Yorkshire families enjoy magical woodland event
2 mins read
Monday 5 October 2026
Families of children with additional needs enjoyed a magical woodland event organised by Contact and Hope for the Future.
Held over two days in Middleton Park in Leeds, activities included an interactive theatre show in the woods with performers from REA, an environmental arts group, on stilts and a trapeze. There were workshops for children to create sculptures, play games and learn to walk a tightrope. 67 parents and children were given the opportunity to connect with each other and with nature.
Mary Mulvey-Oates, campaigns and policy lead at Contact, said:
“It was a fun and inspiring weekend. Families not only got to enjoy nature and theatre but also thinking about to drive positive change in their community. Lots of parents commented how they enjoyed connecting with others in similar situations. One family had recently come out of a long stay in hospital. Other families were at the very early stages of their journey as parent carers and will benefit from those connections.”
A Future for All is an arts-led project encouraging families to be at the heart of change, including on climate and nature. Contact has partnered with them on a project to show how campaigning can work on wider topics of interest. During the weekend, families wrote postcards to their MPs about the changes they hope to see for children with special educational needs (SEN), such as improving access to short breaks and respite care, accessible housing and reducing the long waits for children with autism and ADHD. One parent wrote to politicians asking them not to take away the “lifeline” of school transport.
Contact family support workers shared information about the support we offer, including our helpline and online advic. Leeds Parent Carer Forum also attended to share details of local support and opportunities to meet with other parents and have their voices heard in local decision making.