Skylarks is run by parents, for families. We aim to remove the isolation that can be created by disability and additional needs and provide a supportive and active community where the whole family is supported and can develop. Our mission is to provide a one stop shop where families can receive practical and emotional support, and children could access therapies and creative activities. We have 2,800 families on our register, and our community keeps growing because there's nowhere else like us out there!

Why the community needs us even more during the pandemic:
Having a child with disabilities and additional needs is challenging and complex in all areas of their lives. Now it's impacted by being in lockdown and away from their support, routine and familiarity. Parents and children are struggling to maintain a sense of normality and in these uncertain times everything, including their health is much harder to take care of. In normal circumstances, we would be holding our weekly sessions, but now we've swiftly moved online to provide as much as we can via zoom.

Here's what our families think: "Everything Skylarks do is helpful and essential"."Skylarks has made a huge difference - seeing other children who also have difficulties has helped her to understand and realise that she is not alone by being 'different' ". "I feel supported and connected and so does he. We are happy here". "I can't tell you how much Skylarks means, but if you offered us pots of money not to go you could keep the cash!"."Skylarks is one of the groups that "gets it".

Our impact on the community
New Government regulations mean we are now able to support young people up to the age of 25. Our membership consists 2,600 children on register aged 0-25 years. We engage them on a weekly basis through our outreach activities including information, resources, help for parents/carers and signposting services. Last year we have directly supported 500 children through activities, therapies and other events. Thank you for taking the time to consider our small, hard working and award winning charity of 14 years.