Can I ask for some ideas re trips out.

[upahill]

I am fairly new to working in a place that caters for children aged 5 - 18 with complex needs.

I have recently been given the role of leisure activity organiser as part of 'other duties'

The children stay over on a rota basis and stop for weekends and are grouped according to their abillity or need.

For example we will have the young people who need tube feeding and have very complex needs in at the same time and we will have the children who are quite mobile and active in together.

So I am after a range of views. What activites outside the centre would you like your child to do and what do they like doing. I am after seeing this through fresh eyes.
We go bowling, fishing, cinema, shopping, ice skating, animal farms, swimming, walking, den making, gardening, photography stuff, bike riding, horse riding.

We have a bit of money to spend but at the moment we are doing the same things, trips to Southport, off to Smithills Park.

Any thoughts to help me out.
We have asked the children. Many can't speak but when we do things they like they certainly let us know. I want them to have nice times.

noticing your talking about places near bolton....just wondering if you have heard of daytrippers.... i know your doing this for a job, and daytrippers are all about family, but maybe contacting carole or bev may help you. carole is a respite worker, and knows the ins and outs of MANY different types of disability, and the whole idea of daytrippers involves looking at new places to go.

they also engage the use of outdoor ed, and although this is a paid for service, it may be something that you can look at, if you dont already use.

google daytrippers bolton, and the contact details are there...xxx

Thanks for that!!! I'll have a search when I get to work this afternoon. It sounds interesting!

are there any country parks accessible for your group?

i know DD (ASD) really enjoys just being out in the open, with no added sensory input, so she can be 'her'

i used to work at a centre for adults with LDs too, and a trip to the woods was always relished.

if this is now use, feel free to ignore

Seaside is good - not necessarily for paddles, but playing on the beach (or mud in the case of southport....) is good.