Hertfordshire’s free SEN equipment lending library
We have moved!
Lending SPACE has re-opened at our new venue: Unit 19, The Maltings Business Centre, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware, SG12 8HG. We are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays as usual from 9:30-12:30 and can’t wait to see you all again!
“Borrowed an egg chair and spinner for our little people today, the kids have had the best fun whizzing round in their chair. What a great opportunity to try out toys and sensory items for free before spending out. Thank you.”
Lending SPACE is an equipment lending library for families living in Hertfordshire with children and young people with SEN. It is also so much more!
We know that investing in specialist sensory, practical and educational equipment and resources can get very expensive very quickly for any family. Especially when it can sometimes be difficult to tell immediately if something is a ‘keeper’, a ‘fad’ or just not right for your child right now!
That’s why everything we have here at Lending SPACE is completely free for families to borrow. We have everything from trikes, pushchairs and scooters to weighted blankets, lap pads and hoodies to wobble cushions, body socks and compressions sheets to beanbags, peanut balls and books! It really is an ideal way to try expensive equipment to see if it works for the needs of your child.
While you are here, the Lending SPACE team can also help you with:
Friendly Advice: help and suggestions on equipment for your children’s specific needs
A listening ear: emotional and practical support
Signposting: knowledge and understanding of local community and statutory services and support
“We originally borrowed a buggy to try for our 6 year old ASD/GDD son. Since then, we’ve borrowed an array of items which has been an excellent way to “try before you buy”. Before using the service, we had bought many toys and equipment that our son simply didn’t use or stopped using after a short time.
They have also been able to give some excellent ideas for what we can borrow to support our sons ever changing needs and sensory issues, which has been really useful. All of the equipment is in excellent condition and they fully explain how everything works before you take it away. I highly recommend this service.”
Borrowing resources is so easy
Please drop in for a browse, a hot drink and a chat! We are based Standstead Abbotts near Ware, and are open from 9:30-12:30 Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings:
Unit 19, The Maltings Business Centre, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware, SG12 8HG.
While you are here, if there is other equipment and resources you would like to see the team will happily get it out for you. If you have your children or young people with you they are also welcome to have a little play with a small selection of resources to see if they work for them. And on Mondays, our Family Support Worker is also often on hand to lend a listening ear .
“I have three special needs children all with different special needs. I heard about Lending SPACE from my child’s school. It’s so helpful to us as we are a family on a very tight budget and SEN toys can be very expensive. The ladies who work in the building are always so helpful and try to accommodate all my children’s needs…We will be forever grateful that Lending SPACE are around.”
For more information or queries please follow our Lending SPACE Facebook page or email lendingspace@spaceherts.org.uk. The lending library is funded by Hertfordshire County Council.
Join us on Facebook!
Join 6,000 other parents and carers in Hertfordshire of children and young people on the autistic spectrum and/or with ADHD in our closed Facebook group. The SPACE Facebook group provides a hugely supportive peer network and is packed full of information, guidance and support. As it is a closed group it means nobody outside of the group can see what you are posting within the group. This is where you can laugh, cry, share successes, get advice or simply have a bit of a rant to other parents who ‘get it’.
We also have our SPACE Page where we add information and news of interest to the wider community around SPACE including information about our upcoming workshops, conferences and activities.