Upcoming Events

Dance21 is our high-energy dance group for young people aged 12 and over.

These sessions focus on creative movement, socialising, and fitness. It is a fantastic way for older young people to build their self-esteem, learn new routines, and catch up with friends every week.

Like our junior group, these sessions are led by Claire King, ensuring a supportive and expert-led environment for all participants.

• When: Every Thursday

• Time: 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm

• Where: Footsteps Theatre School, Idle, BD10 8PY

• Cost: £3.50 donation on entry (This allows our dancers to practice handling money and paying for their own sessions).

How to Join

We are always looking to welcome new faces to our dance family! If you would like to attend or have any questions about the sessions, please visit our website or get in touch.

Find out more: https://www.downsyndromebradford.com/

📍 Venue: Sensory World, Old Westgate, Dewsbury, WF16 7SX
📅 Day: Every Friday
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM

What’s On?

🧩 Games & Activities:

• Scrabble
• Telephone
• Other fun word and social games

🍴 Food & Drinks:

• Available throughout the session
• Licensed bar for refreshments

Who Can Join?

✅ All welcome!
This is a friendly, inclusive space for socialising, playing games, and enjoying good company.

Booking Details

📞 Call: 07801 065589
No booking fee – just come along and join the fun!

Working with schools can sometimes feel daunting, especially when you’re trying to make sure your young person’s needs are understood and supported. This time together will focus on preparing yourself for productive communication with teachers and staff. We’ll explore how to get ready for meetings so you feel confident, what information is most useful to share, and ideas on how to express concerns when you are possibly feeling under-supported. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to practical tools such as a meeting preparation checklist and ready-to-use communication templates to help you structure emails and conversations with staff. We’ll also look at strategies for keeping communication ongoing and finding approaches that work for your family and your young person.

Each in-person course will have a max of 15 attendees and will be in a Workshop format.

The course will run 10am-12pm and there will be lunch provided afterwards as well as time for questions for the in-person course. When booking, please do let me know of any dietary requirements. Bookings close a week before the event to allow planning.

We apologise – but these courses are not suitable for children and there is no childcare available.

Accessibility

– The ground is all one level
– There are disabled toilets and a Changing Place
– There is plenty of parking around the back of the building (including Blue Badge spaces) and more on the streets around the building.

Please do let us know if you have an access requirements.

Meet your Instructor

Laura is Autistic/PDA and ADHD herself. She is a Nurse and Sleep Consultant, Advocate, and also a parent to two Neurodiverse children. So she is living the life and talking the talk. Her speciality is support of Autistic/ADHD people, but her teaching is created in way that can be helpful for all families as the foundations are around mental health, strengthening family relationships and self-advocacy.

Website: www.laurahellfeld.co.uk

Funded by Leeds Parent Carer Forum

We’re proud to share that these Laura ND Nurse workshops have been fully funded by Leeds Parent Carer Forum, ensuring parents and carers can access this valuable, identity-affirming support at no cost. Their commitment helps make these sessions inclusive and accessible for families navigating autism and neurodiversity.

Book here: https://www.littlehiccups.co.uk/educational-informative/

Description: Enjoy a calming and restorative Baby Yoga session. Led by Kalma Life, these classes focus on gentle stretching and movement for your baby, promoting flexibility and relaxation. It’s a peaceful environment to connect with your child and share support with other neonatal families.

• When: Every Friday

• Time: 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

• Location: Ridgeway Family Hub (Kalma Life)

• Cost: Free for eligible families

• Eligibility: Open exclusively to families who have spent time on a neonatal unit in the North East and/or Transitional Care.

How to Book: https://www.tinylives.org.uk/meet-chat-learn/

The Active Lifestyles Group meets for two hours on a Friday afternoon for a two hour trip through some of Leeds’ finest parks. 

This group is free.

Most weeks there are about 10 members joining us, with support workers where required.

Our trips are reasonably gentle. They last for the full two hours with short stops for rests when somebody needs one. 

We aim for paths and grass, rather than scrambling up rocks.

We meet at a different venue each week. Examples of parks we visit are: Roundhay, Middleton and Golden Acre.

Absolutely FREE! 

Every Friday

13:00 until 15:00

Meet at the location, which will change every week

People can join by contacting Al Mayes on 0113 2443729 or al.mayes@peopleinaction.org.uk

Description: This nurturing session focuses on the benefits of infant massage, including improved sleep, digestion, and emotional bonding. Run by Kalma Life, it provides a quiet, safe space to learn soothing techniques while connecting with a community of parents who understand the neonatal experience.

• When: Every Friday

• Time: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

• Location: Ridgeway Family Hub (Kalma Life)

• Cost: Free for eligible families

• Eligibility: Open exclusively to families who have spent time on a neonatal unit in the North East and/or Transitional Care.

How to Book: https://www.tinylives.org.uk/meet-chat-learn/

Book here >

Online Beginners Yoga with Maddie from Poplar Yoga

Yoga with Maddie is a free session you can access via Zoom, please email or message if you would like the link to join.

Email: hello@sunshineandsmiles.org.uk 
Mob: 07442 332678

This is a 45 minute session where we will do some calm and relaxing sequences together via the Zoom app. We will start with lovely stretches to get the body moving and help us to feel energised, followed by moments of deep breathing and relaxation at the end. Take some time to relax and refresh, and you’ll leave feeling chilled for the rest of your day! It’s suitable for people who have never done Yoga before – no pressure to get anything perfect – just join in and make it your own! Participants take part at their own risk and we advise to follow along at the level you are comfortable with.

