At Sense Family Days, “we do the planning for you”

What can you expect at a Sense Family Day?

In three words: joy, community and support.

At our centres, we include activities to stimulate the senses, for example:

• Food-themed activities – cake/biscuit decorating, exploring fruits and veg, baking rice krispy cakes.
• Arts & Crafts activities, often alongside some messy play. Things like sand, Play-Doh, snow, and painting.
• Music activities – musical instruments are a great cause and effect opportunity, and music alongside resonance boards ensures people can feel the vibrations.
• Access to our sensory room for relaxation, plus usually a sensory story or similar activity to take part in.

External events are chosen in a number of different ways:

We choose venues that are both fun and accessible, making sure they have features such as Changing Places facilities with hoists and changing beds, as well as good wheelchair and buggy access.

We choose a range of activities and events that appeal to different interests and provide new, fun experiences for children and their families.

A great example is a visit to a zoo. While many zoos are accessible, it can still be difficult for our children to get close enough to truly experience the animals. We know this and run closed events at the venue where families can have a close-up encounter with the animals.

Why do you think Sense Family Days are so important?

Our events create opportunities for shared joy – enjoying shared play, shared fun and shared moments.

And at the same time, they also allow families to come together and build connections, sharing their experiences and supporting one another. Bringing families together who are experiencing similar challenges can be incredibly valuable for parents

Family events bring families together, as our founders did in the very beginning.

I say this a lot, that it takes a village to raise a child.

A lot of parents of deafblind or disabled children with complex needs find that the village shrinks, as people don’t know how to support.

Our family events connect families and really do bring that village back – all while having fun doing something exciting.

How do you ensure that Family Days are appropriate for disabled children with complex needs?

A well-planned range of activities

We do a lot of planning to ensure that there are a variety of options for children, with different age-appropriate activities on offer.

For example, older children might take part in activities such as climbing or spa-style wellbeing activities, while younger children can enjoy early years activities like soft play sessions or sensory stories. While we have different activities to cater for different ages, anyone can take part in any activity they want; we never say no!

There really is something for everyone.

Accessibility

Having access to a personal care space that has a hoist and a changing bed is essential for our events. We often bring a portable hoist and a change bed, and have an assigned room available for our use.

Some of our family events might be at SEN-friendly sessions at an external venue. In these situations, we can work with the venue to make it more inclusive, like having a quiet room available for people who may need a sensory break, or turning up the lights and turning down background music.

We are creative and if we can make something work, we will.

How are different themes or activities chosen?

The themes fit around different occasions throughout the year. Every season or occasion can have a sensory story element to it.

• In winter, we look at Christmas or winter elements, such as ice, snow, and festive food.
• In spring, we explore grass, flowers or perhaps animal experiences.
• In summer, we would include ice creams, sandcastles and water.
• In autumn, we explore pumpkins, leaves, conkers and natural elements.

What makes our Family Days special and unique?

In a sentence, it is because we do the planning for you.

Parents of disabled children can often feel anxious when taking their child anywhere new, because of the barriers that are often presented in their way.

At our Family Days, we do everything we can to break down those barriers, so when you arrive, there’s no need to feel anxious – just ready to enjoy a fun day!

Our family events are also always free, so anyone, no matter their budget, can access them.

We understand the importance of families being able to experience fun times together outside of their family homes. Brothers and sisters need shared memories.

All our events include the wider family, especially siblings! We also get grandparents joining in, which is lovely. Our activities are accessible to all, so siblings also get to have fun and take part.

Sense isn’t just for one particular child in a family, we are here for all of the family.

What is most rewarding for you, personally, about Sense Family Days?

Running Family Days require a lot of planning, but nothing beats the joy on the day, as well as those small achievements that are met with huge celebrations. It’s wonderful to watch the children grow in confidence over time and to see families connecting and supporting one another.

One of my favourite moments recently was a parent telling me that she and her daughter talk about me on the way to our events, and they say, ‘we’re going to see ‘Sweet Caroline”, and they sing it together. Can’t get more rewarding than that!

Why are donations from supporters so important to Family Days in particular?

Our Family Days are funded entirely through charitable donations.

Without these events, families would have fewer opportunities to explore, learn, and try new experiences together.

The families who come really do benefit so much from the opportunities that you make happen, and it couldn’t happen without your support. Thanks for being part of our team.