Inclusive activities for autumn
Gloucestershire's Youth Hubs – SEND-friendly clubs and services
Did you know? Gloucestershire's Youth Hubs provide inclusive services and activities for young people aged 11-25 across Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire's Parent Carer Survey 2025, which surveyed over 600 families with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), found that Parent Carers were calling for the expansion of SEND-friendly clubs and services, especially in rural areas. Gloucestershire's Youth Hubs are committed to ensuring that there are SEND-friendly clubs and services throughout the county; take a look at what’s available near you.
Stroud and the Cotswolds
Family Action run open-access youth groups such as their Wellbeing Youth Sessions and Sports Youth Group, which are open to all young people aged 11-18 and up to 25 for young people with SEND. They also run SEND-specific youth groups at our Youth Hubs in Cirencester and Stroud. One young person, speaking of their experience attending one of the SEND Youth Groups, now wants to volunteer to support young people in the same way they were supported:
"When I was younger and first started coming to youth club, I was supported throughout my teenage years, and this has played a big part of why I am so passionate to volunteer. With my compassion and determination, I would like to give back the same support I was given when I was younger to other young people to hopefully make a difference."
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury
All of The Children's Society's sessions are inclusive for SEND young people, including their Fuel sessions (involving cooking, pool, art and games) and Home Education sessions. They also have dedicated SEND youth clubs; Embrace, which runs at Whaddon Youth Hub in Cheltenham, and EPIC, which runs at Tewkesbury Youth Hub. Some of the feedback from young people that attend the groups includes:
"I'm going to come here every week. I like it here, I like the people that run it."
"I've come here since COVID, I love coming here"
"I had so much fun!"
Gloucester and Forest of Dean
In Gloucester, Gloucestershire Gateway Trust partners with The Venture Community Hub to run an Innovations group for SEND young people aged 16+ at The Vibe Youth Hub. They also collaborate with Blackbridge, who run a SEND-dedicated session at Blackbridge Sports Hub. Activities focus on independent living skills, budgeting, cooking, social participation and preparation for adulthood. Across our Gloucester and Forest of Dean Youth Hubs, there are also youth groups and activities being run that are not SEND-dedicated spaces but are open and accessible to SEND young people.
For more information about Gloucestershire's Youth Hubs, including timetable information, please visit the Youth Hubs page on Gloucestershire's Virtual Family Hub.
Funded activities during the October half-term holiday
Families across Gloucestershire once again will be able to access a range of food support and funded activities during the October half-term holiday.
Gloucestershire County Council is organising a county-wide programme of activities with food, taking place from Saturday, 24 October to Sunday, 1 November, providing children and young people with opportunities to stay active, have fun, learn new skills and enjoy healthy food during the school holidays.
The programme will include a wide range of activities across the county, including sports, outdoor adventures, creative arts and crafts, community play sessions, family activities, wellbeing opportunities and other enriching experiences designed to support children and families during the holiday period. Activities will be delivered by a range of trusted local organisations, community groups and activity providers.
Importantly, this is not a Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, meaning there are no eligibility requirements to participate. All children and young people living in Gloucestershire will be able to access opportunities offered through the programme, regardless of their circumstances.
The initiative forms part of Gloucestershire County Council's commitment to supporting children, young people and families during school holidays by providing opportunities for children to socialise, learn new skills, take part in positive activities and access healthy food.
Food support and activities will be available to book through the Virtual Family Hub at Half Term Food and Support, making it easy for families to browse opportunities taking place in their local area.
However, some providers will be managing bookings directly through their own websites or booking systems. If there is a particular provider or activity you are interested in attending and you cannot find it listed on the Virtual Family Hub, we encourage you to contact the provider directly for information about availability and how to book.
Full details of activities, locations and booking arrangements will be published in the coming weeks on our website.
Other upcoming activities
Saturday, 10 October and Sunday, 11 October
Autumn SEND Days at WWT Slimbridge. Two days of autumnal activities specially designed for children and young people with different needs and their families and friends to come and experience nature at a relaxed pace. All activities plus admission to the wetland centre are included in the ticket price, and each booking includes one free adult and one free carer. Under 3s also go free. For more information and booking, please visit Autumn SEND Days.
From Friday, 16 October
Mystical Marsh Lantern Experience at WWT Slimbridge. Escape the ghouls and goblins and experience a wildlife-packed lantern trail that will leave nature fans of all ages spellbound. Twilight SEND sessions are open to all visitors and especially those who benefit from a less intense sensory experience on 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24 October at 5.45pm and 6.00pm. During these sessions the lighting is softer, the music is quieter and the actors (interactive bat and kingfisher puppets and the marsh witch or wizard) will adopt a gentler approach. Information and tickets can be found here.
Monday, 26 October, 10.00am - 1.00pm
Family Fun at M Shed. SEND Morning at M Shed, this free event (donations welcome) offers families of children with a disability or neurodiversity, including autism, the opportunity to enjoy a calmer visit to the museum. The event is suitable for children with SEND, and advance booking is essential, with bookings open from 17 September. Keep an eye on the M Shed "What's On" page for booking information.
Wednesday, 28 October, 10.00am - 2.00pm
Half Term Stay and Play with Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum. For children with additional needs aged under 11 and their siblings.
Gardners Lane Children’s Centre, Cheltenham, GL51 9JW. Bookings will be open soon on Eventbrite.
Low-noise firework events
Thursday, 5 November
Annual low Noise Firework event at Old Down Country Park, 4pm-6pm or 7pm-9pm. Prices start from ÂŁ9.50.
Thursday, 5 November
Kids Low Noise Firework Display at Gordon League Rugby Club, Hempsted, Gloucester, 6.20pm. Tickets must be purchased and charges apply for children 3 years and upwards, and adults.
'You’re Welcome' Activity Finder
Families looking for inclusive activities and places to visit can also explore Active Impact’s You’re Welcome Gloucestershire website. The site includes an easy-to-use events calendar where you can search for inclusive clubs, groups, social events and family-friendly places to visit. You can filter activities by access requirements, interests or location, and every listing includes accessibility information to help families find what works best for them. The service is free to use and suitable for all ages.
Halloween resources from Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum
For families who find Halloween challenging, Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum have a range of printable Halloween posters available in the Resources section of their website. These posters help raise awareness that someone living at the property may not wish to take part in trick-or-treating and encourage visitors to be respectful of this choice.
You can find out more about Support for Parent Carers plus Workshops and also give your feedback about services here