Available activities
In July 2026, Southend-on-Sea City Council awarded Short Breaks Main Access Grant funding to 10 local organisations. Funding is effective until 31 March 2027.
This funding enables organisations to deliver either fully funded or subsidised activities for children and young people with disabilities living in Southend-on-Sea. Some of the activities are open to the whole family.
The list below shows the funded activities that are available with links to further information. For full details of activities and to book places, please contact the individual providers.
Cake Club Community - SEND Club Holiday Specials: a group aimed at families with babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school starters with additional needs and/or disabilities, with or without a diagnosis. Children can enjoy engaging free-flow sessions tailored to a range of additional needs. Parents and carers benefit from peer support, opportunities to share experiences with others, and access to information, advice and signposting.
Friends and Places Together - Teen Spirits: a group for young people (aged 14 to 17) where they can socialise with friends and take part in various activities outside of school/college, helping to develop social skills, confidence and self-esteem.
Lancaster School - after school and holiday club: please note, this provision is only open to students attending Lancaster School. Provision of fun, varied, stimulating, relevant, appropriate and meaningful activities that are adapted to pupils needs.
Little Heroes ASD Support Hub - Padel 4 All sessions: Padel sessions for children with Autism aged 7 years plus (official diagnosis not needed) and their families in a safe, secure and local setting.
Little Heroes ASD Support Hub - Saturday sessions: a selection of 3 groups for children and young people with autism, and their families:
- Girls Club - for autistic girls aged 7 years plus. The session encourages interaction and is an opportunity to make new friends. Parent carer supervision required.
- Youth Club - for autistic children and young people aged 7 years plus. A session which encourages interaction and forming of new friendships. Parent carer supervision required.
- Saturday Stay and Play session - a session for autistic children aged 6 years and under and their parent carers. The session encourages children to explore the playroom and sensory area, whilst parent carers can chat with others and access support from the Little Heroes team.
SEND The Right Message Charity (STRM) - Inclusive Bouldering sessions: Weekly neurodivergent-friendly and disability-aware bouldering sessions for children and young people (aged 6 to 17), delivered at Indirock. Alongside the activity sessions, families can access informal wellbeing support, cost of living guidance and signposting to services.
Slim Ricks - outdoor food adventures: Slim Ricks BBQ School is an outdoor (sheltered) food venue and cookery school, promoting equality, inclusion and community engagement through food education. These sessions are for children and young people aged 3 to 18 with SEND including Autism, ADHD, ARFID and other additional needs, and their parent carers.
Children will be supported to participate in inclusive cooking and food and nature related activities at their own pace. Activities will encourage independence, decision making, teamwork and creativity while helping participants build positive relationships with food and healthy eating.
Parents and carers will have opportunities to meet other SEND families, build friendships and share experiences.
Southend in Sight: a programme of community activities for children living with a visual impairment (severly sight impaired, blind or partially sighted) and their families to get together to socialise, gain confidence and develop relationships with peers. The offer includes trips to Kids Kingdom, arts and crafts sessions, horse riding and Ten Pin Bowling.
Southend Mencap - Family Play and Respite Club: A supportive club with sports, games, puzzles, arts and crafts and other activities for children aged 5 to 16 years with learning disabilities. Non-disabled siblings can also attend. Sessions run on Saturdays during term time, in half terms and in the Easter and Summer holidays.
The Art Ministry - Creating Connections Group: arts and crafts sessions for children aged 6 to 15. Sessions are 2 hours long. The activity will run as after school sessions and during school holidays, excluding the Christmas holiday.
The St. Christopher School - Special Needs Activity Club (SNAC): please note, this provision is only open to students attending The St.Christopher School. A school holiday activity club for pupils aged 5 to 16 who need considerable additional support and require specialist additional staffing to access holiday activities.