Holidays, Play & Leisure Information for the Disabled
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The Short Break Network - England, Wales & Northern Island
01749 689 259 |
The Short Breaks Network is the Co-ordinating body for the short break sector working with local authorities, voluntary sector and other short break providers, partners and practitioners. They have information about short breaks and links to where to go to get a short break in your area.
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Shared Care Scotland
01383 622462 |
Shared Care Scotland has accessible, up-to-date information and advice to those who use, provide or plan short break services. They have a national online database which includes holidays accommodation and activity programmes that are accessible to disabled children and young people.
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Smart Play Network (Scotland)
0131 664 2746
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The smart Play Network is a Scottish charity supporting toy libraries and play services. They have projects in Dundee, Fife and Edinburgh.
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Linn Park Adventure Playground, Glasgow (Scotland)
0141 633 1493
www.glasgowlife.org.uk/communities/facilities/pages/linn-park-adventure-playground.aspx
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Play centre for children aged 5 - 12 with additional support needs. They have sensory room and do arts and crafts activities. They have a large outdoor space, including climbing frame, sandpit, chute, swings, wheelchair swings and lots more. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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The Yard, Edinburgh (Scotland)
0131 4764506 |
The Yard is a purpose built indoor and outdoor adventure playground in Edinburgh for children and young people with disabilities. They run several youth clubs, a transition club and activity sessions for schools during the week.
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KIDS (England)
020 7359 3635 |
KIDS offer practical help and support to disabled children, young people and their families across England, including specialist nurseries and chèches, short breaks, play schemes, youth groups and siblings support groups, plus training (in Makaton, for example), and keyworking for parents.
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The Calvert Trust (Exmoor, Kielder & Lake District)
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This charity specialises in accessible activity adventures for people of all ages with all types of disability. Accommodation is fully accessible, (the Exmoor centre has only 5 star rated activity accommodation in the country!) The Calvert Trust offers adventure activities like abseiling, sailing, canoeing, archery, horse riding, carriage driving, climbing and many others.
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Phab England & Wales
020 8667 9443
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A charity dedicated to inclusive clubs, holidays, annual summer programmes of activities, sailing, short breaks and adventure holidays for disabled and non-disabled children.
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FABB Scotland (Facilitating Access and Breaking Barriers)
0131 475 2313
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A charity dedicated to inclusive clubs, holidays, annual summer programmes of activities, sailing, short breaks and adventure holidays for disabled and non-disabled children. |
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Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card (UK)
0845 123 1292 |
UK wide card scheme for participating cinemas. The card holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person to go to the cinema with them. To apply for the card, you or your child will need to meet one of the following criteria:
The card is valid for one year from the date of issue and currently costs £5.50. |
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The Stagecoach Charitable Trust
01932 254333 |
Charity trust runs free drama, music and movement classes for children and young people with disabilities aged 9 - 19. Designed to grow self-confidence, independence and life skills, the classes are run by qualified teachers and helpers.
Covers Bristol, Colchester, Eastleigh, Hampton, Isleworth, Llanelli, Oxford, Plymouth, Walton-on-Thames and Leeds. |
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Cedar Foundation (NI)
028 9066 6188 |
Nothern Ireland charity that delivers a range of services, including youth work, trips to the cinema, canoeing and other leisure activities for disable children and young people. They work throughout Northern Ireland. |
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Mencap (NI)
The Northern Ireland Learning Disability Helpline:- 0808 808 1111 helpline.ni@mencap.org.uk |
Mencap offer a range of youth services and projects in Northern Ireland for children and young people with a learning disability. They have a play adviser and run a summer scheme. |
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The Disable Photographers' Society (UK)
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Offers technical support and help for disabled photographers and information on all aspects of photography for people with disabilities.
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Indoor Play and leisure resources
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Sensory Toy Warehouse
0151 647 0864 |
A website set up by a parent which stocks accessibly-priced, tactile, interactive and stimulating multi-sensory resources, special needs toys and extraordinary novelties for disabled children. Prices start from under £1. |
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The Letterbox Library
020 7543 7502 |
The letterbox Library has a catalogue of disability-related books for children with disabilities and their siblings, and for school or other settings, that promote understanding and explain 'difference' for all ages from babies to eleven years old.
