Hi myself and my little buddy Kaiam will be taking part in the superhero tri in August.

Kaiam enjoys coming to play at Swings & Smiles because it’s a safe place he can be himself. Kaiam has severe speech and language difficulties and sometimes finds it hard to play with other children as he worries they won’t understand him.

Kaiam will try and stay away from certain social situations due to the issues he faces so this is going to be a massive achievement for him and we are really looking forward to completing this challenge.

Swings & Smiles provides activities for children and young people aged 0-19 years old with a wide range of disabilities and special needs to be able to enjoy playing together without the pressures often experienced in wider community settings. There does not need to be an official diagnosis or proof of disability to attend Swings & Smiles, anyone who would struggle to access recreational activity of this sort is welcome to come.

They support the whole family including parents, carers, the child with special needs, brothers, sisters and grandparents. The support is hugely varied and depends on the needs of the family, They will tailor support to individual need. Swings & Smiles also welcomes adults with disabilities who may benefit from this type of environment and visits from community groups and respite providers. Rhys Lewis