SMILE

09/06/2026

05/05/2026

Almost a week has passed since the launch of Blue Tokens across various Tesco stores. We would like to thank Clare Hanson for sending in this picture of her placing a blue token. We appreciate everyone who will choose us.

23/04/2026

🌟 Exciting News from ARCOS SMILE Project in Malvern! 🌟

We are so happy to share that we've been chosen to be part of the Tesco Blue Token Scheme from April 28th through to the end of July 2026! 🎉 The SMILE project is all about helping neurodivergent young people build social and communication skills in a friendly, supportive environment.

If you shop at any of the participating Tesco stores listed below, we'd be truly grateful for your support. Every token helps us continue making a positive difference! 💙
Thank you for your kindness and support! 😊

14/04/2026

Everyone had a fantastic time during our Play sessions for 5-10 year olds in the recent Easter Holidays, as part of our SMILE project.

The sessions offered a wonderful variety of activities for the children, emphasising learning through play and sensory experiences. A big thank you to all the staff and volunteers for making it possible!

13/04/2026

On Friday, April 10th, Amy and James took a group of children to the Warhammer shop in Worcester to learn how to play the game.

The children collaborated to explode the Ork Stomper!

A big thank you to Jack and Steve for hosting us. Afterwards, they built the mini of the month before heading to the Dice Box to enjoy milkshakes and play a game of Carcassonne.

07/04/2026

Amy Goff our EOTAS lead, had been thinking about doing this for a while 🧠💭, and when the opportunity presented itself last year, she jumped at the chance 🎉 to attend the Brick By Brick course 🧱, to become a Certified Advanced Facilitator.

Playing LEGO with it in a therapy setting promotes social interaction 🤝, turn-taking skills 🔄, sharing 🤲, collaborative problem-solving 🧩, and learning concepts 📚 for neurodivergent children 🧠🌈.

It can be used to target goals around social skills 🗣️, language 🗨️, and motor skills 💪. By using a widely loved tool like LEGO, it taps into existing motivation 🚀 and boosts self-esteem 🙌 by allowing participants to showcase their skills in a social context 🌟. It also creates a positive opportunity for guided social problem-solving 🧠💡 to develop social skills that can be applied in other situations 🌍.

Autistic children sometimes find it challenging to understand what is expected of them in social situations 🚧, especially during unstructured play activities 🎲. LEGO-Based Therapy provides a highly structured environment 🏗️ where everyone has a specific role within the group 👥. This can help Autistic children feel calm and relaxed 😌🧸, as they are doing something they enjoy ❤️ and know exactly what to expect and what is expected of them 🎯. For Amy's practical course, she created an underwater scene 🌊 complete with a shipwreck 🚢.

30/03/2026

We would like to say a massive thank you to Worcestershire Ambassadors again for the generous funding we received for our SMILE (Sensation, Movement, Interaction, in Life Experiences) Project.

The SMILE project provides a programme of therapeutic play and respite for children and young adults aged 3-25 with special and additional needs from the Worcestershire area.