Henry was diagnosed with autism just before his fourth birthday. Now agesd eight, he is largely non-verbal. His parents, Holly and Carl, are also raising Gracie (6) and Maggie-Rose (2), and balancing family life with Henry's needs can be a challenge.

 

“With Henry and Maggie-Rose, they both need the same care, in terms of toileting and getting dressed. I feel like I spread myself quite thin sometimes, because Henry needs a lot of support and attention.”

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Despite Henry’s ASD diagnosis, he was initially sent to a mainstream school before moving to a special needs school. Holly says: “Academically, he is maybe at the same level as a two year-old. He needs help with every aspect of daily care - even when it comes down to eating, he doesn’t sit down, so we need to make sure that he doesn’t choke.”

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When Holly and Carl discovered Swings & Smiles, they found a place where Henry could thrive and where the whole family felt understood. “It’s a nice, safe place to be. It’s welcoming.” Holly also values the sense of community among parents. “I’ve been here when a child was dysregulated, and the parent was like, ‘Oh, I feel so safe here, because I know you’re not judging me.’ And I laughed, and I said, ‘No, I get it completely.”

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The family have attended Family Play sessions for several years, and the support has been invaluable. For Henry, it offers opportunities and experiences that are difficult to access elsewhere. “It’s things like the sensory room, it’s not stuff that we can get easily at home. And the outside space as well, we love it,” Holly says.

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The activities have also helped Henry reach new milestones. “It must have been last summer - Henry had never been able to ride a bike, but here, you have bikes that he can pedal. And I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s the first time he’s ever done that!’”

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Swings & Smiles has also supported Henry’s sister Gracie through its sibling support service. “They do some lovely activities,” Holly enthuses. “She’s been on a barge, she came here for Christmas. It’s just giving her confidence to be like, ‘You can do it on your own’.”

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Swings & Smiles has introduced Henry to inclusive activities such as adapted climbing sessions. “With the climbing, Ellora [a staff member] just emailed me and said, ‘Do you think Henry would like this?’ And in the end, Henry really enjoyed it. We would definitely do it again.”

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Holly also appreciates the respite opportunities available through Swings & Smiles. “It’s nice for us to spend time with the girls, without constantly having to make sure Henry’s safe."

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 ​Reflecting on the impact of the charity, Holly says: “I think people need to understand that for Henry, he can’t access typical day-to-day activities. He can’t just go to an after-school club, he can’t go to a holiday club – they cannot meet his needs. So, to know that he can have respite, or have Family Play, or go on trips out that are made accessible, is so important. And it gives parents confidence. I think it’s just seeing a child as a whole and knowing that, just because there’s a need there, it doesn’t mean that you can’t access things. And you guys make that happen.”

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