What’s Happening?
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Children & Young People’s Bulletin – Week Beginning: 06 July 2026
💙 Welcome
Hello everyone!
Welcome to our July Children & Young People’s Bulletin.
Summer has arrived, and we have an exciting programme of activities and opportunities for children and young people with sight loss. Whether you enjoy outdoor adventures, getting creative, trying new sports, cooking, or simply spending time with friends, there’s something for everyone this summer.
Our activities are designed to help build confidence, independence, friendships and life skills in a fun, safe and welcoming environment.
Please note: Booking is essential for all Croydon Vision activities as places are limited.
👩🍳 NEW! Join Team Croydon Vision – Croydon Cooks Youth Award 2026
Calling all young chefs aged 9–16 years!
Are you passionate about food, cooking, culture, creativity, or simply having fun with friends?
Croydon Vision would love to enter a team into the Croydon Cooks Youth Award 2026, and we’re looking for young people aged 9–16 years to join us.
This exciting competition celebrates the cultures, communities and stories that make Croydon special while helping young people develop confidence, teamwork and cooking skills.
🍽️ The Competition
🥘 Stage 1 – Digital Heats (Summer 2026)
Create a short video about a dish that is special to you, your family or your culture.
🥗 Stage 2 – Cooking Heats (Summer Holidays)
Work together as a team to prepare a delicious two-course meal while judges visit to see your skills in action.
👨🍳 Stage 3 – Grand Final (Christmas Holidays)
Finalists will cook in a professional kitchen and create an exciting three-course meal using surprise ingredients.
🌟 Why Take Part?
- ✅ Learn cooking and life skills
- ✅ Meet new friends
- ✅ Build confidence and independence
- ✅ Work as part of a team
- ✅ Celebrate your culture and community
- ✅ Have lots of fun!
- 💚 Full Support Provided
Funding, ingredients and guidance are all provided throughout the competition.
The Croydon Vision team will support you every step of the way.
We’d love to hear from young people who:
- 🍕 Love cooking
- 🌮 Want to learn something new
- 🥘 Enjoy trying different foods
- 😊 Simply want to have fun!
To register your interest, please tell us:
- Your name
- Your age
- Your favourite meal
- Why you’d like to be part of Team Croydon Vision
Let’s show Croydon what the Croydon Vision community can do!
🥋 NEW! Martial Arts Confidence Programme
- Build Confidence
- Learn New Skills
- Have Fun
Have you ever wanted to try martial arts?
Join our exciting martial arts sessions where you’ll develop:
- 🥋 Confidence
- 💪 Fitness and coordination
- ⭐ Self-belief
- 🤝 Teamwork
- 😊 New friendships
The sessions are designed to be inclusive, welcoming and suitable for beginners.
Whether you’ve never tried martial arts before or already have some experience, everyone is welcome.
- 📌 Booking Essential
🌟 Join the Croydon Vision Young People’s Team (14+)
”
- Every Monday | 5.00pm – 8.00pm
- 📍 Croydon Vision
Do you want to:
- ✨ Meet other young people with sight loss?
- 🎯 Build confidence and independence?
- 🤝 Develop leadership and teamwork skills?
- 🎉 Help plan trips, activities and events?
- 💬 Have your voice heard?
- 🌍 Represent Croydon Vision locally and nationally?
The Young People’s Team is your opportunity to shape the future of our Children & Young People’s Service while making new friends and developing valuable life skills.
Come along and get involved!
🎉 SAVE THE DATE -🌭 Croydon Vision Summer Fundraising BBQ
- 📅 Friday 24th July
- 🕛 12.00pm – 4.00pm
Join us for one of Croydon Vision’s biggest community events of the summer!
- 🍔 Delicious BBQ
- 🎵 Live music
- 🎨 Arts & crafts
- 🎲 Fun games
- 🍰 Tasty food and refreshments
- 🎁 Activities for all ages
- 😊 Meet old friends, make new ones and support Croydon Vision.
🎟️ Tickets are selling fast and are nearly sold out!
Please contact Croydon Vision to book your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
☀️ Croydon Vision Summer Holiday Programme
🌳 Woodland Walk & Picnic
- 📅 Saturday 11th July
- 🕙 10.00am – 2.00pm
- 📍 High Elms Country Park
- 🚌 Meet at Croydon Vision at 10.00am for minibus travel.
- 📌 Booking Essential
🦋 Happy Valley Nature Evening
- 📅 Friday 17th July
- 🕟 4.30pm – 7.30pm
- 🧺 Picnic
- 🦋 Butterfly Count
- 🪁 Kite Flying (weather permitting)
- 📌 Booking Essential
🎢 Chessington World of Adventures
- 📅 Monday 3rd August
- 🕘 9.00am – 5.00pm
- 📌 Booking Essential
🏖️ Margate Seaside Adventure
- 📅 Tuesday 4th August
- 🕘 9.00am – 5.00pm
- Enjoy the beach, Dreamland, the historic Old Town and traditional seaside fun.
- 📌 Booking Essential
🎬 Accessible Cinema
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists
- 📅 Monday 17th August
- 🕦 11.45am – 2.00pm
- 📍 Vue Cinema, Purley
- 📌 Booking Essential
🏺 Emma’s Pottery Parlour
Paint Your Own Mug
- 📅 Tuesday 18th August
- 🕙 10.00am – 1.00pm
- 🎨 Get creative
- ☕ Paint your own mug
- 🏡 Take your masterpiece home
Only 10 places available
- 📌 Booking Essential
🎨 Arts, Crafts & Games
- 📅 Wednesday 19th August
- 🕙 10.00am – 1.00pm
- 📍 Croydon Vision
- 📌 Booking Essential
🌍 National Opportunities
💜 VICTA
💙 RNIB Youth Connect
❤️ Thomas Pocklington Trust
🏅 British Blind Sport
Explore activities, residentials, sports, workshops and social opportunities throughout the year.
📍 Local Activities
🏊 Better Croydon Leisure Centres
📚 Croydon Libraries
🌳 Croydon Council – What’s On
🦋 Big Butterfly Count
Check their websites for accessible activities taking place across the summer.
📅 Dates for Your Diary Croydon Vision
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Every Monday | 🌟 Young People’s Team |
| 11 July | 🌳 Woodland Walk & Picnic |
| 17 July | 🦋 Happy Valley Nature Evening |
| 24 July | 🌭 Croydon Vision Summer Fundraising BBQ |
| 3 August | 🎢 Chessington World of Adventures |
| 4 August | 🏖️ Margate Seaside Adventure |
| 17 August | 🎬 Accessible Cinema |
| 18 August | 🏺 Emma’s Pottery Parlour |
| 19 August | 🎨 Arts, Crafts & Games |
💚 Book Your Place
All Croydon Vision activities require advance booking and places are limited.
If you have any accessibility requirements or need transport support, please let us know when booking.
We look forward to seeing you this summer!
Together we can build a service that is inclusive, creative, and shaped by young people’s voices 💛
Angela Ben-Arie
Children & Young People’s Engagement Coordinator
- 📞 07742 410262
- ✉️ angela.b.arie@croydonvision.org.uk
📩 Contact Us:
- Angela: angela.b.arie@croydonvision.org.uk
- Sarah: sarah.morgan@croydonvision.org.uk
- Daniel: daniel.ojobo@croydondropin.org.uk
- 📞 Reception: 020 8688 2486
- 📱 X: @CroydonVision
- 📸 Instagram: @croydon_vision
💛 Please consider donating:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/croydon-vision-bridge-the-gap