22 providers found

Bendrigg Trust

Respite & Activity Club

Residential activity centre between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales providing holidays and courses specifically for people with physical and learning disabilities.

Kendal

Bendrigg Lodge, Old Hutton, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 0NR

Autism / ASDLearning DisabilityPhysical DisabilitySensory Processing+1 more
Ages 025View details

Calvert Lakes

Respite & Activity Club

Lake District outdoor activity centre enabling people with disabilities to experience the challenge of outdoor adventure alongside family and friends.

Carlisle

Little Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4QD

Autism / ASDADHDLearning DisabilityPhysical Disability+2 more
Ages 025View details

Calvert Trust Exmoor

Respite & Activity Club

Outdoor adventure centre offering fully accessible residential breaks for disabled children and adults. Activities include archery, canoeing, horse riding, zip-wiring, climbing, and nature walks. All-inclusive breaks with adapted equipment and accessible accommodation.

Barnstaple

Wistlandpound, Kentisbury, EX31 4SJ

Physical DisabilityLearning DisabilitySensory ProcessingOther
Ages 025View details

Calvert Trust Keswick

Respite & Activity Club

Lake District adventure centre providing outdoor residential breaks for disabled people. Over 40 years of experience delivering accessible activities including sailing, canoeing, abseiling, horse riding, and bushcraft in stunning lakeland settings.

Carlisle

Little Crosthwaite, Underskiddaw, CA12 4QD

Physical DisabilityLearning DisabilitySensory ProcessingOther
Ages 025View details

Calvert Trust Kielder

Respite & Activity Club

Accessible outdoor activity centre in Kielder Water and Forest Park providing adventure holidays for people of all ages with physical, sensory, mental and learning disabilities.

Morpeth

Kielder Water and Forest Park, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 1BS

Autism / ASDADHDLearning DisabilityPhysical Disability+2 more
Ages 025View details

CASPA Bromley

Respite & Activity Club

Award-winning charity supporting around 300 autistic children weekly. Age-grouped clubs: Tots (under 5), Juniors (4-9), Inters (9-14), Seniors (11-16), Futures (16+). Activities include sport, drama, cooking, music, specialist football, trampolining, and annual residential trips.

Bromley

Bromley, London, BR1 3HZ

Autism / ASD
Ages 025View details

Challengers

Respite & Activity Club

Over 35 years delivering inclusive play and leisure for disabled children and young people. Play schemes (ages 2-13), Youth schemes (ages 13-18), and Young Adult schemes (ages 18-25). Activities include gaming, dance, sport, Lego, and cooking. Centres in Guildford and Farnham.

Guildford

Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1EZ

Physical DisabilityLearning DisabilityAutism / ASDOther
Ages 025View details

Disability Snowsport UK

Respite & Activity Club

National charity enabling people with disabilities to access snowsport through adaptive instruction and equipment at centres across the UK, including sessions for children.

Highland

Glenmore Lodge Grounds, Glenmore, Aviemore, PH22 1QZ

Autism / ASDLearning DisabilityPhysical DisabilitySensory Processing+1 more
Ages 025View details

Level Water

Respite & Activity Club

National swimming charity providing affordable specialist 1:1 and small group swimming lessons for disabled children aged 4-11 at local leisure centres. Specially trained swim teachers tailor lessons to each child's needs. Subsidised lessons at mainstream group prices.

London

London, SE1 1UN

Physical DisabilitySensory ProcessingLearning Disability
Ages 025View details

Lord's Taverners

Respite & Activity Club

Youth cricket and disability sports charity providing inclusive cricket programmes and sports equipment for young people with disabilities across the UK.

London

Fivefields, 8-10 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0DH

Autism / ASDADHDLearning DisabilityPhysical Disability+1 more
Ages 025View details

Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children

Respite & Activity Club

Provides specialist equipment (beds, buggies, wheelchairs, seating), free Play Therapy Pods (12-week loans of sensory toys delivered to the home), and a free national Nurse Helpline. Emergency equipment loan service for children in crisis.

Cannock Chase

Hemlock Way, WS11 7GN

Physical DisabilityLearning DisabilitySensory ProcessingOther
Ages 025View details

Panathlon Challenge

Respite & Activity Club

National charity providing competitive sport opportunities for children with disabilities and SEND across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Runs multi-sport, swimming, football and boccia programmes.

Stansted

c/o Hilton London Stansted, Round Coppice Road, Stansted, Essex, CM24 1SF

Autism / ASDADHDLearning DisabilityPhysical Disability+2 more
Ages 025View details

Pathways 4 All

Respite & Activity Club

Parent-led charity providing leisure services for disabled children and young people aged 0-25 in the North East. Specialist centre with soft play, trampolines, interactive sensory room, and accessible playground. Saturday clubs, Friday night youth clubs, and holiday playschemes.

