How To Find Leisure Activities
There are various activity schemes specifically designed for people with disabilities. These schemes can provide you with time out from your caring responsibilities, or be an opportunity to enjoy developing shared interests with the person you care for. As charges for such schemes can be subject to change we have simply stated whether activities are free or not.
Information
Many of the organisations listed in How To Get Information, Advice and Emotional Support have newsletters for their members which can be a useful source of information about leisure activities. The following may also be helpful.
Croydon Online
www.croydononline.org
Croydon Online is a community website and includes information about local organisations, activities and clubs for all ages and abilities. The website includes the Leisure Link newsletter which provides information on events and leisure opportunities for children and adults with learning disabilities.
Carers' Information Service
Tel: 020 8649 9339
www.carerscontactline.co.uk
The Carers' Information Service produces a free bi-monthly newsletter Carers' News, which includes information about activities and events for carers and the cared for person. The website has a regularly updated section entitled: What's New For Carers?
Children's Information Service (CIS)
Tel: 0845 1111 100
www.croydonchildcare.com
The CIS can advise you on any issue relating to local childcare and activities for children, including those with a special need or disability.
Croydon Council Day Centres
There are Social Services day centres for adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, older people and people with mental health problems, providing a range of support services and activities during the day. This could also be seen as a form of respite for carers. Access to day services is usually provided through referrals from a care manager.
Library Services
Libraries offer many opportunities for leisure activities including books, newspapers, children's story sessions and free Internet access. Croydon Central Library Museum & Arts (Tel: 020 8760 5400) can also give you details of your local library. If you and/or the person you care for are unable to get to a library, the Mobile Library Service (Tel: 020 8657 7210) regularly visits sites throughout the borough. Call them to find out your nearest stop. The Housebound Library Service (Tel: 020 8656 4148) provides a full range of library materials to customers in their own homes.
Lunch Clubs
Croydon Neighbourhood
Care Association (CNCA)
Tel: 020 8662 1000
There are neighbourhood care groups all over the borough run by volunteers. Many of these run free lunch groups, pop-ins and social activities.
Lunch Clubs Co-ordinator
Tel: 020 8760 5607
www.croydon.gov.uk
Lunch and social clubs for older people provide company and recreational
activities in an informal way. There are many around the borough, provided
by Croydon Social Services and by voluntary and community groups. Some offer
transport for the housebound. Croydon Council has a Lunch Club Co-ordinator
who can provide information about clubs in your area and whether charges
apply.
Social Events
Alzheimer's Society Croydon
Tel: 020 8662 5955
www.alzheimers.org.uk
The Alzheimer's Society Croydon provides a range of free activities including the Forget-Me-Not Cafe, which is a monthly social event for people with dementia, their families and carers.
Croydon Mencap
Tel: 020 8662 9201
www.croydon.cswebsites.org
Croydon Mencap runs a sports club on the second Saturday morning of the month and a leisure club on the first and third Saturday of the month for adults with learning disabilities and their carers. There is also a club every Monday evening for those with severe disabilities who must be escorted by a carer. Small membership charges apply.
Debbie's Club
Tel: 07956 593 718 debbiesclub@btinternet.com
Debbie's Club is a weekly evening social club for young adults with learning disabilities. There is an entry charge for new members and carers go free.
Eldon Phab Club
Tel: 020 8660 2631
www.phabengland.org.uk
Phab has a network of clubs offering free activities that all members, whatever their age or disability, can share together. Eldon Phab meets weekly and offers a programme of activities including talks, disco, bingo and quizzes. Carers and other family members are welcome.
Heart n' Soul
Tel: 020 8694 1632
www.heartnsoul.co.uk
Heart n' Soul is an arts organisation led by people with a learning disability. Their 'Beautiful Octopus' disco meets regularly at Croydon Clocktower. Charges apply.
Children's Activities
Croydon Crossroads Saturday
Club
Tel: 020 8688 4499
www.crossroads.org.uk
Croydon Crossroads Saturday Club is for children with a physical disability (this can be in addition to other disabilities) aged 8 to 16. The club is free of charge and includes a variety of activities and outings
Children's Disability
Saturday Club and Croydon Holiday Activity Scheme (CHAS)
Tel: 020 8726 6000
www.croydon.gov.uk
The Children's Disability Saturday Club and CHAS are free services for children aged 8 to 16 who live within Croydon and have a permanent and substantial disability. They need to have been assessed by the Croydon Council Assessment Team of the Services for Children with Disabilities as being in need of this service. Children cannot access these schemes unless they meet these criteria.
