When a child needs specialist support, one-to-one care or supervision throughout the day, finding suitable accessible holiday activities can be incredibly difficult. For some families, the holidays can mean providing intensive care around the clock, with little opportunity to rest, work or simply have some time for themselves.

At Little Miracles, we see this need every day.

During the school holidays, demand for our inclusive activities for children with additional needs is huge. For every place we offer, around five families can come forward. Our sessions can book up within minutes, and for every child we are able to support, around five more families may be waiting.

Last week, the BBC visited Little Miracles to hear from some of the families who rely on our support.

"You still want them to have that childhood"

Sam's 14-year-old son Alex has complex needs and requires round-the-clock care. He cannot walk, talk, eat or drink independently and also experiences drug-resistant epilepsy.

For Sam, finding somewhere Alex can enjoy himself, feel included and simply be treated as a child is incredibly important.

"At Little Miracles, Alex wasn't looked at as if he was a child with needs, he was simply looked at like a child," she says.

"Usually people are a bit worried about him because he is in a constant seizure, or he doesn't quite look exactly like other children, he's not doing the same things as other children, but they [Little Miracles] saw past that. They just saw a child who wanted a fulfilled childhood."

Sam also describes Little Miracles as a lifeline, because without our activities, there are very few places where Alex can safely take part and have fun.

"It feels like family"

Laura is mum to eight-year-old Logan, who has Larsen syndrome, affecting his development and mobility. Logan needs daily physiotherapy, speech exercises and respiratory treatment, and is also undergoing assessment for autism.

Finding accessible holiday clubs for disabled children can be challenging, with many mainstream activities unable to provide the specialist support some children need.

Laura and Logan travel around 45 minutes to attend Little Miracles activities in Peterborough.

"There's nowhere else we can go. I feel comfortable and safe here. We don't feel judged and we can be ourselves, and it doesn't matter whether we're having a good day or a bad day – we all support each other."

For families like Laura's, Little Miracles provides more than an activity. It provides a safe, welcoming environment where children can have fun and parents know their child's needs are understood.

 

There simply aren't enough places

The experiences of Sam and Laura reflect a much wider issue for families of children with additional needs.

National research has found that only 6% of disabled children in England can access a holiday club, while more than half of parent carers have struggled to find accessible holiday provision.

Although holiday programmes such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme provide valuable opportunities for eligible children, these aren't always suitable for children with more complex needs. Some children need one-to-one support, specialist care, adapted activities or an environment where they can be themselves without fear of being judged.

That's where we come in.

Across our centres, we provide inclusive holiday activities, trips, themed sessions and opportunities for children with additional needs to play, socialise and simply be children.

But the demand is far greater than the number of places available.

Michelle King, founder and CEO of Little Miracles, knows how important this support is. She understands personally the challenges families can face and how difficult it is when there simply isn't enough suitable provision.

"It doesn't matter how many spaces we have, there is never enough. It's heartbreaking to have to say no to someone and it keeps me awake at night thinking about families that can't get the support they deserve."

Help us support more families of children with additional needs

We want every child who comes through our doors to have the opportunity to have fun, make friends, build confidence and enjoy their childhood, while parents and carers have the reassurance that their child is somewhere safe, welcoming and understood.

But we can only do this with support, but or every 100 places we offer, around 500 families come forward.

Your donation can help us provide more accessible activities for disabled children, create more places during the school holidays and support more families who have nowhere else to turn.

Together, we can help more children with additional needs experience the fun, friendship and freedom that every child deserves.

Watch and read more

The BBC recently visited Little Miracles to speak to families about the challenges they face and the difference inclusive activities can make. Please read the article through the link, and watch the BBC Look East footage below.