Council-backed pilots aim to widen access to summer activities
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has funded two pilot summer schemes designed to make holiday provision more accessible for children and young people with additional or complex needs. The initiatives, delivered locally by Sensability and Stepping Stones NI, sought to provide tailored activities for participants while also offering parents and carers opportunities to meet, rest and access support.
The Council’s Inclusive Summer Scheme programme funded a week-long scheme run by Sensability at The Grove Activity Centre in Lisburn from 10 to 14 August 2026. The provision catered for young people aged between 5 and 19, with a programme of sensory, play-based activities developed around the needs, interests and confidence of those taking part.
Alongside sessions for children and young people, the Sensability programme included activities and therapies for parents and carers to connect with others facing similar challenges, an element the charity and families said added value for household wellbeing.
“They’re often at home 24/7,”
— a parent, Marina, reflecting on how the scheme gave her daughter the chance to spend time with peers during the summer and afforded Marina a period of respite and contact with other parents.
Six-week youth scheme offers range of activities
Separately, Stepping Stones NI received funding for a six-week Youth Service Summer Scheme that ran from 20 July to 28 August 2026. The programme delivered a broad timetable of activities, including bowling, gardening, baking, crafting, circus skills, drumming workshops and an educational visit to the Ulster Aviation Society.
Young people involved in the Stepping Stones scheme produced colourful artwork during their sessions and presented Councillor Sharon Lowry, chair of Communities and Wellbeing, with a hand-painted mug. Councillor Lowry visited both schemes to observe the activities and engagement first-hand.
- Provider: Sensability — week-long scheme at The Grove Activity Centre (10–14 August 2026), ages 5–19.
- Provider: Stepping Stones NI — six-week Youth Service Summer Scheme (20 July–28 August 2026).
- Main aims: Improve accessibility, offer sensory and play-based sessions, and provide peer support for carers.
| Scheme | Dates | Location | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensability | 10–14 August 2026 | The Grove Activity Centre, Lisburn | 5–19 |
| Stepping Stones NI | 20 July–28 August 2026 | Various (Youth Service Summer Scheme) | Not specified |
The pilots reflect the council’s stated priority to place inclusion at the heart of its services, seeking to ensure that families of children with learning disabilities or barriers to learning have greater access to community activities during school holidays.
Parents involved in the schemes described tangible benefits: children spending time with peers and enjoying creative and physical activities they might otherwise miss, while carers reported improved mental health and the chance to form supportive networks.
Councillor Lowry’s visits to the projects underlined the council’s interest in observing outcomes and assessing whether the pilot approach could be replicated or expanded in future to widen provision across the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.
As councils across Northern Ireland and the UK face pressures to meet diverse needs within tight budgets, local pilot programmes such as these offer a testing ground for targeted, community-led services. For families in Lisburn they have provided immediate summer options — and a potential model for more inclusive holiday provision in future years.
