SPDC

So, as I mentioned in a previous post, we as a family get to go to various activities through different groups that are there to support children and families in our situation.

One group that we are part of are called SPDC, this stands for Sandwell Parents for Disabled Children. They are fantastic!!!

As we are on their mailing list, we get sent information about the various activities that they are running. In the summer holidays, we went to a soft play place, horse riding, adventure centre and they held a party at the end of the holidays.

We had a fabulous time at all the activities, and what makes these occasions even better is that there are staff on duty that come along to the activities to give a helping hand if needed. Siblings are also invited to the activities which I think is a great idea.

For example, the soft play centre trip. SPDC had booked the whole centre out which meant that all the children with additional needs could feel comfortable climbing, playing, sliding and generally having fun without getting knocked over or picked on or laughed at.

Reuben had a great time considering he doesn't usually like those places as he finds them noisy and there are too many people. Hermione, Reuben's sister also came along which meant that she got to meet other siblings like her who have a brother or sister with additional needs.

The horse riding trip was great too. Reuben got to assigned to a horse which was called, Arnie. 

When we got there the children were all given riding boots and a helmet. They were then taken to their horses stable to brush the horse and help put the saddle on.

Reuben was quite good at brushing his horse, in fact he was actually quite gentle. Although I had to keep a close eye as Reuben seemed to like the brushes texture on his tongue and kept licking it. He must have also thought the horse had an interesting smell as he kept smelling it (and even had  a cheeky lick of the horse)

Once he had groomed his horse he then got the chance to ride it. I think Reuben enjoyed this, he didn't seem too bothered to be fair and was more interested in chewing the strap on his helmet!

All day while at the horse riding day, the staff from SPDC were there to offer any help, hand out drinks and take lots of photos. Again, Hermione and Bethany came along and also got a horse to look after and ride on. The staff were there to help them too which I thought was great.

The SPDC recently celebrated their 25th anniversary (amazing as I only heard about them in July 2013) and they held a party for all the children, parents and there siblings. I booked to go to this but admit, I was a bit dubious as Reuben doesn't really like parties and these sort of events turn out to be a disappointment with only a few things for the children to do.

I am pleased to say that i needn't have been worried. It was a great fun filled afternoon.

Reuben really wasn't keen on going in once we got there and refused to go in (probably because he has never been to that building before)

Once in, and the promise of cake, Reuben seemed to relax and enjoy himself. There was thankfully a cake stand and Reuben ended up visiting it around 3 times!!!

There were stalls to win things and stalls to buy things. There was a pamper area where not only the parents could get a treatment but also the children. There were wheel chair sports which Hermione loved and there were out door activities too such as football, face painting and a barbecue.

Yet again the SPDC staff were there on hand to look after the children if needed, take part in the activities or just stand and chat.

I am so thankful that I have found this group and am now looking forward to going to many more of the activities they organise.

Unfortunately we missed a brilliant one recently where they hired out the entire leisure centre swimming pool one evening, with chips and drink afterwards. But I am sure there will be another one like it soon.

So now school holidays and weekends don't seem so daunting, knowing that they are going to be arranging things that we can all go on and feel comfortable doing.