Kangaroos

10/06/2026

Exciting news!

We’re delighted to share that Kangaroos has been selected to take part in this year’s Small Charity Week Match Funding Campaign with Big Give.

From 22–29 June, every donation made to our campaign will be doubled at no extra cost to the donor, helping us raise even more to support children and adults with learning disabilities and their families.

We’ll be sharing more details soon, but for now please save the dates. With 150 families currently on our waiting list, this campaign will help us reach more children and adults with learning disabilities who are waiting to access the support, activities and friendships that Kangaroos provides.

07/06/2026

“Volunteer at Kangaroos they said… it’ll be fun they said!”

As Volunteers’ Week comes to a close, we’d like to say a huge thank you to every single person who gives their time to support Kangaroos.

On Saturday, we brought together our sessional volunteers, volunteer trustees, staff team and family members who have helped throughout the year for a Volunteers’ Brunch. It was a lovely opportunity to celebrate the people who make so much of what we do possible, and to thank them for the time, energy and enthusiasm they bring to Kangaroos.

The morning included some fun volunteer awards, plenty of laughter and a chance to reflect on everything that has been achieved together. There was also an exciting update on our journey towards creating a permanent Hub for Kangaroos, something that would not be possible without the support of our volunteers.

A special thank you to Denise for organising the Volunteers’ Brunch, and for the thoughtfulness, support and encouragement she shows our volunteers throughout the year. Her care and dedication help make Kangaroos such a welcoming place to volunteer.

If you’ve enjoyed following our Volunteers’ Week posts and would like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. There are lots of ways to support Kangaroos, from helping at sessions and events to lending a hand behind the scenes.

A special thank you to for their generosity and support. Sue and the team could not have done more for us and helped make the morning such a success.

07/06/2026

So grateful, thank you so much.

Every child and young person deserves the opportunity to feel included, build friendships, grow in confidence and simply have fun.

That's why Focus Foundation is proud to have awarded a grant of £4,674 to support Easter holiday activities and trips delivered by Kangaroos Sussex for children, teenagers and adults with learning disabilities and additional needs across Mid Sussex.

💙 About Kangaroos:

For more than 30 years, Kangaroos has been creating safe, inclusive spaces where people with learning disabilities can thrive.

What began as a small parent-led play scheme in 1994 has grown into a charity supporting hundreds of children, young people and adults through year-round clubs, activities, trips and residential experiences.

Their work provides opportunities for friendship, independence, confidence-building and belonging, while also offering valuable respite for families and carers.

👋 Visiting Kangaroos:

Recently, our CEO, Katie Gibson, and Grants & Charity Manager, Mandi Stanley, had the privilege of volunteering with Kangaroos' PALS school holiday group.

Spending time with the children and young people, joining activities and seeing the confidence and joy these sessions create was incredibly inspiring.

What stood out most was the strong sense of belonging. Being surrounded by peers with similar experiences gave attendees a space where they felt understood, accepted and supported, a powerful reminder of why inclusive opportunities like these matter so much.

⭐ The impact of our grant:

Our funding helped support Easter holiday activities and trips for 60 children, teenagers and adults, creating memorable experiences, meaningful connections and opportunities to develop confidence and independence.

We're incredibly grateful to Becky Coles, Jenni Herrit and the entire Kangaroos team for the warm welcome and for the extraordinary work they continue to do for families across Mid Sussex.

To learn more about their work, please visit: https://www.kangaroos.org.uk/

06/06/2026

Are Emma and Jackie going to abseil 450ft from the doors of the Brighton i360 pod all the way to the ground?

Absolutely!

Are they scared?

Of course… but they’re doing it anyway!

On 28th June, Emma and Jackie will be taking on the Brighton i360 abseil to raise money for Kangaroos.

At Kangaroos, we help children and adults with learning disabilities grow and thrive within the community, build confidence and friendships, and live life without limits. Our trips and activities give our members the chance to enjoy new experiences, gain independence and make unforgettable memories.

They’re hoping to raise £500, and every donation, big or small, will make a real difference.

Donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/emma-and-jackie-are-taking-the-leap

A special thank you to the Focus Foundation for helping to make this happen.

01/06/2026

“Volunteer at Kangaroos, they said… it’ll be fun, they said.”

This week is Volunteers’ Week, and we’re taking the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of our incredible volunteers and trustees.

From weekly clubs and trips to events and special moments, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. They bring energy, kindness and a real sense of fun to Kangaroos, helping create a space where our members can feel confident, supported and part of something special.

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing a few glimpses into what volunteering at Kangaroos is really like, the fun, the friendships and everything in between.

Thank you for everything you do.

30/05/2026

We’re looking forward to being part of Lindfield Village Day today from 12pm!

Keep an eye out for our members in the procession, who have been busy creating some fantastic Winnie the Pooh-themed costumes and props over the past few weeks, including honey pot lanterns, flags, headwear and more.

We’ll also have a stall in the village and a Family Access Session, so please do come and say hello and find out more about Kangaroos and the work we do supporting people with learning disabilities and additional needs.

For more information about the day, visit:
https://www.kingedwardhall.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Village-Day-13pp-in-LL-2026-web.pdf

We hope to see you there!

24/05/2026

A huge thank you to everyone from Burgess Hill Horticultural Society who visited our Breakaway session after raising an incredible £1,394 for Kangaroos through plant and cake sales.

What started during Covid has continued to grow into something really special, and we are so grateful for all the time, effort and kindness that went into it.

A special thank you to Flo, Gerry, Stephen, Adam and Tim for their support. It was lovely to welcome them to the session and show how their fundraising helps bring people together, build friendships and create memorable experiences.

18/05/2026

We’re absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as Haywards Heath Town Mayor Cllr Duncan Pascoe’s Charity of the Year for his second term.

Duncan recently visited one of our Breakaway sessions, where he met some of our members, staff, volunteers and parents, as well as our CEO Emma Hunt, and joined in with the activities.

Thank you to Duncan and Haywards Heath Town Council for recognising the importance of what we do and helping us continue making a difference to local families and the wider community.

We’re really looking forward to working together over the coming year, with lots of exciting fundraising events and community involvement ahead.

15/05/2026

A huge good luck to Charlie as he takes on the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge this weekend in support of Kangaroos!

This incredible challenge will see Charlie take on 100km along the Jurassic Coast, that’s more than two marathons back-to-back over some seriously tough terrain. It’s an amazing achievement to even take on something like this, and we’re so grateful he has chosen to do it in aid of Kangaroos.

Every donation will help us continue supporting children and adults with learning disabilities, along with their families, through our clubs, activities and services.

Thank you, Charlie, for all your hard work, determination and support. We’ll all be cheering you on every step of the way!

If you’d like to sponsor Charlie and support his challenge, you can donate here:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/searls-land-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020