Happy New Year from the CAN Network
Is your New Year's resolution to try something new?
Whether you’d like to learn a new skill, try a new sport, or make new friends - we have all sorts of ideas for inclusive activities.
In this newsletter:
- drama and dance for all
- inclusive sports
- local youth groups
There is also a sneak peek at our new look CAN Card, as well as our regular useful contacts and information sections.
As ever, we would love to hear from you.
Do get in touch and tell us about any accessible events or activities you think our community would love to know about, themes you'd like to see featured in future newsletters, or activities you've been struggling to access locally.
 Drama and Dance
Many local dance and drama providers have experience working with children and young people with additional needs. Below are a few who specialise in inclusive sessions. Visit the Wokingham Local Offer dance, drama and music section to find more classes and providers near you.
StageAbility cater for children aged 5 – 18, with drama sessions in Wokingham and Earley. “Our classes are open to all children. If a child has one to one support at school, they will probably need one at drama to get the most out of their class. We work with Me2 Club to help find a volunteer to work with children who need support.”
Soundabout – online choirs and after school music making sessions using "music, sound, and silence to create opportunities where Learning Disabled people with complex support needs thrive".
Chance to Dance Stars CIC is a dance school for students and families in the disabled community. With classes between Reading, Coley and Bracknell - including Dance Movement Classes that cater for students who require extra physical support.
Make/Sense Theatre's youth theatre provides an "opportunity for SEN young people aged 11+ to be supported in developing their social skills and making friends whilst building their confidence and self-expression through drama and dance/movement." Sessions in Bracknell and Reading.
The Watermill Theatre, Newbury, run several drama Groups with additional support:
- Yes And (ages 8-12) & Ad Lib (12-17) supports neurodiverse and autistic children and young people.
- Duologue (ages 8+) uses BSL as well as spoken English, supporting deaf and hearing young people.
- Interlude, Interval and Scene Change provide gentle drama activities for children, young people and adults with wellbeing needs.
- For 18+ Fourth Wall introduces a Watermill production to adults with a learning disability.
 Inclusive Sports
ASD Family Help are opening up some new spaces at their Multi-Sports Club in Wokingham this New Year.
“If you have a young person who might enjoy some active fun and could join in within our ratio of 1 adult to 8 children, and you live in Wokingham, why not sign up now?”
Suitable for 5 to 18 year olds with special educational needs (such as autism, dyslexia, anxiety, OCD, ADHD or learning difficulties). No diagnosis required. Visit the website for more information and to complete the sign up form.
Visit the Wokingham Directory | Services in Sports page to search for local accessible teams and classes for a wide variety of sports.
 Local Youth Groups
Explorers Extreme Youth Club runs on Wokingham for young people 14 and over with additional needs. The club is focussed on social interactions and incorporates social nights, accreditation courses and trips away. Visit their webpage for further information.
Promise Inclusion's activities include:
- Smiles for Siblings - A group run in in both Wokingham and Bracknell to give siblings aged between 8 and 13 some ‘me time’, let off steam and have fun by taking part in a range of different activities.
- Youth Club - This social group is for young people aged 13 (in Year 9) to 19 with a learning disability and/or autism, offering an opportunity to socialise and have fun through a range of activities.
- Activites for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to build independence, self-esteem and confidence – these 18+ groups are ideal for young adults and “aim to ensure every individual has fun, learns new skills and improves existing ones, socialises with other people, (and) makes new friends”.
Berkshire - ASD Family Help provides monthly sessions in Wokingham for young people aged 12 to 18 years who are neurodiverse or have additional needs (such as autism, dyslexia, anxiety, OCD, ADHD or learning difficulties). No diagnosis is required and siblings can attend if spaces are available. For more information and to complete a sign up form visit the Teen Club webpage.
Camp Mohawk's youth groups for children and young people with ASD are currently at capacity, but you can register your interest to be put on the waiting lists for:
- Hawks (ages 15+)
- Kites (ages 12 – 14)
- Kestrels (ages 8 – 11)
The Engine Shed is a special interest group in Reading for autistic children, young people and adults. The club enables those with an interest in trains to come together with their peers to observe, play, talk and enjoy their hobby in a welcoming, safe and relaxing environment. Regular sessions for ages up to 10 and ages 11 to 17.
The Engine Shed’s Ramble and Rail group – for autistic adults aged 18-25. Guided walks from stations that can easily be reached from Reading. Email Sarah mail@theengineshed.org for more information.
For more youth groups and clubs visit Wokingham Directory | Services in Young adult clubs.
 New style CAN Cards are coming…
In 2026 we are beginning to roll out our new design, photo ID CAN card.
Both old-style (yellow) and new-style CAN Cards will continue to be valid until their expiry dates. We are contacting providers to ensure that they understand that both styles should be accepted during the transition period.
Please note – we do not have capacity to offer replacement new cards in place of valid old-style cards at this time. New style cards will only be issued to new applicants or upon renewal at expiry. Thanks for your understanding.
Useful contacts
Parenting Special Children - set up to help other parents/carers navigate the world of SEND. Empowering families whose children/young people are neurodivergent and/or have special needs and/or disabilities including early life trauma.
Promise Inclusion - a local charity that supports people with learning disabilities and their carers. Weekly, term-time Youth Club for young people aged 13 to 19 with learning disabilities and/or autism. Activity clubs for siblings aged 8-13 years old. Family liaison team offering emotional and practical support to carers; from support in meetings, to advice and information on benefits, form filling, housing, supported living, transition, education, mental capacity, power of attorney, deputyship and more. Monthly carers coffee/lunches, carers respite trips and information events.
SEND Voices Wokingham - an independent parent carer forum. Set up to ensure that families and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities in the Wokingham Borough, can have a voice and participate fully in the development of services.
Wokingham Carers Partnership - A partnership of three commissioned local charities: Age UK Berkshire, Berkshire Youth and Promise Inclusion. Offering information, advice, and support to people throughout the borough who are caring for a child or adult family member, partner or friend.
What is the CAN Network?
The CAN (Children with Additional Needs) Network provides an information and support service for families and carers of children and young people (aged up to 25) with additional needs and disabilities.
The CAN Network also maintains Wokingham Borough Council’s Children with Disabilities Register and CAN Card.
The Children with Disabilities Register is a voluntary, confidential list of information about children with diagnosed disabilities in Wokingham Borough.
The information shared with us is used anonymously to help plan and improve future services to meet the needs of local disabled children and young people.
Those eligible to join the Children with Disabilities Register can receive a free CAN card.
The CAN card is a photo ID card which can be used as proof of diagnosed disability. It's accepted by many local attractions as proof for concessions or free carer tickets.
Find out more about signing up to the register and receiving a CAN card here.
Get in touch
For support using our online application or for any other enquiries please email.
Disclaimer
By sharing information with you the CAN information network is not providing a recommendation or endorsement of a service/organisation.
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