play and learn from each other, we’re helping to facilitate a better understanding for everyone.
“We know that taking part in regular exercise is great for all children’s cognitive development, and I’m really pleased to see Butlin’s taking the next steps in championing inclusivity by creating environments that allow children of all abilities to play together.”
In a league of its own with thrills and surprises, Butlin’s SKYPARK features four epic climbing towers with the tallest standing at 14 metres high, offering an incredible panoramic sea view. The new playground is also home to the UK’s longest interactive seesaw, at an impressive 24 metres long, children and adults can work together to generate enough energy to light up the area.
Jon Hendry-Pickup, CEO at Butlin’s, said: “As the home of entertainment, we’re really proud to be able to offer a playground that’s designed to be truly inclusive for all families – with Butlin’s SKYPARK included in the price of a break.
“Launching Butlin’s SKYPARK is an incredibly proud moment for us as a business and it is the first of many exciting investments we’re making across our three resorts in the next few years.
“Our new playground provides a safe, stimulating place for children of all abilities to play together. We can’t wait to see families enjoying our incredible new playground this Easter and beyond.”
To find out more about Butlin’s SKYPARK, including further information on different zones and key features, please visit: www.butlins.com/discover-butlins/things-to-do/skypark
