Finding activities for disabled children to take part in can be a
challenge. If your child is able, its good to get them involved in the local youth club or guides/cubs. But often the child will need extra support and not all mainstream clubs can offer that. Here are some groups that are either inclusive or specifically
for those with disabilities. Also some of these organisation will offer a support worker so that your child can attend a mainstream club. Please let me know if there are any more.
ArtabilityNI
This is a charity that runs after school activities for disabled children in North and West Belfast. They run a variety of clubs and provide wheelchair friendly transport. Contact the centre for more information, and also visit the full information page to find out more.
Artability NI Ltd
137 Agnes Street
Belfast
02890244240
artabilityni@btconnect.com
Belfast Activity Centre
This centre is found in Barnetts Demesne, near Shaws Bridge and Upper Malone. They run lots of different activities throughout the year and have a specially designated disability officer, Nicola Campbell. They also run a disability summer scheme which gives young people the opportunity to try archery, canoeing, caving and abseiling. All activities are open to everyone, they have special hoists for abseiling and they are getting one fitted soon in the newly built boat house at Shaws Bridge. The staff are also extremely good with young people who have a disability, my son has tried all of the above activities and i've always been impressed with how the staff interact with him. If you are interested in finding out more, get in touch with Nicola at BAC
Email: nicola.campbell@belfastactivitycentre.com
cedar foundation
They organise events, summer schemes, social evenings, arts and crafts. Contact the childrens services department and ask to be put on their mailing list to be kept up to date with whats coming up.
Telephone 028 90623382
DEE street youth club
On wednesday night they hold an integrated youth club for kids aged 10-18. They were keen to tell me that it is not a disabled youth club, but they have members who are disabled and therefore it is mixed ability. Tommy, the leader, explained that for every disabled young person they take on they also take in a non-disabled one. It's only 50p per week. If you are interested get in touch with Tommy. He said it is better to phone in advance and talk to him rather than just turn up.
02890458113
disability sports ni
Disability Sports has an up to date list of clubs and organisations that operate in Northern Ireland. There are many activities to take part in, from skiing to wheelchair basketball. Visit the website for more information or contact them directly
Unit 6
Ormeau Business Park
8 Cromac Avenue
Belfast
028 90508255
Irish football association
The IFA run classes for disabled young people and children to teach them how to play football. They also organise trips to football matches, run summerschemes and set up tournaments. There are junior and senior activities in several locations in NI. Also just started every week in the Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey is a power wheelchair football club.
Contact Alan Crooks
IFA
Windsor Park
Belfast
028 90669458
Island Arts Centre, Lisburn
The arts centre run a wide range of classes for children of all abilities. Depending on your childs disability, there may be some things they can do and some they can't. Visit the website to get details of all classes that are running during the academic year and you can phone for more information if you need it. The staff are very helpful.
Junior Knights Wheelchair sports
On every saturday at the Ozone sports club in Belfast, it's run by Jim Agnew and the sports are rotated on a weekly basis. They vary from football, badmington, tennis, curling, and boccia. It's specifically for wheelchair users, and it's free. Call Jim for more information.
07821320072
KIC Drama (Kids in Control)
Run by Dave and Grainne Calvert, this is a professional drama group that runs workshops for young people in the greater Belfast area. They have several groups that are specifically for those with a learning/physical disability. The group also puts on regular performances in theatres. The leaders are very innovative and create, with the young people, original in exciting works of art that make the most of each childs abilities. If you are interested in finding out more, you can contact Dave through their website.
Leisure centres
The Following Leisure Centres have given me information on their access and their facilities for those with disabilities. Click on the link to see more information
Lakeland Leisure Centre, Fermanagh
Olympia Leisure Centre, Belfast
Shankhill Leisure Centre, Belfast
Ards Leisure Centre, Newtownards
Multi-Skills Disability Sports
This runs on Tuesday evening in Belvoir Activity Centre from 7.30-9. It's £3 per week or £18 for 6 weeks.
Contact faronmorrison@castlereagh.gov.uk for more information or phone 02890494500
There is also one of these in Lisburn, run by Kelly Dougan of Community sports
What : Multi Skills Disability Club
When : Mondays 6.30-7.30pm
Where : Laganvalley Leisureplex, Lisburn
Cost : £2 per head.
