SeriousFun
Supporting inclusive operations at a children’s network
SeriousFun Children’s Network is a global organisation, founded by Paul Newman, that provides children with serious illnesses and medical conditions with a camp experience to remember. Whilst children are busy with all the making, doing, movement and celebration that camp has to offer, parents and caregivers can rest assured that SeriousFun provides the medical care and support needed to ensure camps are as safe as they are fun and fulfilling.
SeriousFun got in touch with Mima as they wanted to support their global network of staff in building their knowledge base surrounding non-visible impairments and neurodiversity, and encourage thought and action relating to social accessibility, or the positive mentality and perception of disabled people and those with other protected characteristics.
Our Task
Since the spring of 2021, we’ve been working with SeriousFun to develop training sessions and workshops that share practical information and knowledge, balance theory with interactivity, and provide top tips on how to make camp environmental designs and experiential operations more inclusive, particularly to campers and colleagues who may not have visible, physical or permanent impairments. Our virtual sessions have been duplicated to fit several time zones, and translated into numerous languages to ensure all participants are empowered to engage, regardless of where they live or the SeriousFun role they work in. We’ve regularly set workshop participants group tasks, from general design discussions to the creation of camp and caregiver personas who require accessible and inclusive solutions to be able to fully participate in SeriousFun activities. Feedback from workshop participants and organisers alike has been fantastic and we are thrilled to be able to work with an organisation that continually has inclusion at its heart.
Our Solution
We have now created and delivered three bespoke training modules and a supporting toolkit for SeriousFun to support their inclusivity journey, both on-the-ground at camp and within their own internal ‘office’ culture. We are keen to take our collaboration to the next level with further workshops, and also by exploring volunteering opportunities for Mima employees at SeriousFun camps in the UK and beyond. Watch this space!
