The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 placed a requirement for all local authorities to produce a statement explaining what ‘short break services’ are available to disabled children and their families, and how they could access them.  We have to publish the statement online and review it annually so that information is updated whenever services change, or new ones are put in place.

It is important that we listen and respond to the views of children, parents, carers and professionals when developing its short breaks statement. The statement is for families and professionals living or working alongside children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) living in Warrington. It is a guide to the services and support offered, who can access them and how.

ADDvanced Solutions

ADDvanced Solutions Community Network encourages, supports and empowers the families of neurodiverse children and young people, who may also have specific learning difficulties or associated mental health needs.

Our engaging, community-based learning, coaching and mentoring programmes will help you and your family to better recognise, understand and meet your individual needs, enabling you to manage your day-to-day challenges.

Website: addvancedsolutions.co.uk

Astro Academy Warrington

Based in Penketh, we are a non-profit offering fun, inclusive cheerleading and tumbling classes for everyone ages 3+.

Our team is focused on creating the best experience for everybody that enters our gym. We strive to help athletes gain skills in a fun inclusive environment. All of our team are continuously learning, upping their skills and learning the best ways to teach each individual athletes. 

Website: astroacademywarrington.com

Buddy Up (Warrington Youth Zone)

Buddy Up is a befriending programme, designed to support children and young people with additional needs, who are at risk of social isolation.  Young people referred into the programme, are paired up with a volunteer “Buddy”; who will then support the young person to access the Youth Zone (Please note that Buddy Up referrals cannot be accepted for young people who qualify for Direct Payments).  For a very informal chat on the service, please get in touch with the Buddy Up Project Co-ordinator, Nuvvy Sibia on 07432 640 939.

Website: warringtonyouthzone.org/young-people/buddy-up/

Down Syndrome Cheshire

We support people of all ages with Down syndrome to unlock their potential and lead happy and fulfilling lives by changing perceptions, creating opportunities and educating the wider community.

Website: dscheshire.org.uk

Families United (Warrington)

Families United has supported families who have a child or young person with a disability since 2003. We have developed a local support network within our group led by 4 of our trustees whom themselves have a child who has a disability. The whole family are provided with the opportunity to attend a variety of local activities & trips, increasing health, wellbeing and social opportunities for our members. We unite our families so that they find support in each other through shared experiences, strategies and the understanding of the impact that having a child with SEND can have in family life.

Website: familiesunited.org.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/familiesunitedwarrington

Friends for play

Friends – Play for Disabled Children are a registered charity supporting families in St Helens and the surrounding areas.  The charity was set up in October 2012 by two parents with disabled children.

We aim to bring families of disabled children in St Helens & the surrounding area together to play through events, trips, days out and to provide a support network for those families to help prevent isolation.

Website: friendsplay.org.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/FriendsPlaySH 

Gravity Active

Move, groove, jump and shout – get up and go to Gravity Active! Its just about the most fun you can have while keeping fit and healthy. Our SEN sessions provide a unique opportunity for individuals with special educational needs to engage in physical activity, promoting overall health and wellbeing.

Website: gravity-global.com

Penketh Gymnastics Club

We are a local not-for-profit gymnastics club, established in 2006. We have been in our own unit since 2017 and offer weekly recreational gymnastics classes for boys and girls of school age. Squad and GymFusion gymnastics, preschool classes and have recently added some SEN classes. We offer holiday clubs for members and non-members over the school summer holidays and term time breaks.

Website: penkethgymnastics.co.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/PenkethGym

Riding for the disabled

At Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), our horses benefit the lives of over 20,000 disabled children and adults. With fun activities like riding and carriage driving, we provide therapy, fitness, skills development and opportunities for achievement – all supported by 13,000 amazing volunteers and qualified coaches at over 400 RDA centres all over the UK.

RDA is an inclusive and diverse organisation. We welcome clients with physical and learning disabilities and autism, and there are no age restrictions. Through our network of member groups, RDA is at work in every corner of the UK, in our cities and remote rural areas, bringing the therapy, achievement and fun of horses to as many people as we can.

Website: rda.org.uk/about-us/

Warrington Parents and Carers

WarrPAC are a warm and welcoming group of volunteers, each with lived experience of caring for a child or young person with disabilities and additional needs. We can help by signposting families to the right services and sharing a wealth of information, whether your child has a diagnosis, or you are just starting to look for information. We run sessions and events where parents can chat and share knowledge and experiences with other families in similar situations. WarrPAC listen to families to find out what is important to them and take their views to those who plan and provide services in Warrington, working in partnership to help improve the quality of life for our children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
 

Website: warrpac.org

Facebook: facebook.com/warrpac

Warrington Wolves Community Foundation

We offer activities including sport, arts and social clubs for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities throughout the week. All our sessions are at a low cost, and there is no need to be able to attend the session each week. We also offer other amazing opportunities throughout these clubs, including dancing on the pitch at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, trips to theatres and tourist attractions, taking part in friendly tournaments around the country with other Rugby League and Football teams, chances to meet the Warrington Wolves players and more!

Website: warringtonwolvesfoundation.com

Facebook: facebook.com/wolvesfoundation

Wheels for all

Wheels for All is a national accessible cycling charity which promotes inclusive cycling through a range of successful community engagement programmes that give people the opportunity to cycle on a regular basis; through help, support and guidance.

Website: wheelsforall.org.uk

WYZ - Warrington Youth Zone

Warrington Youth Zone is a purpose-built state of the art facility for the town’s young people aged 7 – 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs. It builds on the fantastic work and legacy of Warrington Youth Club. Officially opened on 2nd July 2022, the Youth Zone is located on Dallam Lane, close to Warrington Central Station and Warrington Bus Station. Warrington Youth Zone is based upon the successful OnSide Youth Zones Model, where members will have access to state-of-the-art facilities for a cost of £5 per year and only 50p per visit. Inside the Youth Zone young people will have a choice of over 20 fun and engaging activities every day including sports, arts, music, media, dance, drama, cooking, employability and enterprise workshops, and much more.

Website: warringtonyouthzone.org/young-people/springboard

Facebook: facebook.com/WarringtonYouthZone