Happy Pants is an animal sanctuary that offers volunteer days for all disabilities, this is usually on a Saturday. Please check their Facebook page: @Ameyandtheanimals for dates or visit www.thehappypantsranch.com
Animals can give a sense of calm, sociability by talking, smiling, laughing, eye contact, having physical contact with animals by stroking, can give life skills, caring and being gentle.
Find a youth club or centre near you:
https://www.medway.gov.uk/directory/17/find_a_youth_club_or_centre
SHINE
Youth activities for young people with additional needs including life-skill workshops Wednesdays 6pm to 8.30pm at The Youth Hub Woodlands Road ME7 2BX
Learn new skills, make new friends! Find your local group at https://scouts.org.uk
Developing self-confidence, building friendships, learning new things and having fun.
Contact for your nearest session: 0800 999 2016
Rivermead Outreach Community Challenge (ROCC) offers respite activities for children and young people during the school holidays.
Initially the programme supported children and young people aged 11-18 who were diagnosed with ASD. However, because of the success of the programme, and in response to feedback from families, they are now able to offer a primary provision too. ROCC Stars was born.
What’s on offer:
- A holiday club for children aged five to adult
- Six hour respite care for families during the school holidays
- A range of appropriately stimulating and diverse activities that will engage, challenge and support progress
- An opportunity for children and young people to take ownership of their own experiences through group planning and evaluation
As well as ASD, they are also now able to support children with significant and multiple learning difficulties and those with limited to no verbal communication.
For more information on ROCC (aged 11 to adult) email: rocc@rivermeadinclusivetrust.org and for ROCCstars (5-11 years) email: roccstars@rivermeadinclusivetrust.org
Nucleus Arts - Lego Club
First Saturday of every month
2 - 4pm
Ages 4+
First child £4, each additional child £1
Children as young as four can come and play - there are plenty of Lego bricks to go round!
t: 01634 812108
At Strood Sports Centre
in partnership with Anchorians FC
Mini Kickers
5-6 years - 9-10am (Outdoor 3G)
Kool Kickers
7-8 years - 9-10am (Outdoor 3G)
Slick Kickers
9-11 years - 9-10am (Outdoor 3G)
Members: £2
Non members: £3
(Pay as you go)
For 11-18s and adults
Monday at Spotlites Theatre Chatham - 14-18s
6-7pm £4.50 Intermediate Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Contemporary
Wednesday at Spotlites Theatre Chatham - 13-18s
6.30-7.30pm £4.50 Beginners Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Contemporary
Monday at Spotlites Theatre Chatham - 18+
7-8pm £6.50 Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Contemporary
Friday at Spotlites Theatre Chatham - 11-13s
6.30-7.30pm £4.50 Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Contemporary
Tuesday at Brunswick House Maidstone 11-18s
6.45-7.30pm £4.50 Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Contemporary
Want to act?
Try our Youth Theatre, singing lessons and show choir too!
t: 01634 829468
What's on at Woodlands?
Monday
5-6pm - at Woodlands - The Equality Cafe - £1
For young people aged 13-19. A drop in session for young people who want to make sure that LGBT voices are represented.
6.30-9pm - at Woodlands - HANGOUT - £1
For young people aged 13 - 19. Open session, Enjoy a range of youth activities along with music workshops.
Tuesday
6.30-9pm - Detached Session
Street based work in various locations around Gillingham and Twydall. Check our Facebook page for more information. Working with young people to develop projects based on their ideas, needs and interests.
Wednesday
6-8.30pm - at Woodlands - SHINE - £1
For young people aged 10 - 18. Open session. Youth activities for young people with additional needs including life skills workshops Duke of Edinburgh.
6.30-9pm - Detached Session
Street based work in various locations around the Gillingham and Twydall. Working with young people to develop projects based on their ideas, needs and interests.
Thursday
6.30-9pm - at Woodlands - IMPACT - £1
For young people aged 13 - 19. Enjoy a range of life skill based activities including cooking workshops and Duke of Edinburgh Award.
6.30-9pm - Detached Session
Street based work in various locations around the Gillingham and Twydall. Working with young people to develop projects based on their ideas, needs and interests.
Friday
6-8.30pm - at Woodlands - JUNIOR HANGOUT - £1
For young people aged 8 - 15. Open session. Enjoy a range of youth activities along with senior member training.
