Upcoming Events

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.

Smilers for ages 8-18 years on a Saturday morning, every 2 weeks. This week Made with Music will be leading fun and interactive singing and music session.

You can book onto the session here.

Made with Music is a charity in Leeds who provide accessible and educational live music experiences for families and young people. They use signing and singing to encourage learning and fun.

This session is for children aged 8-18 and Made with Music encourage everyone to join in to allow each individual to enjoy the personal and social benefits singing brings to a group.

Siblings are welcome. Bookings will close at 4pm on Friday. 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

Description

LS12 Creative is the home of Interplay Theatre’s participation work. Our monthly Sensory Open Days are themed differently each time to introduce new ideas, celebrate messy spaces, and promote play—whatever that means for you!

Designed for young people with learning disabilities, PMLD, and/or Autism, these sessions are led by the participants and our artists with very few rules or expectations. It is a relaxed, supportive environment where everyone can explore, create, and express themselves.

2026 Schedule (Saturdays)

• 11th April

• 9th May

• 6th June

• 4th July

• 1st August

• 12th September

• 3rd October

• 7th November

• 5th December

Session Times

• Morning: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

• Afternoon: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Essential Info

• Cost: FREE

• Location: Interplay Theatre, Armley Ridge Road, Leeds, LS12 3LE.

• Transport: Accessible via the 15, 16, 72, and 508 bus routes.

How to Book

Booking is required to help us plan activities and manage capacity.

• Email: takepart@interplaytheatre.org.uk

• Call: 0113 263 8556

• Text: 07444 229628

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

Our family swim sessions are a popular and fun all age activity. We run two sessions on a Saturday afternoon- 3:15pm-4:15pm and 4:15pm-5:15pm. These are available from 10am on the Saturday a week before the session and can fill up fast! You can book in up to 4pm on the Friday before the session. 

Click here to book Please enter details of everyone attending. There is the option to donate on booking, but absolutely no pressure to do so.
Swimming lessons

We are able to offer 8 swimming lessons per session with the qualified Bramley Baths swimming teachers. Priority is given to children and young people with Down Syndrome but if there are spaces on the day siblings and other family members can be given a lesson. You can request a lesson in the space on the online booking form.

Please note:-

• Non-swimmers will not be able to swim in the deep end (past the no armbands sign!) in accordance with Bramley’s Health & Safety policy.
• Please do not leave your belongings in cubicles. Please use the lockers provided to allow others to use the cubicles. The communal changing area is also open.

Our fortnightly football sessions are for children & young people aged 4-16. At the session we split the group and have a younger team and an older team.

Children and young people will need a parent or carer to be present throughout the session.

We have two fabulous coaches – Julie Earl and Iain.

Please click here to book.

Our fortnightly football sessions are for children & young people aged 4-16. At the session we split the group and have a younger team and an older team.

Children and young people will need a parent or carer to be present throughout the session.

We have two fabulous coaches – Julie Earl and Iain.

Please click here to book.

• 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.

Give your child the best possible start in life!
Join our My Time to Play programme, designed specifically for children aged 0–4 with vision impairment.

About the Programme

We offer fun and supportive group sessions to help your child develop practical skills and confidence through the power of play.

• Meet other parents and children
• Gain expert tips and guidance from our trained staff
• Support your child’s early development in a friendly, inclusive environment

Next Programme Details

📍 Location: Hemlington Lake & Recreation Centre
Cass House Road, Middlesbrough, TS8 9QW
📅 When: Fortnightly on Mondays
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

How to Sign Up

✅ Visit: guidedogs.org.uk/mttp
📧 Email: MTTPNewcastle@guidedogs.org.uk
📞 Call: 0800 781 1444

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is a registered charity in England, Wales, Scotland, and Isle of Man.

Join WheelPower and Luiz Faye for a FREE Online Adaptive Box-Fit Class from the comfort of your homes LIVE on Zoom. 

• Luiz Faye will be your fitness trainer for this live class from WheelPower. During this online class Luiz will be taking us through a 40-minute workout that includes a short warm-up and warm down.
• The new Adaptive Box-fit classes are the perfect introduction to the sport with no equipment needed, and are suitable for most people who are unable to participate in boxing from a standing position.
• The sessions are designed to incorporate functional fitness, strength and conditioning; paying particular attention to the transfer of adaptive boxing skills and drills to increase core stability, mobility and overall upper body strength.
• Although all our sessions feature an element of adaptive boxing, experience is not necessary. In fact, you don’t even need to take the sport out of your living room so there’s no pressure to jump in the ring!  Consider it to be boxing moves for the functional benefits and not for the fight!
• All the exercises are done from a seated position and can be adapted to suit varying abilities and fitness levels.  You must, however, be guided by your body and work out to suit your needs safely.

Example programme:

• 11:00 to 11:05 – Welcome and introduction
• 11:05 to 11:45 – Workout (approx. 40 minutes)
• 11:45 to 11:55 – Q&A opportunity
• 11:55 to 12:00 – WheelPower programmes

Location

In your home or garden!

Equipment

• A laptop/computer or phone to access the class via Zoom.
• A bottle of water

Online Adaptive Box-Fit Class with Luiz

Sunbeams is our youngest group and is for any children from birth (or even before!) to 4 years along with their siblings, parents and carers. It is a lovely time for playing, chatting and sharing a cuppa with other familes. We always end the group with a time of singing and signing which is popular with the little ones.

We would ask people to be mindful of the vulnerability of people with Down syndrome; please do not attend a face to face session if you are unwell with something that could be passed on to others –  we are grateful for your ongoing understanding and consideration of each other.

Contact
Phone: Weekday: 07442 332678 Weekend: 07472 320168
Email: hello@sunshineandsmiles.org.uk

• Description: Inclusive yoga sessions designed specifically for parent-carers to help manage stress and physical health.

• Date/Time: Mondays 11am-12pm & Wednesdays 1:15pm-2:15pm.

• Cost: £2 per session.

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

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

For parents / carers of children who are awaiting a referral to the neurodevelopmental diagnostic team, on the diagnostic pathway or post diagnosis of autism.

Children must be living in North Tyneside.

We have the following dates available:

Riverside Family Hub, NE29 6DQ
2nd Sept, 7th Oct, 4th Nov and 2nd Dec 2025
6th Jan, 3rd Feb, 3rd Mar, 7th Apr

Howdon Family Hub, NE28 0AL
9th Sept, 14th Oct, 11th Nov and 9th Dec 2025
13th Jan, 10th Feb, 10th Mar, 14th Apr

Shiremoor Family Hub, NE27 0TA
16th Sept, 21st Oct and 18th Nov
20th Jan, 17th Feb, 17th Mar, 21st Apr

Supporting your autistic child workshop
The workshop will cover:

• worries and action planning
• common misconceptions
• differences in autistic children
• practical strategies to use in everyday life

These sessions will run 10-12 and must be pre-booked.

One to one appointments
These appointments are for families that have questions or would like to discuss any issues in confidence.
These appointments are available between 9-10 and 12.30-4 and must be pre-booked.

To book please contact Rebecca Weatherstone on 0191 410 9974 or rebecca.weatherstone@ne-as.org.uk

A welcoming group for all children aged 0–5 and their families.

When:
Every Tuesday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
(Term-time only)

Where:
Sheffield Mencap, Norfolk Lodge
Park Grange Road, Sheffield, S2 3QF

What to Expect:

• Free of charge – no booking needed, just drop in!
• A chance to meet other parents
• Fun children’s activities, toys, and games
• Refreshments provided

Who is it for?
Families with children aged 0–5 looking for an inclusive, friendly environment to play and connect.