Connect

03/06/2026

This week, on national volunteers week, we would like to send a huge thank you to everyone who is part of Connect.

To the trustees and committee members who show up to meetings, help us to find funding, collect data after sessions and come up with fantastic ideas for new sessions, we say thank you.

To the volunteers who show up to the weekly sessions, to holiday clubs and to the seasonal special events, the ones who make the brews for parents, grab the tissues when needed, help a child to regulate themselves or take a deep dive into a child's world and imagination and play alongside them, we say thank you.

The the volunteers from all of the other amazing organisations that we are lucky enough to collaborate with, we say thank you.

Connect wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you, all of you are part of the fabric of what we do.
THANK YOU

Tag someone amazing below, to say thank you!

02/06/2026

We had a fantastic session with Adaptive Gaming last night!
8 young people came along to play games and learn about content creation, as well as making connections with each other and above all, having fun! The next session is full, but there are still some spaces on the 29th June.
Message us to enquire about a space

01/06/2026

Tonight's session is full!
Spaces still available on the 15th June and the 29th June. Message to secure a place

🚀💚 EXCITING NEWS FOR HIGH PEAK SEND FAMILIES! 💚🚀

**Already limited places and must enquire in advance**

We're incredibly proud to announce that Adaptive Gaming Youth & Community CIC has been awarded funding from the University of Derby Civic Community Funding Programme to deliver our:

🎮 SEND Digital Creators Lab: Powered by Adaptive Gaming
In partnership with Connect, these FREE sessions are designed specifically for neurodivergent and SEND young people who love gaming and creativity.

Using gaming as a shared interest and confidence builder, participants will have the opportunity to:

🎥 Create gaming content and highlights
🎮 Play and collaborate with like-minded peers
💻 Learn basic video editing and digital skills
🤝 Build confidence, communication and friendships
🌟 Explore creativity in a safe, supported environment

📍 Gamesley Community Centre
📅 Monday 1st June
📅 Monday 15th June
📅 Monday 29th June
⏰ 4pm – 7pm

Places are limited to ensure a supportive experience for every young person.

A huge thank you to Connect for their continued support and to the University of Derby for believing in the power of gaming and digital creativity to create positive opportunities for young people across Derbyshire.

This pilot programme will also help us build a case study to demonstrate the impact of SEND-focused digital creator sessions and explore opportunities for future provision in the area.

📩 Please contact Connect to enquire about booking a place.

💚🎮✨

01/06/2026

We're here in Pico Lounge set up and ready to meet you! We've got the lovely Georgia here from High Peak Community Arts Film Cuts Club to talk to us about the groups they run.
Come down for a chat and a brew on this gloomy Monday morning!

31/05/2026

Love this!! Maybe the DfE and BP will get the hint if everyone unfollows them on social media!
Comment Done ✅️ below if you unfollow both pages!

Ahead of the return to school tomorrow for many, and the threat of a Term 6 DfE socials propaganda campaign, we cordially invite you to join us to boycott their socials pages.

✅Unfollow
✅Do not like or comment
✅Do not share their posts

Why?
Well...
Apart from squandering public funds for their PR stunts, denying schools (and ALL pupils) money (at least £90m) for resources, specialist support, staff etc. they have:

1. Continuously made decisions, written policy and changed legislation without consulting the people whom it will affect (i.e. all families).
2. Refused to listen to people on the ground, who have been willing to give up their time for free and have been asking for their views to be taken into account.
3. Refused to build multiple new schools, including special schools, and instead diverted that money into their Schools White Paper and SEND reforms (the investment they keep talking about is not "new", it's diverted.)
4. Placed the entirety of any accountability on schools, without increasing funding at all.
5. Made all of the above choices with NO evidence.
6. Given local authorities more power to enter family homes, refuse home education, remove children from their parents, allow opinion to be recorded on a child's record as fact, introduced digital ID for children (through their NHS number) and enabled data sharing without consent between public authorities. (This is not an exhaustive list, just a selection.)

There are many other things I could add here, not least denouncing all SEND families as 'snobs', but I won't.

If you understand, please consider joining us. Please and thank you. 🙏💜

31/05/2026

Hope you've all had a fabulous weekend!
Here's what's happening this week at Connect;

MONDAY 1ST JUNE

9.30 - 11.30
PARENT CARER MEET UP AT Pico Lounge
Come along for a brew and a chat with other parents and carers. We have Georgia from the Film Cuts Club at High Peak Community Arts to talk to parents & carers about what they can offer our children and young people at their sessions.
TEA & COFFEE PROVIDED, PEER SUPPORTERS AVAILABLE

4pm - 7pm
DIGITAL SKILLS LAB AT Gamesley Community Centre
A funded workshop for children and young people with SEND age 10-16 to learn some digital creative skills with Adaptive Gaming. Places are limited and must be booked in advance.
TEA, COFFEE & REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED, PEER SUPPORTERS AVAILABLE

