Parents and Carers

We all know how important it is for young people to make friends, discover new interests, gain confidence and, most of all, have fun. It can be hard to do all this when you have a disability; Friends for Leisure is here to help.

To register your child please complete the young person form and return it to us. A project worker will then arrange to visit, to learn more about your child and talk about how we may be able to help.

Our volunteers (mostly teenagers themselves) are recruited to help your young person to join in our activities such as youth groups, bowling, drama, Saturday Club and all kinds of holiday activities.

Some young people may prefer to be linked with a 1:1 volunteer friend/buddy. They can attend a regular activity together (like Brownies/Guides, Cubs/Scouts, the gym, dancing or sport lessons) or make more spontaneous arrangements to socialise in a way to suit the young person. Our volunteers are responsible friends who encourage inclusion where it might otherwise be difficult.

Please note that we do not provide any personal care but welcome a carer/PA/parent attending with a young person, if that means they can join in.

We publish a new activity programme each term and it is important that places are booked as quickly as possible as all our activities do get booked up.

You can help us by:

  • keeping in touch and informing us of any personal detail changes
  • booking places at our activities promptly
  • letting us know if your child can’t make an activity to allow us time to offer the place to someone on the reserve list
  • encouraging your child to try new things
  • suggesting new activities
  • sharing any concerns and compliments with us

When funding allows, we hold Parent/Carer information sessions which have covered important topics such as Carer support, home education, leisure and work opportunities, finance and legal planning for the future, independent living, adult services, mental health and more. Contact us if you want to find out about these sessions or check the latest activity flyer.

  • She is so much more chatty and confident with adults and people her own age since joining FFL!

    Parent