Meaningful outcomes of specialist leisure activities for children with complex disabilities: the views of parents, professionals and young people

Leisure activities during childhood are vital to quality of life and wellbeing, however parents report poor quality of life and infrequent leisure participation for children with complex disabilities. Sparkle, a charity in South Wales, delivers specialist leisure activities aimed at providing children with disabilities with access to the same opportunities as any other child. We explored the impact of this provision on psychosocial domains of quality of life for children with complex disabilities. Multi-source qualitative case studies including interviews and observations were conducted with: four children/young people - aged 8-15 years with diagnoses including autism, Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy - accessing Sparkle’s leisure activities; their parents/carers and leisure staff supporting them. Data were analysed using coding reliability thematic analysis. Three themes were generated: self-development, friendship and social interaction, and self and family wellbeing. An overarching theme of the need for a specialist provision enabled the other themes linked to positive outcomes for the children. We concluded that a specialist provision contributes to positive psychosocial outcomes linked to leisure participation for children with complex disabilities. Limitations, future research and implications for policy and practice are discussed.