Groups and activities for disabled children

Salford's short break care activities programme offers children and young people with a disability the chance to meet other people and have fun in safe, friendly environments supervised by trained staff.

There are a range of activities on offer in both term-time and holidays for children and young people up to 18 years old including holiday play schemes, play groups, after school clubs, sports clubs and youth groups across Salford. Some of these activities are groups just for disabled children or young people but some are also open to their non-disabled siblings and/or parents to attend with them.

How do I find out more about what's on offer?

There are details of the organisations that the council funds to provide these activities below. To get further details on the types of activities that they provide and the days and times on which they provide them, you can search under the organisations name in the Local Offer under 'Things to do'.  

Other events and activities

Salford's Local Offer also lists many other activities and services for children, young people with a disability which are not part of Salford Council’s funded groups and activities listed above. You can find out more detail on these under 'Things to do' in the Local Offer. Please note that, as these activities are not funded by the council, they may not be as accessible as those listed above. Please contact the individual providers in the directory to check availability and accessibility.

If you have any questions about the Groups and Activities for Disabled Children please complete the Local Offer contact us form on Local Offer. 

You do not need to have an assessment to attend the activities on the Local Offer, and places are offered on a first come first served basis. However some groups or activities may be more suited to children or young people with a particular disability. Always contact the provider first before attending your first session. You may have to pay a small contribution for your child to attend these activities but many of them are free of charge. Further information on the short break care offer and eligibility can be found in the short break care statement, available to download below.

Council funded groups and activities

Further details of the activities of all providers listed below can be found by searching the organisation’s name in the Local Offer under ‘Things to do’ or by contacting the organisations directly.

I AM (Formerly the Autistic Society of Greater Manchester)

I AM - a community working with and supporting a wide range of people, aged 10 years and upwards, who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition. See the I AM website for more.

Chatsworth High School and Community College

Chatsworth High School and community college run a number of after school, weekend and holiday activities for young people with a disability, 11 years old and over on their school premises in Eccles. Call 0161 921 1405, email victoria.mcrae@salford.gov.uk ot visit the school website.  

Federation of Jewish Services

The Federation of Jewish Services offer activities tailored for disabled children and young people in the Jewish community including weekly activity groups and holiday play schemes.

Call Children’s Service on 0161 772 4800 (option 2), email: Sara.O@thefed.org.uk and Advice@thefed.org.uk or visit the Federation of Jewish Services website.

Salford Community Leisure

Salford Community Leisure offer a range of sporting activities including swimming, dancing, gymnastics and multi-sports camps across both term time and holidays.

Contact Michael Tuson by emailing michael.tuson@scll.co.uk or visit the Salford Community Leisure website

Salford Council Youth Service

Working in partnership with young people, youth services provides a range of accessible activities and opportunities across the city.

Call the Youth Work Manager on 0161 778 0700, email youth.services@salford.gov.uk or visit the youth service page

Special Spirits

Special Spirits offer activities tailored for disabled children and young people in the Jewish community including weekly activity groups and holiday play schemes.

Call 07890 535 360 or email specialspirits1@gmail.com

Springwood play area

Springwood play area is open to disabled children and their families from across the city. The outdoor play area and facilities are open after school, on weekends and during school holidays. 

You Can (formerly known as Oakwood Youth Club)

You Can provides a range of sports and arts based activities throughout term time and holiday periods for disabled children and young people aged 12 to 18 years. Some activities are for up to age 25.

Call Jillian or Sam on 0161 603 6830 or email info@youcan.me.uk

Community and Voluntary Services

The council also funds Salford Community and Voluntary Services (CVS) to administer a fund for smaller community groups to put on activities for children and young people with a disability:

  • Adventures Await provides holiday clubs for children with a disability (and those without) across Greater Manchester.
  • Club Tikva runs an after school club for children who suffer from communication and social difficulties.
  • Broughton Boxing offers after school gym based well-being sessions throughout the week tailored to children and young people with learning disabilities to help teach life skills.
  • Leonard Cheshire Disability offers activities in Salford and Trafford for young disabled people, supporting them to develop key life skills such as social skills.
  • Salford Action for Autism offers weekly inclusive cycling and sports sessions for families and children with autism, along with volunteering opportunities for young people.
  • Warm Hut UK offers arts and crafts project with a range of table of activities for primary school aged children from refugee background  and those with a disability who live in East Salford especially in Pendleton, Lower and higher Broughton to offer an opportunity for inclusion through play, arts and crafts.
  • Community Social Inclusion Network CIC runs Salford Tech Club which offers opportunities for children with disabilities to learn new computer and other technical skills in a supported environment at a weekly club for children with a disability and their siblings.
  • Salford Red Devil's Foundation offers and inclusive wheelchair rugby programme in three Special Educational Needs schools, aiming to tackle physical activity  and encourage healthy living.
  • Start (Inspiring Minds) provides an art club for children with disabilities with weekly creative crafts session that offer a variety of art activities that are tailored to each child taking part.
  • Psychotherapy Manchester provides a weekly open art therapy group for children and young people with Learning disabilities and their parents/carers in the Salford area.

Downloadable documents

If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.

This page was last updated on 7 July 2021

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