THURSDAY 4TH JUNE

4PM - 6PM
STAY & PLAY BOARD GAME CAFE AT Gamesley Community Centre
Board Games, Arts & Crafts for children and young people of all ages with SEND and their families. PLUS introducing for the rest of the summer term, Dungeons & Dragons at Stay & Play! Georgia from the Film Cuts Club at High Peak Community Arts is also coming along again, this time to talk to talk to our children and young people about what they offer.
TEA, COFFEE & REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED, PEER SUPPORTERS AVAILABLE

Please get in touch with us if you need more information

31/05/2026

Last few spaces for tomorrow's session! Send us a message to secure your place

🚀💚 EXCITING NEWS FOR HIGH PEAK SEND FAMILIES! 💚🚀

**Already limited places and must enquire in advance**

We're incredibly proud to announce that Adaptive Gaming Youth & Community CIC has been awarded funding from the University of Derby Civic Community Funding Programme to deliver our:

🎮 SEND Digital Creators Lab: Powered by Adaptive Gaming
In partnership with Connect, these FREE sessions are designed specifically for neurodivergent and SEND young people who love gaming and creativity.

Using gaming as a shared interest and confidence builder, participants will have the opportunity to:

🎥 Create gaming content and highlights
🎮 Play and collaborate with like-minded peers
💻 Learn basic video editing and digital skills
🤝 Build confidence, communication and friendships
🌟 Explore creativity in a safe, supported environment

📍 Gamesley Community Centre
📅 Monday 1st June
📅 Monday 15th June
📅 Monday 29th June
⏰ 4pm – 7pm

Places are limited to ensure a supportive experience for every young person.

A huge thank you to Connect for their continued support and to the University of Derby for believing in the power of gaming and digital creativity to create positive opportunities for young people across Derbyshire.

This pilot programme will also help us build a case study to demonstrate the impact of SEND-focused digital creator sessions and explore opportunities for future provision in the area.

📩 Please contact Connect to enquire about booking a place.

💚🎮✨

29/05/2026

We have very limited spaces left now for Monday, send us a message to enquire

🚀💚 EXCITING NEWS FOR HIGH PEAK SEND FAMILIES! 💚🚀

**Already limited places and must enquire in advance**

We're incredibly proud to announce that Adaptive Gaming Youth & Community CIC has been awarded funding from the University of Derby Civic Community Funding Programme to deliver our:

🎮 SEND Digital Creators Lab: Powered by Adaptive Gaming
In partnership with Connect, these FREE sessions are designed specifically for neurodivergent and SEND young people who love gaming and creativity.

Using gaming as a shared interest and confidence builder, participants will have the opportunity to:

🎥 Create gaming content and highlights
🎮 Play and collaborate with like-minded peers
💻 Learn basic video editing and digital skills
🤝 Build confidence, communication and friendships
🌟 Explore creativity in a safe, supported environment

📍 Gamesley Community Centre
📅 Monday 1st June
📅 Monday 15th June
📅 Monday 29th June
⏰ 4pm – 7pm

Places are limited to ensure a supportive experience for every young person.

A huge thank you to Connect for their continued support and to the University of Derby for believing in the power of gaming and digital creativity to create positive opportunities for young people across Derbyshire.

This pilot programme will also help us build a case study to demonstrate the impact of SEND-focused digital creator sessions and explore opportunities for future provision in the area.

📩 Please contact Connect to enquire about booking a place.

💚🎮✨

28/05/2026

There's an app for pretty much everything these days, including Connect!

Click the link below to download our app and keep up to date with meet ups, events and more.

There are also chat forums on there so that you can access peer support at any time of the day or night! Join today to help us build our network of peer support.

Don't forget to let us know what you think when you've had a look 👀

https://wix.app/invite/232b705c-0a5d-4fd0-893a-14f0e8f5e018/50ce0805-7460-44dd-acac-76783c0dc54e&s=true

27/05/2026

Contact us to book a place

🚀💚 EXCITING NEWS FOR HIGH PEAK SEND FAMILIES! 💚🚀

**Already limited places and must enquire in advance**

We're incredibly proud to announce that Adaptive Gaming Youth & Community CIC has been awarded funding from the University of Derby Civic Community Funding Programme to deliver our:

🎮 SEND Digital Creators Lab: Powered by Adaptive Gaming
In partnership with Connect, these FREE sessions are designed specifically for neurodivergent and SEND young people who love gaming and creativity.

Using gaming as a shared interest and confidence builder, participants will have the opportunity to:

🎥 Create gaming content and highlights
🎮 Play and collaborate with like-minded peers
💻 Learn basic video editing and digital skills
🤝 Build confidence, communication and friendships
🌟 Explore creativity in a safe, supported environment

📍 Gamesley Community Centre
📅 Monday 1st June
📅 Monday 15th June
📅 Monday 29th June
⏰ 4pm – 7pm

Places are limited to ensure a supportive experience for every young person.

A huge thank you to Connect for their continued support and to the University of Derby for believing in the power of gaming and digital creativity to create positive opportunities for young people across Derbyshire.

This pilot programme will also help us build a case study to demonstrate the impact of SEND-focused digital creator sessions and explore opportunities for future provision in the area.

📩 Please contact Connect to enquire about booking a place.

💚🎮✨