F2F Play Centre »»

Please support the new Friend 2 Friend Play Centre.

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Imagine never knowing the joy of acceptance, understanding and friendships. For individuals on the autism spectrum (and related disorders) peer play and friendships are among the greatest challenges they may face throughout their life span. "Peers are necessities, not luxuries in human development." (Hartup, 2009)

Friend 2 Friend Play Centre

To address the needs of individuals with autism and related disorders, Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society is working to establish a new Play Centre located in East Vancouver, BC, Canada. This state-of-the-art Centre will provide children (ages 3-16) with individualized, innovative peer play programs, the first of their kind to focus on the core needs of children with autism and related special needs by combining the award-winning research based SCERTS®, Integrated Play Groups® and Friend 2 Friend models.

Support a Friend, Find a Friend, Be a Friend

How Can You Help?

Please support our efforts to raise awareness and support for this worthwhile cause. The following are ways you can help:

Donations: Every little bit helps! Please encourage family and friends to make donations directly to Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society using the above PayPal Donate button. (Every donation will receive a tax-deductible receipt.)
Sponsorship: Connect Friend 2 Friend with foundation or corporate sponsors (in the public or private sector) that would be interested in supporting this cause.
In-Kind Donations: We require all kinds of donations such as space, in kind services, silent auction items, supplies, materials, etc.
A Home: We are looking for a home for our new play centre in East Vancouver. If you know of a school, community centre or other locations available to lease please let us know.
Spread The Word: Help us spread the word about this great new centre by mentioning the Friend 2 Friend Play Centre or any of the Friend 2 Friend programs and services on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and encourage people to subscribe to our blog.

→ Play Centre Programs

In addition to F2F signature outreach programs: Friend 2 Friend Autism Demystification, Integrated Play Groups programs, publications, BC Community Capacity Project, Seminars and Training, the Friend 2 Friend Play Centre will operate year round offering onsite social, communication and peer play-based programs such as:

Early Childhood Play Groups Program

This program is designed for preschool aged children with autism and related special needs (ages 3-5) and their parents/caregivers. The program will bring together children of various abilities to support their social, communication development in peer play-based activities while providing model training to their caregivers. The program will also provide two 90-minute training sessions for the parents/caregivers to prepare them for the play group sessions, provide support and feedback and answer their questions. The goals of the Early Childhood Play Groups Program are to:

Enhance the social, communication and peer play skills of the children with autism (and related special needs) attending the program by combining the SCERTS®, IPG® and F2F models.
Model best practice methods for building social, communication and peer play skills for parents and caregivers.
Bring parents and caregivers together to share experiences and reduce their feelings of isolation.

Out of School Play Groups Program (After School, Weekend, Summer Camp Play Group)

The Out of School Play Groups Program is designed for school-aged children with autism and related special needs (ages 6-16). Combining the SCERTS®, IPG® and F2F models, this program offers children an opportunity to participate in the highly specialized play groups that work to foster social, communication, peer play and friendships between children with special needs and their peers. This program is especially important to children and families whose child may be struggling in the school environment, presently not in school or are home schooled and those who are unable to access highly specialized and structured play and social skills programs in school or community settings.

The Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society is committed to providing financially accessible programs to all children and families. We are a non-government funded, non-profit charitable organization. Therefore F2F raises all our own funds through the prevision of fundraising and program fees, sales and speaking engagements. All F2F programs are provided throughout British Columbia at a rate that is based on 1/3 of the actual cost of running the programs. F2F also offers programs and services (within BC) completely free of charge whenever funding is available.

→ Please contact our office for more information at friend2friend@shaw.ca.