Newcastle upon Tyne

Tim Lamb Centre, Benfield Road, NE6 5XJ

Physical DisabilityLearning DisabilityAutism / ASDSensory Processing+1 more
Ages 025View details

Phab

Respite & Activity Club

Over 65 years of inclusive community clubs bringing together disabled and non-disabled people. 150+ clubs across England and Wales offering arts, crafts, games, quizzes, discos, music, and Phab Adventures with outdoor activities including canoeing, rock climbing, and archery.

London

London, SE1 7AA

Physical DisabilityLearning DisabilityAutism / ASDOther
Ages 025View details

Seashell Trust

Respite & Activity Club

Charity for children and adults with complex needs. Short break residential facilities, 17 home-from-home residential homes, and CADS inclusive sports activities during holidays and weekly evenings including football, swimming, climbing, and art.

Manchester

Stanley Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 6RQ

Sensory ProcessingLearning DisabilityAutism / ASDPhysical Disability
Ages 025View details

Seashell Trust CADS

Respite & Activity Club

Award-winning inclusive weekly sports clubs and holiday activities for children and young people aged 5-25 with learning disabilities, autism, physical impairments and complex needs.

Stockport

Stanley Road, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, SK8 6RQ

Autism / ASDADHDLearning DisabilityPhysical Disability+2 more
Ages 025View details

Sense

Respite & Activity Club

National disability charity for people with complex disabilities including deafblindness. Runs Connect and Play sessions (ages 0-8), holiday clubs and Saturday morning clubs (ages 8-18), forest school, and communication support across multiple UK centres.

London

101 Pentonville Road, N1 9LG

Sensory ProcessingLearning DisabilityPhysical DisabilityOther
Ages 025View details

Special Olympics Great Britain

Respite & Activity Club

Largest provider of year-round sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. 140 clubs across the UK offering 27 sports from football to ice-skating, judo, boccia, and skiing. Young Athletes Programme for ages 2-7.

London

London, W1T 4TQ

Learning DisabilityAutism / ASDOther
Ages 025View details

The Yard Adventure Centre

Respite & Activity Club

Purpose-built indoor and outdoor adventure playground for disabled children and young people in Edinburgh. Offers go-karts, sensory rooms, soft play and creative activities.

City of Edinburgh

22 Eyre Place Lane, Broughton, Edinburgh, EH3 5EH

Autism / ASDADHDLearning DisabilityPhysical Disability+2 more
Ages 025View details

We Are Beams

Respite & Activity Club

Supports disabled children and young people aged 4-19 and their families in Kent. Short breaks, The Buzz Club with bowling, crazy golf, sailing, and beach trips. Dragon's Retreat overnight respite care facility with sensory room.

Dartford

Dartford, Kent, DA1 1SQ

Physical DisabilityLearning DisabilityAutism / ASDOther
Ages 025View details

WheelPower

Respite & Activity Club

National charity based at the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement providing wheelchair sport opportunities and activity days for disabled children, young people and adults.

Buckinghamshire

Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Guttmann Road, Stoke Mandeville, HP21 9PP

Physical DisabilityOther
Ages 025View details

Whizz-Kidz

Respite & Activity Club

UK's leading charity for young wheelchair users up to age 25. Life-changing mobility equipment, free youth clubs, residentials, work placements, and wheelchair skills training. Activities include wheelchair rugby, rock climbing, adventure days, and creative arts.

London

4th Floor, 3 Albert Embankment, SE1 2TH

Physical Disability
Ages 025View details

Finding respite and activity clubs

Every family needs a break sometimes, and children with SEND need activities where they can have fun without the pressure of fitting in. Respite services and specialist activity clubs offer both — a chance for parents to recharge, and a chance for children to enjoy sport, arts, outdoor activities, and socialising in an environment designed around their needs.

What they do

Respite services provide short breaks — anything from a few hours to overnight stays — where trained staff look after your child. Activity clubs run regular sessions (after school, weekends, or school holidays) with activities adapted for children with additional needs. Staff understand SEND and know how to support communication, sensory needs, and behaviour. Ratios are typically much lower than mainstream clubs.

When to seek help

If you're exhausted from constant care demands, if your child can't access mainstream clubs or activities, if siblings need one-on-one time, or if you simply need a few hours to yourself, respite and specialist clubs can be a lifeline. There's no shame in needing support — looking after yourself means you can better look after your child.

What to expect

Most services carry out an initial assessment or registration meeting to understand your child's needs, interests, communication style, and any medical requirements. Sessions are structured but flexible, with high staff ratios. Good providers will keep you updated with photos and feedback. Your child might take a few sessions to settle, which is completely normal.

Typical costs

Costs vary widely. Some Local Authority respite services are free for families who meet eligibility criteria (usually requiring a social care assessment). Charity-run clubs often charge nominal fees (£5 to £15 per session). Private activity clubs may charge £15 to £40 per session. Short Breaks funding from your Local Authority may cover or subsidise costs — it's worth asking.