We enjoyed a February packed with exciting activities, community celebrations, empowering courses and incredible achievements from our SPACE families! From a fun-filled half term for neurodivergent children and young people to a special celebration of Hertford hosted by the Mayor, our Primary Steps course in Stevenage, and an inspiring fundraising challenge that smashed its targets – there was so much to celebrate. Read on for all the highlights!
Half Term Fun at SPACE
What a fantastic half term we had! We ran 12 different activities, welcoming over 250 children and young people to join in everything from pottery painting to gaming, doughnutting to soft play. It was wonderful to see so much laughter, joy, and connection in a truly inclusive and supportive space – this is what SPACE is all about.
Our Lending SPACE was also buzzing with activity, with over 70 families visiting during the break. Our new premises and sensory area are proving to be a huge hit, providing families with a welcoming environment to play, explore, and find support.
Lending SPACE is open all year round on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
One parent shared their experience:
“We love coming here and are so grateful we have this to come to where I feel happy and comfortable and not judged with my children so they can come and play. I am so grateful for the advice and help I have been given. I stopped going places with my son due to comments but seeing hun here he is the happiest and most comfortable as well as meeting other parents. I can’t thank SPACE enough for giving us a safe and fun place to come.”
Walking for a Cause: Over 1.6 Million Steps and £6,000 Raised!
Throughout February, #TeamSPACE took on the One Million Steps for 10,000 Families challenge to raise much-needed funds for neurodivergent children, young people, and their families. Together, our incredible supporters walked over 1.6 million steps – surpassing their goal and raising an amazing £6,000, thanks to match funding from our charity partners, Helping Herts.
For some families, it was the perfect way to stay active over half term. Others made a conscious choice to brave the cold and walk to school instead of taking the car. However they took part, their dedication was inspiring! A huge thank you to everyone who walked and all the people who donated in support of their amazing efforts.
💛 It’s not too late to donate and support their achievement – every donation is matchfunded, doubling the impact!
Celebrating Hertford and our local communities
We were honoured to attend a special event hosted by The Mayor of Hertford, Cllr Rachel Carter, celebrating the incredible communities that make Hertford such a vibrant and welcoming place.
A heartfelt thank you to the Mayor for recognising the contributions of organisations like SPACE and for bringing together so many fantastic individuals and groups who work tirelessly to support our local area.
At SPACE, we are proud to be part of this thriving community—empowering and supporting neurodivergent children, young people, and their families. Events like this remind us of the strength of local connections, and we look forward to continuing our work not just in Hertford, but across all of Hertfordshire, building inclusive communities where every family feels understood and valued.
Empowering Parents & Carers Through Primary Steps
We recently wrapped up our latest Primary Steps course in Stevenage, supporting parents and carers of primary school-aged neurodivergent children. This interactive, outcome-focused programme provides a calm, friendly, and accessible space where families can develop a deeper understanding of their child’s needs and gain a toolkit of strategies tailored to their families.
Here’s what some of our attendees had to say:
💬 “I have really enjoyed this course and will use strategies from each class. Thank you!”
💬 “Brilliant course, well delivered and very helpful, thank you.”
💬 “I absolutely loved this course and am gutted it has finished. I have found out so much and it has made me feel a little less alone.”
Primary Steps is built around key learning outcomes, including:
✔️ Understanding Neurodiversity
✔️ Beginning to Understand Your Child
✔️ Understanding Sensory Differences
✔️ Communication
✔️ Supporting and Developing Interaction
✔️ Understanding and Supporting Behaviour
We loved meeting and supporting everyone who took part. If you’re interested in joining a future Primary Steps course, stay tuned for upcoming dates. You can see all our upcoming free workshops and courses and book onto them here.
