About us
Since 1976, we have been facilitating adventure and nature play opportunities for children and young people with disabilities and complex care needs, whilst providing vital respite for their families and carers.
Our five-acre woodland in Redbridge plays host to an ancient orchard, a nature reserve and the biggest specialist adventure playground in the country!
Overview
ELHAP opened in 1976 and for 47 years has delivered adventure play opportunities to disabled and disadvantaged children and young people from across North East London and Essex. ELHAP is one of only eight specialist adventure playgrounds for disabled children in the whole of the UK. Set in a 5 1/2 acre woodland site, ELHAP is the biggest specialist adventure playground in the country.
Our Values
In asserting children, young people and adults right to accessible, free and real adventure play opportunities, ELHAP believes in:
respecting the dignity and self-worth of each young person
respecting and valuing individual differences
recognising the growing autonomy of each person
respecting every person’s right to make choices regarding their lives
recognise the potential of each person
Our Vision
Through adventure play and its binding principles of respect, choice and trust all people, regardless of ability or dis-ability, are equal and free to develop to their full potential.
Our Mission
To provide inclusive, natural and stimulating adventure play and related recreation to all children, young people and adults who are disadvantaged through disability, adversity or difficult life experience through the provision of accessible, user led and friendly services to families in need.
A brief history
Whilst working with local playgroups in the early 1970's, Mrs Diana Casswell first had the idea that certain children she was working with would benefit from adventure play. From this idea Diana Casswell, along with her husband Reverend Peter Casswell, set about starting the first adventure playground for children with disabilities outside of inner London.
From the beginning, a group of committed and experienced people joined the management committee to see the creation of ELHAP. The first major hurdle was to find a suitable site for an adventure playground and by 1976 negotiations had been completed with the charity Barnardo's for use of this site. Work to adapt it began immediately. A workable area had to be fenced off, structures and play facilities built and pathways laid. Indoor adaptations also had to be made including additional toilet accommodation together with provision for wet weather activities. In 1976 ELHAP opened, being well used from the start and as facilities and awareness grew the playground became increasingly popular.
ELHAP was the third adventure playground specially built for children and young people with disabilities. It remains one of only eight specialist adventure playgrounds in the UK. Drummond Abernethy, with his wealth of adventure play experience, used to describe ELHAP as the "very best adventure playground for children with special needs".
