Darlington Association on Disability

03/11/2026

💜 CHYPS PARENT & CARER DROP-IN SESSIONS

Are you a parent or carer of a child or young person who accesses our Children and Young People’s Service (ChYPS), or are you new to the service and would like to find out more?

We'd love to invite you along to our Parent & Carer Drop-In Sessions!

Whether you're already part of ChYPS or just getting to know us, you're very welcome.

It's an opportunity to meet the team, ask questions, share ideas, have a chat and find out more about what we offer.

We'd love to see as many families as possible, so please feel free to pop in whenever suits you.

📢 Please SHARE this post! Even if you don't need the sessions yourself, sharing could help us reach new families who may not yet know about the support and opportunities available through ChYPS.

We look forward to welcoming you!

03/11/2026

Last night’s Youth Group had a fantastic time with Starboy Fitness & Massage!

Everyone got involved, enjoyed keeping active and had lots of fun, with plenty of laughs and even a competitive tug of war! 😂

A huge thank you to Starboy Fitness for such a brilliant session. We loved seeing everyone taking part.

03/11/2026

Are you interested in being a personal assistant/support worker?
Are you thinking about becoming an employer and employing your own personal assistants/support workers?

Sign up now to Free Training

There are spaces on the Oliver McGowan Training this Thursday (5th November), 9.30 to 4.30pm, Tandem Hub Morton Park

The training is named after Oliver McGowan. Oliver was a young man whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better skills, knowledge and understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

Book now - call us 01325 489999 option 2 or email [email protected]

For more courses please see

https://canva.link/g9mo8zryyjpq8hh

02/11/2026

Video of our Young People’s Session where they did a drumming workshop:

Get in touch if you would like to book one of our exciting drumming...

02/11/2026

What a fantastic idea from Skills for People! 💙

Behind every post-it note on this wall is a practical idea for making healthcare environments more inclusive and accessible for people with a learning disability and autistic people. 💡

From creating sensory maps for clinics and using Easy Read information, to providing ear defenders and visual information about staff and facilities, these are real, meaningful changes that can make a huge difference to people's experiences of healthcare.

Skills for People are Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training trainers, working alongside people with lived experience to help improve understanding, build confidence and encourage positive changes in healthcare settings.

At DAD, we are also proud to deliver Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, helping organisations develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to better support people with a learning disability and autistic people.

It's about more than training – it's about turning learning into action and making sure people receive the understanding, respect and support they deserve.

A big well done to Skills for People and everyone who contributed their ideas. Every small change can make a big difference! 👏

Behind every post-it note on this wall is a practical idea to make healthcare environments better for people with a learning disability and autistic people! 💡

During our Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, attendees reflect on what they’ve learned and write down real changes to implement back in their workplace—from creating sensory maps for clinics and using Easy Read leaflets, to providing ear defenders and pictures of staff rooms.

Why train with Skills for People?

40+ years of local experience: A trusted community partner supporting disabled people and families.
Lived-experience trainers: Delivered together with experts who share genuine insight.
Practical outcomes: Fulfills statutory requirements while giving staff actionable tools they can use straight away.

If your organisation needs to complete their mandatory Tier 1 or Tier 2 training, we are here to help you get it sorted.

Looking to book training for your team? Get in touch with Skills for People and find out how we can support your workforce!

0191 281 8737
[email protected]

02/11/2026

CARERS RIGHTS ROADSHOW 2026

Does someone you know look after or support a family member, friend or neighbour who couldn’t manage without their help? They may be an unpaid carer without even realising it.

The Carers Rights Roadshow 2026 is an opportunity for carers and those supporting others to meet local organisations, access advice and find out what help is available.

Date: Wednesday 18th November 2026
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Venue: Woodlands Wellbeing Hub (next door to St Teresa’s Hospice, opposite the hospital).

Visitors will be able to access information and advice about:

Benefits, money and financial support.

Carer breaks and opportunities to take time for themselves.

Grants and funding.

Counselling and emotional wellbeing.

Carers’ rights at work and within health services.

Local organisations offering practical support and advice.

There will also be information about wills and trusts, Lasting Power of Attorney and free energy-efficient items to help households save energy.