What to prepare:

1. Yoga mat or clear space for you to move
2. Pillows and blankets
3. A chair if you would like support when balancing
4. A yoga belt or dressing gown tie

Join us!

Contact
Phone: 07442 332678
Email: hello@sunshineandsmiles.org.uk

Twirly21s is a lovely continuation from our early development groups, designed specifically for children with Down syndrome aged 5 to 12.

These sessions are more than just a dance class; they provide a consistent space for parents and children to keep in touch, share experiences, and grow together. Our dancers focus on coordination, rhythm, and confidence in a fun, friendly environment.

Classes are delivered by Claire King, who has a wealth of experience working with young children with Down syndrome.

• When: Every Saturday

• Time: 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm

• Where: Footsteps Theatre School, Idle, BD10 8PY

• Cost: £2 donation on entry (Dancers are encouraged to pay at the door to help practice their independent money skills).

https://www.downsyndromebradford.com/

Children can also enjoy archery using safe inflatable equipment. This session runs on Saturdays from 9:30am to 10:15am at the Brierley site.

For more information or to book a place, email Jo at jo@snapsyorkshire.org.

SNAPS offers friendly, inclusive football sessions for children with additional needs and their siblings, aged 4–16. All abilities are welcome, with a focus on fun! Sessions run every Saturday between 9:30am and 1:30pm at the Broomfield site, with four one-hour classes tailored to different age groups and abilities.

Sunflowers for ages 2-8 on a Saturday morning, every 2 weeks.

This week will be a Yoga session with Debs

These sessions encourage children to explore their imagination and use their bodies through play and movement. Accessible to all – we use props, craft, music and singing to promote a creative environment full of fun.

You can book onto the session here. 

Siblings are welcome. Bookings will close at 4pm on Friday and please remember to cancel your place if you can no longer attend. Enjoy!

Siblings Welcome!

📍 Location:
Sensory World
Old Westgate
Dewsbury, WF13 1NB

🗓 When:
Every Saturday, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Starting 1st November

✅ For children and young people with SEND or suspected SEND.

Why You’ll Love It

• ✔ Fully accessible facilities
• ✔ Fantastic, friendly staff
• ✔ Inclusive and diverse environment
• ✔ Wide range of engaging activities
• ✔ Safe and secure setting
• ✔ Outdoor garden space

Cost: FREE
Contact for details: Sensory World 07801 065589

Location: Sensory World, Old Westgate, Dewsbury, WF13 1NB
Time: Saturdays, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Start Date: November 1

Join us for FREE inclusive clubs designed for children and young people with SEND or suspected SEND:

• Explorers Club (Ages 0–12)
• Teens Club (Ages 13–25)

Why You’ll Love It:
✔ Fully accessible facilities
✔ Friendly, experienced staff
✔ Embracing diversity
✔ Wide range of fun activities
✔ Safe and secure environment
✔ Outdoor garden space

Booking & Details:
Call 07801 065589 for more information

Saturday Stars groups run every Saturday morning during term-time. All groups are suitable for children from their reception year at school up to age 17.

Children are supported to progress towards their own personal goals within our core values: relationships, community, independence, confidence and wellbeing.

At the end of each term children receive a star certificate to celebrate their achievements.

All sessions are for children aged 5-17 years and are £4 per session, with spaces booked for the term and paid monthly. A free taster session is offered for all activities.

If interested, please email: childrensprojects@sheffieldmencap.org.uk or call 0114 2767757

We are pleased to feature this excellent transition event from NWY ASBAH to help families catch up after the school holidays.

Re-connect with friends after the busy summer break! This session brings teens and families together for an afternoon of casual bowling and friendly family rivalry on the lanes. It’s a great, low-pressure environment to share summer stories and ease into the autumn term.

• Target Audience: Families and Teenagers.

• Cost: Free for NWY ASBAH Members (Booking is essential).

• Date: Sunday 20th September

• Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

• Location: Hollywood Bowl Bradford, The Leisure Exchange, Vicar Lane, Bradford, BD1 5LD

🔗 How to Book: Visit www.nwyasbah.org/upcomingevents to secure your spot.

• Description: An informal group for parent-carers to discuss a monthly book and enjoy a bit of ‘me-time’.

• Date/Time: Every Monday (Starting 2nd February), 10:00am – 11:00am.

• Location: Grace House, Bardolph Drive, Sunderland, SR5 2DE.

• Contact: 0191 435 2088 | info@gracehouse.co.uk

Come along for a magical journey through sound, light and imagination in our free-flow open play session! Families are warmly invited to spend time exploring three unique sensory spaces designed to ignite wonder and relaxation:

• 🌧️ Rainforest Sensory Room – Immerse yourselves in the sights and sounds of the rainforest, where misty lighting, gentle animal calls, and tactile surprises bring nature to life.

• 🌌 Space Sensory Room – Blast off into an interstellar experience! Glide among glowing stars, soft projections and cosmic calm in this soothing, space-themed escape.

• 🎵 Music Room – Get playful with rhythm and melody in an inclusive space filled with instruments, musical toys, and joyful tunes for all ages and abilities.

🕒 Drop in, explore at your own pace, and connect with other families in a welcoming environment. Whether you’re seeking stimulation, tranquility or shared smiles, each room offers something a little different and every child is free to discover in their own way.

📍 Perfect for families of children with additional needs. Our team is here to ensure the experience is accessible, comforting and full of delight.

We also have a fully accessible changing area with hoist and full size medical bed.

Huge thanks to Baily Thomas Foundation for sponsoring these sessions.