Who goes to Wasdale?
 
Children and young people from the age of five up to the child's eighteenth birthday go to Wasdale.  About 55 - 66 children visit the centre, although not all at the same time!  Usually there will be 5 or 6 visiting for residential breaks and/or day care at any one time.
 
All the children and young people who visit Wasdale have a learning, physical or sensory disability, often to a significant level.
 
Wasdale does not offer short breaks to children and young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties but have no learning disability.  Experience has shown that these children have different needs.
 
Children and young people come to Wasdale from all over the District and from all backgrounds.  Each child is unique and within the group as a whole, there is a wide range of abilities and needs.  Every child has something to bring to life at Wasdale, and staff try to ensure that all children get as much as possible out of their time there.
 
One of the keys to success is to ensure that each child is part of a group with similar interest and abilities.  These children can then visit Wasdale together and be involved in similar activities.  Often children know other members of the group as they may attend the same school and sometimes have existing friendships.
 
What do children do at Wasdale?
 
First and foremost we hope they enjoy themselves and at the same time develop their existing abilities and learn new skills.
 
Wasdale itself has many facilities including a soft playroom, games/computer room, TV lounge and dining/playroom, plus a very exciting outdoor play area.
 
There is also an independent kitchen where older children may enjoy being more independent by helping to prepare their own meals and having a go at washing and ironing.
 
For children staying overnight at Wasdale, there are six individual bedrooms, two on the ground floor which are fully adapted for wheelchair users as well as four on the first floor.
 
Also on the first floor there is one shower room/toilet and one bathroom/toilet.  on the ground floor is a large bathroom, which is fully adapted for wheelchair users.  One of the downstairs bedrooms has an en-suite shower/toilet.
 
As well as the many activities at Wasdale itself, staff takes children out during their stay.  This may be to the local park or shops or nearby community facilities such as Cineworld, Xscape, bowling, horse riding and swimming.  Other trips are arranged to places of interest, which a child or their families have informed us they would enjoy.
 
Favourite trips have included the coast, train journeys, York cruises, circuses, the theatre, local parks and walks.

Wasdale has its own minibus, but public transport is also often used which gives children the opportunity to travel on buses and trains, thus promoting greater independence skills.
 
Spending money can be sent so that a child or young person can buy ice-creams etc.  This can assist their development in managing their own money.  Spending money will be kept in a lockable cabinet in their bedroom.  Any unused money is returned at the end of their stay.
 
There is no charge for attending Wasdale, but occasionally parents/carers may be requested to contribute to a particular outing or external activity.  However, no child will be excluded from any activity, where this is not possible.