New horizons for local LS29 charity

Ilkley’s holiday club for young people with additional needs LS29 Time will be an independent charity soon.

The club was formed in 2018 by members of the LS29 Special Needs Support Group to address a shortage of specialist childcare. Members were struggling to find holiday playschemes that could meet the needs of children with severe learning disabilities and complex health conditions.

Now in its fourth year, LS29 Time runs four days a week in the main school holidays, giving young people with disabilities aged 5-18 the chance to get together with local friends and enjoy new experiences while family carers have a short break from caring responsibilities. It welcomes 18-25 year olds with additional needs to come to the club as supported volunteers.

The new charity, to be called Moor Time, is in the process of registering with the Charity Commission. It will be dedicated to providing short breaks for disabled people, supported by the charity’s staff or their own personal assistants, while family carers have some respite time. LS29 will continue its work providing a support network for the whole family of young people with additional needs.

The time has come for LS29 Time to split from LS29 over the next year or so and form a new charity, says LS29 chair Karen Goodman: “The decision is mutual and amicable, it’s just the right time to do it for organisational reasons.

“LS29 members are involved with Moor Time and vice versa, so there will be lots of support and knowledge sharing between the two organisations. We are all excited about the opportunities this new venture offers our young people for fun and fulfilling short breaks”.

The holiday club is currently funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and Bradford Council’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. From the Autumn, the new charity plans to extend into offering weekend care for young people with additional needs.

Moor Time chair Jane Elliott said: “We are a small local charity with big dreams. We hope that we can develop our services so we are offering rewarding and enjoyable short breaks to people with additional needs throughout the year.

“Our long term objective is to work from our own adapted and accessible premises. We would like to be able to meet the need for specialist weekend, holiday and after school care in a setting that is inclusive and welcoming to all, without having to set up equipment like full sized change tables, hoists and temporary sensory rooms in rented venues each time.”

LS29 Time will be switching to Moor Time over the next year. For now, ways to support and volunteer with the charity can be found at ls29time.co.uk.

For more information, please contact ls29time@gmail.com; 07949 566731.

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