Multi Sport Club
Join our friendly multi-sport disability club at Medway Park. Whatever your ability or level of disability, our coaches will get your active. Sports include wheelchair tennis, badminton, table tennis, netball, new age kurling, boccia, and more.
Every Wednesday 5.30pm to 7pm. £3 per session (first session free, no charge for parent/carer).
Contact medwaysport@medway.gov.uk or call 01634 338184.
Fun Disability Swim Session
A brand new fun and friendly swimming session in the Hydrotherapy Pool at Strood Leisure Centre. Whatever your swimming ability or level of disability, the warm water will help with mobility and perfect environment to get you active. Sports include; water basketball, water volleyball, water polo, relay races, sinkers, hoops or just a general splash around in a friendly environment.
Every Thursday 5.30pm to 6.30pm. £3 per session (parent/carer goes free)
Extra sessions on Monday 4pm to 5pm throughout School Holidays – Monday 22nd July, Monday 29th July, Monday 5th August, Monday 12th August, Monday 19th August & Monday 2nd September only.
Contact medwaysport@medway.gov.uk or call 01634 338184​​​​​​​
Performing Arts School for 4-18 years
Welcome to Stagecoach Medway Theatre Arts With over 700 theatre schools and more than 40,000 students worldwide, Stagecoach is the UK's largest network of part-time performing arts schools for children.
Offering classes for 4-18 year olds in singing, acting and dance, Student participates in all three performing arts disciplines - drama classes, dance classes and singing classes - helping to develop confidence, physical awareness, communication and articulation - as well as being educational and lots of fun! All our teachers are DBS (formerly CRB) checked so children and teenagers can work in a safe and protected environment
At Stagecoach Medway, as well as our regular Saturday classes, we offer LAMDA exams (London Academy Of Music & Dramatic Art) These can be scripted or devised and are so-lo,duo or group exams from Grade 1-8. So far we have a 100% pass rate at Merit and Dis-tinction level. We will be working towards our next exams Grade 8 Gold Medal during the Summer Term. The students love the challenge of LAMDA. In addition opportunities exist for students to be offered professional work in film, theatre and modelling by the Stage-coach Agency.
Our classes run on Saturdays during term time at The Brook Theatre Medway. Ask about our two week trial and check out our Main News and watch the video on our Stagecoach Magical Disney Event 2016!
Call Iain: 01622 678616
Email: medway@stagecoach.co.uk
Text: 07801 350236
​​​​​​​Website https://squirrellsridingschool.co.uk
Address: 116 Common Road, Chatham ME5 9RG
Phone: 01634 681000 or 07713 323968
Hours:
Open · Closes 8:00 PM
Squirrells riding school are able to accommodate children with a physical disability if they are able to use a mount box to climb onto the horse.
They welcome children with ASD and special needs.
Hydrotherapy sessions for ASD children, every Thursday
When: every Thursday
Where: Strood Sports Centre, Watling Street, Strood ME2 3JQ
Time: 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Cost: £3 per child - parent/carer goes free.
Places: 7 children places (7 places for adult) please telephone Strood Sports Centre to book or you can book online.
Book your place, using the link: https://apps.medway.gov.uk/leisurebookings/
You will need to log in as a guest in order to book or alternatively phone Strood Reception Team on 01634 333948
Hydrotherapy is recommended for children with ASD by our physiotherapist as this helps the child with physical exercise, can be calming and make friends and have fun.
Autism Friendly Swimming Lessons
H20 are pleased to announce our Autism Friendly Swimming lessons.
Lessons will be at Hilltop on a Thursday evening at 7pm from Thursday 27th February onwards, initially to be run as a block of 6 weeks. Lessons will be £8 per session.
This will be a fully supervised and tailored structured session. Low lighting, no rope lanes, sensory toys.
All teachers are fully qualified, DBS checked and have worked alongside SEN schools for many years. Two of the teachers attending work in SEN schools and another has been a social worker for many years.
For more information, please call 07967 031646 / 07763 73398
Drama Groups for learning disabled, autistic and neurodivergent people in Kent and Medway
We celebrate difference, challenge inequity, and empower people to shine in their own way.
We offer accesible, inclusive opportunities to take part, perform, learn, enjoy and work in Theatre, Music and the Arts, at all levels.
For information about our drama groups, contact assistant@squarepegarts.com / 07415128885
Music projects for learning disabled, autistic and neurodivergent people in Kent and Medway
For information about our Music Programme contact paul@squarepegsarts.com