Districts: Across Hertfordshire
Specialism: Deaf/ hard of hearing children and young people
School Holiday Activities
Visit the Phoenix Website for information on School Holiday Activities
District: Stevenage
Specialism: Special education needs/ASD/LD
Our playschemes provide an informal setting to support children and young people to undertake activities and interact with their peers, whilst providing an opportunity for parents/carers to have a break.
NHCVS Breakaway holiday clubs
Holiday clubs run during the school holidays and at half term too.
Taking place at:
- Greenside school (Stevenage)
- for children aged 5-19 with behaviours that challenge
- AM session - 9am - 12pm (ages 5-11)
- PM session - 1pm - 4pm (ages 12-19)
NHCVS Breakaway Complex Needs holiday club
- Greenside School (Stevenage)
- for children aged 5-19 with behaviours that challenge
- Whole day 10am - 3pm (ages 5-19)
NHCVS Breakaway Saturday Club
The playscheme provides activities and opportunities for children to socialise with their peers either individually or as a group every other Saturday during term time.
- for children aged 5-19 years with behaviours that challenge
- AM Session – 9.30am to 12pm (ages 5-11)
- PM Session – 1pm to 3.30pm (ages 12-19)
Taking place at:
- Greenside School (Stevenage)
- Woolgrove School (Letchworth)
Districts: St Albans, Dacorum, Welwyn Hatfield and some activities in Hertsmere
Specialism: LD of varying severity, physical or sensory disabilities and/or behaviours that challenge
Children and young people will enjoy a wide choice of risk assessed and fun activities. Friendship with other users will be encouraged and supported and chill out time encouraged. Wherever possible engagement with the mainstream community will be encouraged and supported where required.
SNAP Holiday Club
Holiday clubs will only be running at Watling View School St Albans, and Hobbs Hill Wood School in Hemel Hempstead
Independent Living Services
This session will start as a Buy-Cook-&-Eat session and will develop to focus on other Independent Living Skills, reflecting the interests of the individuals attending.
- Once a week evening activity, time to be confirmed
- For ages 14 - 19 years
Taking place at:
- Unit 5 181a Verulam Road, St Albans, AL3 4DR
Districts: Watford, Hertsmere, Three Rivers
Specialism: LD of varying severity and can support additional needs such as epilepsy, gastrostomy and moving and positioning needs
Advice service
Help and support for:
- A friendly call
- Getting support
- Where to find relevant information
- Basic essentials
- Applying for benefits
- Housing issues
- Online activities
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Please contact: advice@watfordmencap.org.uk or call 01923 713 632
Watford Mencap Holiday Activity Schemes
This service is spread across each holiday, offering engaging holiday activities designed to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our 6 hour, child-led sessions are tailored to each child's interests, encouraging fun, independence, and social connection in a safe and supportive environment. Our experienced staff team can support children and young people with moving and positioning needs, personal care, epilepsy, and gastronomy needs, ensuring everyone can take part comfortably and confidently.
Sessions run from the following locations:
- 92a Langley Road
- All school holidays
- Summer holidays for 5-19 yr olds
- Garston Manor School
- Summer holidays for 9 years +
Please contact activitiesca@watfordmencap.org.uk for availability and dates.
Watford Mencap Weekend Activities
Watford Mencap runs Saturday Clubs for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These 5 hour, child-led sessions take place on various Saturdays throughout the year at 92a Langley Road. The sessions are designed around the interests of the young people attending, providing opportunities for fun activities, social interaction, and building independence in a supportive and inclusive environment. Our experienced staff team can support children and young people with moving and positioning needs, personal care, epilepsy, and gastrostomy needs, ensuring everyone can participate safely and comfortably.
Please contact activitiesca@watfordmencap.org.uk for availability and dates.
Watford Youth Club
Watford Mencap runs a Youth Club for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The club takes place Friday evenings from 6–9pm during term time (excluding the third Friday of each month) at 92a Langley Road Sessions focus on social interaction and building friendships, with children and young people helping to plan activities in advance based on their interests. This supportive and inclusive environment encourages independence, confidence, and meaningful peer connections.
Please contact: activitiesca@watfordmencap.org.uk for availability and dates
Watford Mencap Buddying Service
The buddying service will provide fully trained staff to support children and young people with a learning disability aged 5-19. The service will match staff to the interest of the young person they are supporting. The support could be offered for a short time or on a longer-term regular basis and will be offered to families as per interest.
Please contact: agency@watfordmencap.org.uk
Districts: Watford
Specialism: LD of varying severity, neurological and physical impairments, blind/visually impaired children and young people, deaf/hard of hearing children and young people, medically vulnerable children and young people, ASD and communication challenges
Cathartic are passionate about people, of all ages, to know and understand their self-worth, to grow in confidence and to feel empowered through their creative programmes. Their nurturing community allows for children and young people to feel connected, to feel valued and to feel understood. Workshops are delivered in their vibrant, kind, uplifting, inclusive and safe environment. Participants do not need to be naturally creative to attend, as every task, including the equipment used, will be adapted and made accessible to each individual, promoting their independence with activities in which they can always achieve. Art activities can be tailored to encompass and celebrate unique interests, inspiring imagination, self-expression and ownership – Cathartic always celebrate achievements. Arts are transformative and having the opportunity to explore, experiment and create is an indispensable part of learning.
SEND Holiday Art Workshops:
SEND Holiday Art workshops are 4 hours per session and dates will be published on Cathartic website at the start of each half term, for the next school holiday period.
- From 5 years upward
Term Time workshops for children and young people with life-threatening illness/disabilities
These sessions will be taking place for children and young people who are not able to attend full time education due to ongoing medical treatments or complex needs
- Children and young people can book a place for a block of 5 weekly sessions at a time, where they are able to meet and form friendships with other children and young people in similar situations
- For ages 5 upward
- Nursing staff can attend
Mentoring for blind/visually impaired children and young people
This service will allow for blind/visually impaired children to access creative arts in an rich, innovative, explorative and accessible way. The mentoring service will allow for confidence in creating artwork to grow, and to experience and understand in a way that is suitable for their unique needs.
- Sessions are 2 hours at a time
- From 5 years old upward
Taking place at:
Cathartic sessions will be hosted in a fully accessible workspace. The workshop is a highly sensory orientated and stimulating environment, with access to high-quality creative materials, pioneering sensory based creative technology, a comforting sensory room, secure outdoor garden space and fully accessible toilets complete with hoist, adult changing bed and Closomat toilet to be able to assist children and young people with any personal care needs.
- Oak Yard, Rear of 131-133 Queens Road, Watford, WD17 2QL
- Parking spaces are available for drop off and pick up
www.catharticcic.com/sblo
Districts: Dacorum (all young people across Hertfordshire can access this provision)
Specialism: SEND including SEMH
Join us for a series of fun and engaging activities at Hudnall Park Outdoor Activity Centre, designed to inspire and empower young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
We offer tailor-made programmes of activities designed to develop young people’s social, emotional and physical skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Our Short Break activities are available for half and full days for young people with SEND aged 13 - 19 yrs old.
We cannot offer 1:1 support and therefore our activities are more suited to those young people who are able to participate independently.
Activities include a range of adventurous and nature connection activities such as Archery, Woodland games, Campfire cooking, Challenge course, Low ropes, Team building, Nature exploration and much more.