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Disabled children can access “numerous other opportunities” for sport and leisure in Caerphilly, even if school holiday camps are discontinued, council officers have insisted.

Caerphilly County Borough Council is considering axing the camps because of low attendance.

On average, three children took part in the camps each day in recent years – and in some cases the participants had needs which were too complex for them to be involved in activities.

The council has run its disability sports camps in school holidays for more than 15 years, but now considers it is more appropriate to signpost families to other activities – run by the council and other organisations – which can offer more specialised support.

A recent council report shows families have a mixed view of the proposal.

Some children and parents welcomed the opportunity to take part in the camps during the holidays, while others wished to see a better-equipped team run the camps and make them more accessible to children with complex needs.

At a meeting of the council’s housing and environment committee, on Tuesday September 17, members heard that the camps are staffed by trained staff who specialise in leisure, rather than in care.

Jared Lougher, the council’s sport and leisure development manager, said staff had “lots of training”, but the complex needs of some children were beyond “a level we can provide” at the camps.

Instead, he said families would be better supported if children attended a variety of other events throughout the year, which are designed specially for children with disabilities, and often involve their schools or parents.

These include swimming galas, a Disability Six Nations rugby festival, and special bowls events – which will all continue, the committee heard.

Mr Lougher also told members that external funding for the council’s disability sport offer had reduced in recent years.

Mark Williams, the council’s corporate director for economy and environment, told councillors the proposal to close the camps “is not about saving money”, however.

The council currently makes a loss of around £10,000 annually on running the camps.

“The crux of this is numbers are dwindling significantly,” Mr Williams said. “Children are presenting with more complex needs.” 

He added: “There are better alternatives for those children.”

Cllr Shane Williams, chairing the meeting, said: “With those numbers it’s difficult to sustain [the sports camps].

“What we don’t want to see though, is people losing access to sports.”

Mr Lougher told the committee he planned to promote a sports directory that would help parents learn what they and their children could access across the county borough.

The committee’s comments will be presented to council cabinet members for a decision at a later date.