Business for Youth

Business for Youth's primary aim is to create opportunities for the children and young people of Newton Le Willows and Earlestown to participate in leisure and educational activities within a safe, welcoming and friendly environment.

For more information you can speak to Terry Maguire on 07860457576

Alternatively, you can email: businessforyouth.nlw@gmail.com

Business for Youth don't have a website, but they do have a Facebook page you can follow: www.facebook.com/businessforyouthinnewtonlewillows 

CAFT - Children's Adventure Farm

CAFT helps children of all abilities aged 17 and under. Children who through no fault of their own miss out on the normalities of childhood. Children with complex and severe physical or learning disabilities, sensory impairments and terminal illnesses. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, children who have witnessed or faced abuse. Children who act as young carers and sadly, children who have already faced bereavement. For these children, a break at The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust provides a fantastic and much needed opportunity to escape the traumas of their everyday life and for a few days, they can simply be children again.

Whether the children go for just a day or a few days, there is an amazing array of things to see and do. The 10 acre site is the perfect place for children to create, explore and play. From swings and roundabouts to alpacas and donkeys. Messy play in the art room and bouncing down the inflatable slide. Pirates on the galleon and rock-stars in the music room.

The needs of the children who visit the Farm are complex and as such, the site and activity programme is designed to cater for all. The Activity Play Specialists are trained to provide fun, safe and engaging activities that suit the interests and needs of every child who visits the farm. Each child is treated as an individual with their own strengths, likes and dislikes and disability is never seen as a barrier to participation. CAFT is about fun for all.

Address: The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, Booth Bank Farm, Reddy Lane, Millington, Cheshire, WA14 3RE

Email: hello@caft.co.uk

Telephone: 01565 830053

Website: www.caft.co.uk

Connect

Connect is a registered charity based in St Helens, Merseyside. Their aim has always been to support local children and their families with special educational needs and disabilities. The charity runs the following groups:



Connect youth group

The Youth Social Group is a FREE group designed for young people (aged 11 and above) that have Aspergers syndrome/Autism (or on the pathway awaiting diagnosis) providing many services including a place to socialise and various activities to partake in.

The group offers social opportunities for members and their siblings. However, to join this group you must have social and communication issues as well as living in the St Helens boundary area.

The group is a charity, ran by parents an volunteers who attend each session to help and support young people in a familiar surrounding with any issues they may be facing. Free refreshments are provided.

The meetings are held every other Wednesday 7-9pm at The Thompson centre, Allanson street school, Gaskell street, St. Helens WA9 1PL
To find out more Email: aspergersthelens@hotmail.co.uk

Connect youth group poster

The Toy Library

The Toy and Leisure library is a free service which Connect offer. It is available for all disabled children and young people and their families from the age of 0-25 years who live in St Helens. It offers a range of toys, games, sensory equipment and computer consoles which Connect loan to families for six weeks at a time. If you wish to borrow you can do this for free but you must be a member of Connect. You must also complete an equipment loan agreement.

Website: www.connectparents.org.uk/toy-leisure-library

The Toy Library Poster

Membership

Membership to Connect is open, inclusive and free to all children and young people who meet the following criteria:

• Children and young people aged 0-25
• Live in St Helens
• Living with, or under investigation for, a disability or neurological condition or disability

To become a member you can complete their online membership application form

Website: www.connectparents.org.uk

Note for staff: 'The Connect Youth Group St Helens' Facebook page is best for up to date news & contact details.

Friends Play for Disabled Children

Friends – Play for Disabled Children are a registered charity supporting families in St Helens and the surrounding areas. The charity was set up in October 2012 by two parents with disabled children. The charity aim to bring families of disabled children in St Helens & the surrounding area together to play through events, trips, days out and to provide a support network for those families to help prevent isolation. You can register to join online here: www.friendsplay.org.uk/registration

Telephone: Paula Jones – 07806 924774

Telephone: Melanie Battye – 07562 869613

Email: info@friendsplay.org.uk

Website: www.friendsplay.org.uk

Holiday & Food Programme HAF

Funded by the Department for Education, the FREE holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides healthy food and enriching activities for primary and secondary school-aged children (4-18) eligible for benefits-related free school meals. Children who are in receipt of a support plan or EHCP are also eligible for the HAF programme. The programme runs during the Summer, Winter and Easter Holidays.

The aim of the programme is to:

• support children to eat healthier and be more active over the school holidays
• give children a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
• enable children to become more engaged with school and other local services

The Local Authority have endeavoured to ensure that all sessions are SEND friendly, but would advise you to pre-book sessions and speak to the facilitator for further information on suitability and individual requirements for your children.  Activities are subject to change at short notice and places are subject to availability.

For any enquiries relating to the HAF programme please email holidayfun@sthelens.gov.uk or call Central Link Family Hub on 01744 673445.

Website: www.sthelens.gov.uk/article/11207/Introduction-to-HAF 

Twinkle House

Twinkle House is a fully inclusive wellness and sensory centre that welcomes families, children, young people and adults. Based in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire they welcome visitors from all surrounding areas and districts. 

