A bit of history
The concept was a light bulb moment on a family holiday in Lapland whilst using a kid’s venue.
It was so good we hung out there everyday at some point to get warmed up and chill. By the end of the four days, my then eight-year-old son and I starting planning what our version would look like and we pinkie promised we would open something in Southend, where we live, work, go to school and hang out.
As parents to an only child, we always have other friends hanging out at our place. This venue is designed specifically for 8 - 12 years old children as they want to be with friends, but not 100% ready for the big wide world, just yet. Other well behaved kids can book too.
As an executive assistant, trainer and business manger who has worked in local authorities, charities and the private sector, I also know the challenges of booking a truly accessible relaxing affordable venue. We are also a meeting venue for community groups, events and local businesses.
Association of Indoor Play (AIP)
The Association of Indoor Play (AIP) is the Trade Association for the indoor play sector in the United Kingdom. Who are a not for profit organisation set up to be the voice of the Indoor Play Sector.
The Association was formed at the start of the COVID pandemic by a group of seasoned national indoor softplay providers with over 150 years of combined experience with the aim of creating a specific and targeted vehicle to represent the smaller operators in this specialised sector. AIP are Members of UK Hospitality, with whom we act to advise on government legislation for indoor play. AIP is also accredited with Visit England/Visit Britain and are Members of IAPPA - The Global Association for the Attractions Industry.
Aims of the Association
To raise the profile of the benefits of indoor play with the public and the Government;
- To raise the profile of the benefits of indoor play with the public and the Government;
- To raise the standards and reward excellence within the industry;
- To have a community where operators can discuss issues and access core industry information
Benefits of play
https://www.playengland.org.uk state the benefits of play as follows - “Research shows that play has many benefits for children, families and the wider community, as well as improving health and quality of life”.
Recent research suggests that children’s access to good play provision can:
Increase their self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-respect
Improve and maintain their physical and mental health
Give them the opportunity to mix with other children
Allow them to increase their confidence through developing new skills
Promote their imagination, independence and creativity
Offer opportunities for children of all abilities and backgrounds to play together
Provide opportunities for developing social skills and learning
Build resilience through risk taking and challenge, problem solving, and dealing with new and novel situations
Provide opportunities to learn about their environment and the wider community
OUR IMPACT
OUR VISION
To run a successful and sustainable venue specifically designed for 8 – 12-year-olds.
We are not a childcare facility so they will need a responsible adult. There will be an adult’s area where they can chill and pop their head in to see how the children are, and the children in turn can check in with their adult, if they want to.
When the children are at school, our venue will be available for private hire as a meeting space. It will be a relaxed professional fully accessible venue, with capacity for fifty delegates and breakout space.
OUR VALUES
We can’t be everything to everyone, but what we are will inspire, be sustainable, genuine, and successful.
We will work hard and make decisions in intentional ways, so our profit enables us to make a social difference and a good living for our family and employees.
Every person will feel welcome, supported, safe and included.
Whilst we are not a charity will be doing lots of work to support others and ensure our venue is truly accessible, inclusive, sustainable, and inspirational.
We truly aspire to being sustainable and have already started acquiring comfortable furniture and equipment from friends and sites such as freecycle for the hang out venue.
The children will use real plates, sit on sofas, and not have to worry about spilling their hot chocolate or food, but they will be encouraged to respect their space.
OUR MISSION
We are a social enterprise. Like any other business, we seek to make a profit, succeed commercially by trading in goods and services, but we reinvest or donate at least half of our profits. Like a not-for-profit we have a permanent, locked-in commitment to a social and environmental benefit and aspire to demonstrate a better way to do business.
Our commitment of how we operate, who we employ, how we use the majority of our profits to further our mission is also key;
By the end of year one, we aspire to buy a mini-bus for local adventures, conduct local history tours and outings.
By the end of year two, we want to buy a beach hut, so local families can use. We live in the driest sunniest part of the UK with hundreds of unused beach huts waiting to hear children's laughter.
By the end of year five we hope to launch The Pull Up. We will buy a large house and split into two flats. This will be compassionate, supportive accommodation for two families dealing who have fallen on challenging times. It will be available for two years. This will enable the whole family, adults included can take time to pull themselves up.
To be a social enterprise:
- we are primarily motivated, designed and driven by the depth of our desire to make a positive difference in the world, and must:
- have a clear social or environmental mission set out in our governing documents and be controlled in the interest of that mission.
- be independent of state or government control and earn more than half of its income through trading.
- re-invest or donate at least half of our profits or surpluses towards their mission.
- be transparent in the way we operate and the impact they have.
There are more than 131,000 social enterprises in the UK, contributing £60bn to the economy and employing around 2.3 million people. Many outperform other businesses when it comes to growth and service innovation, reducing inequalities, creating jobs, and building a more inclusive economy.
Research shows that social enterprises are more representative of wider society than other businesses with a greater number led by women and people from racialised communities. Social enterprises across the UK are empowering communities, paying more fairly and engaging staff and beneficiaries in decision -making.
The Hang Out Venue Ltd Company number: 15578873 VAT registration number: 474628265 © Copyright. All rights reserved.
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