On Saturday 23rd July, some DDX3X families got together for a Summer Meet Up, organised by Carol Field, a valued member of our DDX3X Support UK team. The venue was Thomley, a beautiful 8-acre charity-run, fully enclosed site set in the Buckinghamshire countryside, developed specially for children with autism and complex needs.
A fabulous day was had by everyone who attended and for most families it was a momentous occasion – the first time they had met another DDX3X family! The sun shone and lots of fun was had by all. There were so many activities to enjoy, from accessible swings and zip lines to trikes and go carts (which were definitely a big hit!). Alongside a sandpit, climbing wall and a play fort with slides was a new giant bouncy pillow which had opened for the first time only the day before. The safety and security of the enclosed site enabled parents to relax a little more than usual and gave some of the more adventurous children a rewarding sense of independence as they ran off along the cycle tracks through the long grass or explored the relaxing sensory garden.
Indoors there was a fabulous soft play area, a music room and an arts and crafts room, where we arranged a crown making activity for our DDX3X families to get creative. And for children who needed some quiet time parents could book the sensory room for a more chilled out session.
All in all, the day was a great success. There was some lovely positive feedback from parents, so hopefully we’ll arrange another event there in the future.
“We have definitely found our tribe and it was so lovely to meet and connect with everyone. Very much looking forward to the next meet up. I also have to say that the venue was amazing! We will definitely be going back soon.”
“Such a brilliant opportunity to meet other families and the venue was perfect. Let’s do it all again next year!”