The House has a Sensory/Soft Play Room, Immersive Room, Hydrotherapy Pool and Studio which are all available to hire. These are accessible for all ages and abilities. Their aim is to improve health and wellness in the North West. 

Wellbeing Programmes

Twinkle House run wellbeing programmes which are funded through the National Lottery Community Fund and offer free of charge activities for different ages and interests. This includes:

• Calm Kids & Chill Skills - Both courses are designed to provide children with coping strategies to alleviate their anxieties and worries and create a calmer sense of wellbeing
• Time For Me Yoga (Adults) - Flexibility, muscle tightness, general aches and pains are improved and the breathwork knowledge for improved mental health
• Shine Support Group - Open to parents, carers and adults in the community. The group brings the opportunity to connect with other parents and carers, share experiences, tips and laughter. The group runs every other Wednesday 10-12pm at Twinkle House. For more information please contact 01695 455625 or email sensory@twinklehouse.co.uk
• They also have a sensory program which is currently under review for re-development (includes Parent Sensory Awareness Workshop and Sensory Play Sessions).

Just Relax classes

Adult relaxation classes delivered in partnership with Connect Health pain management services. The class is delivered by a trained tutor and referrals to the classes are received via the Pain Management Service. By participating in the sessions, the aim to help improve your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. 

Twinkle House also offer a sleep service, however this is only open to individuals registered with a West Lancashire GP

Address: Twinkle House, 2 Gorsey Place, East Gillibrands, Skelmersdale, WN8 9UP

Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm

Telephone: 01695 455 625

Email: enquiries@twinklehouse.co.uk

Website: www.twinklehouse.co.uk

Vibe

Vibe is a charity providing services, support and activities for young people 11-19 years old (25 for those with SEND). They are dedicated to supporting young people to build positive relationships and embed this within a range of inclusive interventions, activities, structured programmes and experiences, designed around specific focused themes. Vibe work with young people to understand their needs, their challenges, their aspirations and help young people to build positive relationships.

Positive Vibes Programme (PVP)

PVP is a 32-week informal skills and relationships programme which provides a consistent pathway of support to young people through 1:1 mentoring and incorporates sessions focusing on Consequences of Choice, Event-Mind-Reaction (EMR), positive activities, Total Commitment Training (TCT) and Relationships training. It takes place in easily accessible locations in St Helens and referred young people will be invited to a selection/recruitment session before gaining a place on the programme. Please get in touch with the service if you would like to make a referral.

Address: V03 Baltic Creative Campus, 49 Jamaica Street, Liverpool L1 0AH

Telephone: 0151 673 0500

E-mail: hello@vibeuk.org

Website: www.vibeuk.org

YMCA Youth Hub 

YMCA St Helens Youth Hub is an exciting facility for young people aged 11-18. The building offers two main zones.
Downstairs is a space to ‘Get Active’ while upstairs is a ‘Get Creative’ space, plus a new Youth Café.

The creative space includes:

• A performing-arts studio
• Green screen for photography
• Film and digital skills
• A performance space

Getting active is all part of the ethos, so there is plenty of sports activities on offer like:

• Dance
• Football
• A brand-new bouldering wall
• Table Tennis
• Pool

The café is a space to chill, have a meal and a cuppa whilst playing table tennis or pool. Youth workers make sure that everyone is well nourished and gets a meal if they are hungry. Young people will get the chance to learn life skills through cooking workshops at the café. Alongside providing an exciting array of fun activities, the youth hub is there to support young people’s individual needs, helping to improve their wellbeing and reduce the likeliness of poor mental health.

The Youth Hub will enable young people to access Y Mentoring, where they will be paired up with a trained adult volunteer from the local community and receive up to 12 months of 1 to 1 mentoring support. 

Address: YMCA St Helens Youth Hub, College Street, St Helens, WA10 3TJ

Telephone: 01744 455046

Email: simon.skidmore@ymcasthelens.org.uk

Further information can be found here: https://ymcasthelens.org.uk/what-we-do/youth-work/

Young Inspectors Programme

Welcome to the Young Inspectors Programme!

This is your chance to help improve services for young people with SEND in St Helens. As a Young Inspector, you’ll get to visit local places, share your ideas, and help make things better for everyone.

What Do Young Inspectors Do?

• Check Out Services: Inspect services that young people use based on what’s important to you and your friends. Sometimes services even ask us to inspect them because they want to hear what young people think and how they can improve.
• Share Your Views: Tell us what’s good and what could be better.
• Make a Difference: Help make services more welcoming and useful for young people.
• Work as a Team: Join other young people to create real change.

The Young Inspectors Programme is currently available in some schools. If a young person is interested in joining the Young Inspectors programme, Elizabeth Barr-Jones (SEND Engagement and Development Officer at St Helens Council) would look to facilitate this with the young person's school or even an out of school group. The Council also have a 'Big Chat Events' when there is an area of focus for young people. These are adhoc and do not need to be a member to attend.

To find out more or sign up, email Elizabeth Barr-Jones at elizabethbarr-jones@sthelens.gov.uk.

Elizabeth is the SEND Engagement and Development Officer at St Helens Council.

Further information can be found on the SEND Information Hub here: St Helens Family Information Directory | Young Inspectors Programme

Page Last Updated November 2024