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Calibre Audio Library
01296 432 339 |
UK charity that lends audio books through a free, nationwide postal service. Young Calibre isa free postal library bringing the fun of audio books for anyone under 16 who can't see properly, or has dyslexica or another disability which makes it difficult to read ordinary print. Over 16's can join the main library. |
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ITV Signed Stories
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Signed Stories helps improve the literacy of deaf children from infancy upwards by allowing them to share in the joy of storytelling. The website also provides useful advice and guidance for for parents, carers and teachers of deaf children, and for the deaf parents of hearing children. |
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BBC Ouch
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw
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For older teenagers and adults, Ouch explores the disability world in blog posts and monthly internet radio talk show. |
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Disability Arts Online
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An online journal for discussion of arts and culture, giving disabled and deaf artists, performers, film-makers, writers, and critics a place to talk about and share artistic practice. |
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Shut Up and Listen
www.carousel.org.uk/projects/shut-up-and-listen/
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Broadcasts every month, Shut Up and Listen radio shows are available anytime to listen to and download from the website. Shut Up and Listen is the only place on the radio to hear music made by artists with a learning disability. |
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Living Paintings (UK)
01635 229 771 |
This free postal library supports blind and partially sighted adults, children and young people. They make tactile versions of pictures that come to life when fingers feel them. Audio descriptions tell the pictures’ stories while directing the fingertips across the tactile image, describing what is being touched, felt and ‘seen’. The tactile story books for children also include clear braille sheets between each page of text so they can read the text story themselves. Free postage in the UK. |
| Disability Sport | |
| WheelPower (UK)
01296 395995 |
WheelPower promotes equality for people with physical disabilities around the UK by organising introductory and competitive sport for children and adults. They list sports and where to find your nearest centre to play them. They also run a number of events, including youth sport camps. |
| Scottish Disability Sport
0131 317 1130 |
Leading the development of sport in Scotland for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability. |
| Disability Sport - Wales
0300 300 3115 |
Develops sporting and physical activity opportunities for disabled children and people. They have details of disability sport coaches throughout Wales and a Community database where you can find your nearest club by sport and disability. |
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Disability Sport - Northern Ireland
028 9046 9925 |
Runs a range of events, participation programmes, training courses and services, all designed to give local disabled children and adults the opportunity to lead a full and active lifestyle through sport and physical recreation. |
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English Federation of Disability Sport
01509 227750 |
Represents the sporting and physical activity interests of disabled people and organisations in England. Provides inclusion training for sport for you, clubs, and examples of good practice. |
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Freedom in the Air (UK)
01234 752 272 |
A charity giving disabled youngsters the opportunity to fly, either in a light aircraft, or to pilot an aircraft with full supervision of aviation safety practices. Family members are welcome. |
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Areobility (UK)
0303 303 1230
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Aerobility is a user-led charity providing opportunities in aviation for individuals with disabilities. Whether it is a trial flight, a fun aviation education session or a trip in a flight simulator, there is something for everyone. Aerobility aims to break down barriers to participation so that as many people as possible can enjoy the magic of flight. |
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Level Playing Field (England, Wales & Scotland)
01244 893584 |
Level Playing Field (LPF) is the national charity for England and Wales resenting disable fans of all sports together with their personal assistants and advocates. Level Playing Field acts as a campaigning and advisory organisation to its membership across all sports. On the website, you’ll find information on disabled fans’ facilities at clubs and stadia in England, Wales and Scotland. You can also read reports, guides, and general disabled supporter information. |
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Days Out
Many major attractions and organisations in the UK allow a parent or other carer accompanying a disabled person free entry. Venues should have accessibility information on their websites or you can call them in advance. It’s worth giving places you want to visit a call they can tell you about accessibility and documents you might need to take advantage of any offers. |
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Day out with the kids (UK)
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Websites to help find accessible family outings around the UK. |
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The National Trust
0844 800 1895 |
The National Trust has more than 300 historic places and gardens to visit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Most properties have a good degree of access and their admission policy has an ‘admit one’ card in the name of the disabled visitor, so a carer can go free of charge. Free on the National Trust website, the ‘Access for All’ guide has information about the accessibility of their properties. You can also book holidays and camping. Search for ‘visitors with disabilities’ on their website. |
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Visit Woods (UK)
01476 581111
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Visit Woods is a project by the Woodland Trust to make woodlands more accessible. Guides on the Visit Woods website have information about accessibility and facilities to help you plan your visit. |
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Photo-trails (UK)
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Phototrails aims to help everyone discover and enjoy access to the countryside, tailored to their own needs and preferences. The website aims to provide an up-to-date guide to the accessibility of the countryside sites and trails throughout the UK. |
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Seagull Trust Cruises (Scotland)
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Seagull Trust Cruises is a charity run by volunteers which offer free cruises on Scotland’s canals for people with special needs. Cruises run from branches throughout Scotland. The Trust also has available a purpose-built holiday boat based at Falkirk. |
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Culture 24 (UK)
01273 623266 |
The Culture 24 website has information on more tan 4,000 museums, galleries and heritage sites. There is also an interactive children’s website called Culture Street, with details of family-friendly museums and family days out. |
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Safari and Wildlife Parks (England, Scotland and Wales)
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Web resource for safari and wildlife parks with contact details, opening times and admission information.
Clickable links take you to each park’s information where you’ll find details on accessibility. |
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Walks with Wheelchairs (UK)
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A website providing free information on routes that are suitable for those that use a wheelchair. |
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Riding for the Disabled (UK)
01926 492915 |
Gives disabled children and people of any age the opportunity to ride, vault, or carriage drive. Suitable for children with physical and learning difficulties. You can search for your nearest centre on their website or give them a call. |
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The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain
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This is the rough guide for disabled adults, with days out at museums, parks, scenic drives, coastal towns and more. They have all been reviewed by disabled people and have hints and tips on making the best of your day out. May be suitable for older children. |
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The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain -Family Days Out (UK)
www.accessibleguide.co.uk/familydaysout
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This guide produced with Motability, has over 200 ideas for days out. They include accessibility information and reviews, hints and tips by disabled visitors. The online guide to family days out has family-friendly attractions, all visited and reviewed by disabled children and their families. This means children of all ages have tested them. It is available free online. |
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Holidays
Everyone needs a change of scene from time to time. You may find some of the organisations listed below useful for ideas and information on the different holidays to choose from. There are many organisations which provide holidays and holiday accommodation for families and disabled children.
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This page is still under construction - |
More information to follow! Come back to see more information on this page. The Web Team @ Phoenix Access for all Disabilities. |