Anyone unsure about what support they may need is welcome to come along for an informal chat. Local organisations will be on hand to help identify the support available.

Refreshments will be provided, and everyone is welcome.

Please share to help raise awareness and reach carers who may not yet recognise themselves as carers.

For further information:
Contact: Darlington Carers Support
☎️ 0300 030 1215
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.dccarers.org

01/11/2026

Autism Friendly UK has been putting together a really useful resource for SEN families across the North East.

The aim is simple: to create one place where families can find out what's happening locally, without having to trawl through twenty different websites.

Christmas is the first big focus, and they've started pulling together a list of relaxed and SEND-friendly festive events across Durham and Teesside.

Here's a little of what's been found so far:

Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar: Twilight Santa sessions specifically for families with additional needs, Thursday 10 and 17 December.

Dalton Park, Murton: Quieter Santa visits every Saturday, 10–10.30am, with softer lighting and fewer people.

Darlington Hippodrome: Beauty and the Beast relaxed performance, Thursday 17 December at 12pm.

Empire Consett: Beauty and the Beast relaxed performance, Tuesday 29 December at 11am.

Forum Theatre, Billingham: Sleeping Beauty relaxed performance, Tuesday 8 December.

Middlesbrough Town Hall: The Snowman in a relaxed setting, Sunday 29 November.

There are also details of a SEND Santa in Darlington, a quiet grotto in Stockton and a relaxed performance of Rapunzel at Gala Durham.

The full list can be found here:

https://autismfriendlyuk.co.uk/relaxed-christmas-events-north-east

Every event is checked against information provided by the venue itself, so families have a reliable place to start when planning their festive outings.

It's very much a work in progress, and Autism Friendly UK would love to hear from families who know of anything that's been missed or have suggestions for what else would be useful to include.

The aim is to make finding inclusive things to do across the North East that little bit easier for SEN families.

Relaxed and autism friendly Christmas events in the North East for 2026: quiet Santa visits, relaxed pantomimes and calmer outings, with dates and booking.

01/11/2026

🚗 Worried about getting to a hospital appointment?

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust understands that travelling to and from hospital appointments can sometimes be challenging.

For anyone concerned about how they will get to their appointment, or worried about the cost of travel, support may be available.

Depending on individual circumstances, this could include:

Help with travel costs through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.

Non-emergency patient transport.

Local volunteer driver services.

Exploring whether an alternative appointment time, location or virtual appointment may be more suitable.

Patients who have concerns about travelling to their appointment are encouraged to speak to the team caring for them, who can help explore the options available.

Further information about transport support can also be found via the link:

Making Every Contact Count (MECC) Gateway: https://www.meccgateway.co.uk/nenc/services/Transport

🚗 Worried about getting to your hospital appointment?

We know that travel can sometimes make attending an appointment more difficult.

If you’re concerned about how you’ll get to your appointment, or about the cost of travel, there may be support available.

Depending on your circumstances, this could include:

- help with travel costs through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme

- non-emergency patient transport

- local volunteer driver services

- discussing whether a different appointment time, location or virtual appointment may be suitable.

If travel is a concern, please let the team caring for you know so they can help you explore the options available.

You can also find more information about transport support at the link in the comments👇

31/10/2026

Darlington Supported Housing Strategy – Have Your Say!

Darlington Borough Council is inviting residents to share their views on a new Supported Housing Strategy, which will help ensure people can access the right housing and support when they need it.

Supported housing helps people with additional needs to live as independently as possible while receiving the care, support or supervision they need.

It can benefit older people, people with disabilities, those experiencing mental ill health, people recovering from drug or alcohol dependency, and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Supported housing includes a range of options, such as care homes, extra care housing, sheltered accommodation and supported living schemes.

The Council is developing a new five-year strategy to help plan and improve supported housing services across the borough. It aims to support independent living and ensure residents have access to safe, good-quality homes and the right support, both now and in the future.

Residents are encouraged to share their experiences, views and ideas to help shape the future of supported housing in Darlington.

📝 Have your say by completing the survey:

https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/DSHS26VH10