A youth club offering activities to families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has been described as a “lifeline” for youngsters who have found accessing other groups difficult.
Together at Trin is run by Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation and holds weekly sessions at the rugby league club’s stadium.
The club is part funded by BBC Children in Need and this year received a £53,550 grant.
Holly, 12, from Fitzwilliam, is awaiting a formal diagnosis for autism and ADHD.
Her mum Kirsty says until the diagnosis process is complete there are some SEND groups in the area Holly cannot access.
Coming to the Trinity sessions has made a “huge difference” and given Holly a chance to make friends and try new activities, Kirsty says.
The group is a place where Holly can “feel safe” and “blow off steam” after school.
“We’ve noticed after she’s been she’s a lot calmer and a lot happier within herself,” Kirsty says.
Holly says she likes the people at the group and thinks they “understand her a lot better”.
She can choose which activities to join in and does not feel “forced to do anything”.
“You can just talk to anybody,” she says.
“It doesn’t matter if you know them or if it’s your first time meeting them, you can end up making future friendships. It’s confidence building for me.”