Ages : 5-12 Years
contact Kelly on the phone number below
Kelly Dougan
Community Sports Development Officer
Lisburn City Council
02892 509566
Ni4 kids
This paper is usually distributed free in schools, and it also has a website. It is full of ideas about up and coming events all over Northern Ireland for everyone, not specifically for disabled children, but it is a good source of information
Riding for the disabled
This organisation was set up to allow disabled children and adults to learn how to ride horses. They rely on volunteers to help during the lessons. at present there are 31 centres in Northern Ireland, and they are open to groups only. this may change in the future. Special schools usually take pupils for lessons during school hours. Other organisations are rehabilitation centres and day centres.
Phab Club
This is held every fortnight at Fleming Fulton School, and is open to all children but in particular those with special needs. They don't have to be a pupil in the school to attend and friends and family members are also welcome. There are junior (age 7-11) and senior clubs, the junior one meets every other saturday and is £2 for the years membership, then 50p every time you go. If you are interested contact the youth tutor at the school (028 90613877). The senior club meets every week in the evenings (tue and thur) and also they go away on holidays and trips. From ages 11-19.
Positive Futures
Originally formed in 1995 and called United Response Northern Ireland, the name Positive Futures for people with a learning disablity was formally adopted in 2002 to reinforce the organisation's mission. 170 people now work for the charity. They have services right across From offices in Bangor; Belfast, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Newry , Lakeland and Omagh we provide services across Northern Ireland.
Positive Futures has a clear mission and defined values. For people with a learning disability, the services we offer bring independence, dignity, respect and the opportunity to live full and valued lives within their own communities.
Positive Futures provides a variety of different services including:
- Family support service
- buddy scheme
- housing support
- helping disabled children access mainstream activities.
visit the website for more information or contact them at the address below
Head Office:
2b Park Drive, Bangor, BT20 4JZ
T: 028 9147 5720
info@positive-futures.net
Parents For Opportunities
This is a parents support group in Lisburn. They meet every month in St Patricks school, and organise trips out for the children about once a month. They don't employ any support workers so they take the children out themselves, and siblings are welcome. The group is open to any parent who has a child with special needs, no age or restrictions apply. They also hold fundraising evenings about 3 times a year. Anyone is welcome, if you are interested email the address below, or you can also contact Kelly (kelly@parents-stories.co.uk)
email info@parentsforopportunities.org.uk
Skiability
This runs every monday from September to April at Craigavon Ski Centre, from 7-8pm. There is a small fee if you go on a one off visit, or if you go every week you have to pay £15 membership and then the weekly fee, but it's not much. If your child/young person is a wheelchair user they have sleighs, and a volunteer goes down the slope with them. It's very safe. Those who can walk can start on the beginners slope. It's great fun!
Phone Margaret 07707265774
Swimability
Set up by a former special olympics swimming coach, this club runs in Co Antrim and is based in Muckamore pool. Classes are run for children and young people with a variety of disabilities, and there are also competitons held throughout the year. Phone Linda Groves to find out more about the times and locations of classes.
02891856452
The Action on Disability Project
The Action on Disability Project provides services to disabled people across a widening area of West Belfast. It has been in operation for several years and is funded by the Community Fund and supported by the Upper Springfield Development Company LTD. The aim of the AOD is to promote the social inclusion of local disabled people in the West Belfast Area. The organisation helps people with all disabilities of all ages in this trust area and operates on a referral basis. You can be referred by a social worker, GP, Paediatrician or even by yourself. For children the organisation provides the following services
- Afterschools for 5-11 year olds
- childcare places
- befriending for 12 years and over
- teenage support for 12-17 year olds
- Aspergers Youth Group 12-17 year olds
- summer scheme provision
- information and advice service
You can contact Anne-Marie McCormick (Project Manager) at the address below. She is very helpful and friendly. There is an information pack available and it also comes in alternative formats (Braille)
689 Springfield Road
Belfast
BT12 7FP
02890236677
Activites in Co Fermanagh
Roisin Henry is the DSNI inclusive sports and leisure officer for this region and she has passed on some information on up and coming events in the area. Here is a list of activites for children and young people with disabilities, and this will be updated over time.
- Afterschools club
- Youth club on Thursday evening for 12+ age group
- One to one swimming sessions in Enniskillen
- Summer Schemes and summer activities.
To contact Roisin call her on 02866326936
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