Croydon Contacts
Tel: 020 8665 0984
Croydon Contacts provides supported leisure activities for disabled young people aged 11 and over, including an allotment club, youth club, cinema club and lunch club. They also run family events for all ages. Charges apply.
Croydon Mencap Youth Club
Tel: 020 8662 9201
www.croydon.cswebsites.org
Croydon Mencap runs a youth club for young people with a learning disability aged 11 to 16 every Thursday evening. Small membership charges apply.
Croydon Sports Development
Team
Tel: 020 8760 5592
www.croydon.gov.uk
Croydon Sports Partnership run sports activities for children aged eight and over, including those with disabilities. Activities take place during school time, after school, weekends and in the school holidays. Charges apply. Please note that this organisation may undergo changes in its provision from April 2006.
Croydon Council Youth
Service
Tel: 020 8726 6000/ 07990 790 183
www.croydon.gov.uk
Croydon Council Youth Service runs a number of clubs for young people with disabilities. Small charges apply for all these clubs. Special Blend meets on a Monday evening for people aged 18 to 25. Pipedreams meets on a Wednesday evening for people aged 14 to 18. Boomerang Youth Club meets on a Thursday evening for people aged 12 to 25. This is an integrated club for young people with a learning disability and their friends. Fabulous After-School Club is for people aged 12 to 18 and meets on a Tuesday after school.
Sure Start Broad Green
Tel: 020 8649 8441
www.surestart.gov.uk
Sure Start has a fully equipped soft play zone and sensory room at their office in Broad Green that can be booked for a one hour session free of charge. It is open every day and available to any family in Croydon with a child with a special need or disability.
Treetops Children's Centre
Tel: 020 8688 3263
www.croydon.cswebsites.org
Treetops Children's Centre is run by Croydon Mencap for children aged 4 to 12 with learning disabilities and offers a range of play sessions. It is open after school, alternate Saturdays and in the school holidays. Places are limited due to the size of the facility. All children will need to be assessed before being offered a place. Charges apply.
Whitgift Snap
Tel: 020 8405 6933
www.whitgiftsnap.org.uk
Whitgift Snap is a two-week summer holiday playscheme, with one to one support from volunteers, for children and young people aged 5 to 25 with physical and/or learning disabilities. You will need to apply early to get a place. Charges apply.
Sports
Active Lifestyles
Tel: 020 8726 6900
www.croydon.gov.uk
Active Lifestyles runs courses that are a great opportunity to learn a new skill, improve your health and meet new people. The programme of activities aims to encourage people to start taking regular exercise, taking the initial step towards improving health. Charges apply.
Bouncability
Tel: 07932 523 497
Bouncability runs trampolining classes for disabled children and young people.
Sessions are held throughout the week. Charges apply.
Cycling for All
Tel: 07767 420 936
www.cyclingforall.org
Cycling for All offers children and adults with disabilities and balance problems the opportunity to use a wide range of adapted tricycle equipment, for solo or companion cycling at Croydon Sports Arena in South Norwood. They are open every Monday and Saturday morning (between February and December). A professional cycling instructor can teach all ages and abilities. Children and young people under 18 must come with their parent or carer and siblings are welcome. There is no charge to hire cycles but the arena makes a small charge per person to use the track. It is also possible to try out equipment if you are thinking of purchasing a bike.
Diamond Centre
Tel: 020 8643 7764
www.diamondcentre.org.uk
The Diamond Centre is based in Carshalton and provides therapeutic and recreational horse-riding and carriage driving. The centre is open during term-time only and charges apply. There is a waiting list.
Disability Sports Club
Tel: 01883 344 355
The Disability Sports Club at Stafford Sports Centre in Caterham is for teenagers and adults who have a sensory impairment, physical or learning disability. The club offers an opportunity to enjoy indoor sport with professional coaches. Sports offered include: trampolining, short tennis, boccia, new age curling and short mat bowls. The club is open to Croydon residents. Charges apply.
Enterprise Swimming Club
Tel: 020 8644 4851
The Enterprise Swimming Club is for disabled children and adults and is held at Purley Swimming Pool on Friday evenings. There is no charge for using the pool, but the Enterprise Swimming Club has an annual membership fee.
London Recumbents
Tel: 020 8299 6636
www.londonrecumbents.com
London Recumbents is based in Dulwich Park and sells and hires out adapted bikes to ride in the parks that are suitable for all ages and abilities. Charges apply.
Saturn V
Tel: 01883 623452
www.saturnv.co.uk
Saturn V is a Rebound Therapy and special needs trampolining centre in Caterham
for children and adults with mild to profound learning difficulties or other
disabilities. Charges apply.
Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres
There are a number of centres around the borough offering sports activities
and swimming sessions. Special entry rates may apply for carers and disabled
people. You may need proof of the cared for person's disability such as
Freedom Pass or I-Count Card, in order to get a carer discount.
Thornton Heath Healthy Living Centre
Tel: 020 8689 5300
www.leisure-centre.com
Thornton Heath Healthy Living Centre has a swimming session for carers and disabled people on a Friday evening, other swimming sessions are open to all.
New Addington Pool and Fitness Centre
Tel: 01689 842 553
www.leisure-centre.com
Purley Pool and Fitness Centre
Tel: 020 8668 7251
www.leisure-centre.com
At the centres above swimming sessions are open to all, but there are no specific sessions for disabled people and carers.
Going Out
Artsline
Tel: 020 7388 2227
www.artsline.org.uk
Artsline offers free information on venues, access details for wheelchair users, facilities for people with a hearing or visual impairment and can advise on prices and concessions.
Carers' Information Service
Tel: 020 8649 9339
www.carerscontactline.co.uk
The Carers' Information Service runs subsidised one day coach outings four times a year for carers. The person you care for can also attend. Information about outings is sent with their free, bi-monthly newsletter Carers' News to all carers on the mailing list.
Carers Centre
Tel: 020 8688 7219
The Carers Centre has regular outings, holidays and events for carers throughout the year.
DisabledGo
www.disabledgo.info
DisabledGo maintain a detailed website giving local information on all aspects of going out in Croydon, including pubs, restaurants, and shops.
Royal Association for
Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)
Tel: 020 7250 3222
www.radar.org.uk
RADAR runs the National Key Scheme that enables you to obtain a key that opens any disabled public toilet in the UK. A guide listing their locations is also available as part of the website www.direct-enquiries.com.
Shape London
Tel:
0845 521 3457
www.shapearts.org.uk
Shape London is an arts booking service for people with disabilities and the over 70s. It offers reduced rates and accessible seating. A key feature of the scheme is that if you have difficulty with using public transport a volunteer driver can be provided to take you to the theatre and enjoy the show with you.
Staying In
Association of Blind Asians
Tel: 020 8558 6972
www.aba-uk.org
The Association of Blind Asians runs a postal service, to which you must be referred by Social Services, that produces and distributes books and magazines in Gujarati, Hindi and Urdu on audio cassette.
Big TV Guide
Tel: 0800 781 8003
www.bigtvguide.co.uk
The Big TV Guide is a subscription only TV listings magazine that is printed in A3 with large print and audio description listings.
British Wireless for the
Blind Fund
Tel: 01622 754 757
www.blind.org.uk
The British Wireless for the Blind Fund distributes radios to blind and partially sighted people in need via local agencies. They are made available on free permanent loan and repaired by the Fund when necessary. In addition, it sells adapted and custom built audio equipment.
Listening Books
Tel: 020 7407 9417
www.listening-books.org.uk
Listening Books provides a postal audio book library service to people who find it difficult to access written material. Annual membership charges apply.
National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries (NATLL)
Tel: 020 7255 4616 www.natll.org.uk
Croydon does not have a toy library. If you need advice about suitable toys for a child with a special need or disability talk to your health visitor or occupational therapist or contact NATLL.
Royal National Institute for
the Blind (RNIB) Talking Book Service
Tel: 0845 762 6843
www.rnib.org.uk
The RNIB Talking Book Service is a library of professionally recorded audio books, suitable for all ages and delivered through the post to your door. Annual subscription charges apply.
Talking Books
Croydon Libraries run a free postal
service of talking books for people who are blind or partially sighted.
There is also a reading machine in Croydon Central Library, which scans
pages of text and reads them back.
Talking Newspapers Association of the United Kingdom
Tel: 01435 866102
www.tnauk.org.uk
TNAUK has newspapers and magazines on audio tape, computer disk, email, internet download and CD rom for people with a visual impairment or those who, because of a physical disability, find reading difficult. Annual subscription charges apply.
Wireless for the Bedridden
Society
Tel: 0800 018 2137
www.w4b.org.uk
The Wireless for the Bedridden Society provides televisions and/or radios for people who are in financial need and confined to their home for a wide range of reasons including physical disability, mental health problems and difficulties associated with age. Applications need to be recommended and supported by a sponsoring organisation.
Write Away
Tel: 020 8964 4225
www.write-away.org
Write Away is a penfriend club for disabled children (and their siblings) aged eight and over. Annual membership charges apply.
Written and compiled by the Carers' Information Service. If you notice any errors or omissions, or have any comments to make, please contact the Carers' Information Service on 020 8649 9339 or email us at info@carerscontactline.co.uk