Families United 2024: A Year of Connection, FUN, and Support

Families United 2024: A Year of Connection, Fun, and Support

As 2024 comes to a close, we look back on an incredible year filled with FUN, laughter, and support at Families United.  We hosted a variety of events that brought families together, creating unforgettable memories and strengthening our community.

Throughout the year, our events provided families with opportunities to bond, learn, and grow together. From exciting outdoor adventures to informative workshops and festive celebrations, each gathering played a part in fostering a warm and inclusive environment, and opportunities for families to meet like-minded families.

We were thrilled to see so many families come together to share experiences, build friendships, and support one another. Whether it was through parent meet-ups, fun-filled activity days, or special events designed for families with unique needs, every event and every moment contributed to a stronger and more connected community.

Highlights from 2024

This year, we saw record participation in our events, with families coming from Warrington and the surrounding WA postcode areas. Some of the most memorable moments included:

• Blackpool Sandcastle, where families enjoyed splashing and sliding around.
• Barnstondale, Climbing, scrambling, archery, shooting, pool, axe throwing and so much more FUN was had!
• Puddle Project, which brought everyone together every month with an anything goes attitude that included barbequing sausages and making pizzas outside to kayaking on the Puddle!
• FUN Club, an opportunity for the kids to use their energy in a safe environment whilst the parents enjoyed a brew from the cafe. Highlights included our favourite Pony Proud, Bap Fusions Buffets, Mud & Bloom and Zoo Lab!

Each event was a testament to the power and the importance of creating spaces where families can feel supported, included, and valued.

Thank You for Being Part of It

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us in 2024. Your enthusiasm, participation, and support made this year one to remember. A huge thank you to our volunteers, sponsors, Supporters, funders and team members who worked tirelessly to bring these events to life.

As we look ahead to 2025, we can’t wait to continue growing our Families United community and offering even more opportunities to connect. Stay tuned for exciting announcements, and let’s make the next year even better!

A list of what we got up to in 2024 can be found below!!

Our 2025 adventures will soon be available here

January

• HAF Panto – 6th January @ The Parr Hall
• FUN Club – 7th January @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre 
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – 10th & 12th January with
  Guests Molly & Tom from Warrington Youth Zone @ The Old School Project
• Gullivers World Land of Lights – Saturday 13th
• Family Retreat – Sun 21st @ The Puddle Project
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub

February

• FUN Club – Sat 3rd @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Chop & Chat with Carers UK – Friday 9th @ The Old School
• Autism & Sea – Tuesday 13th February @ The Parr Hall
• Family Respite – Saturday 17th @ The Puddle Project
• Fresh Beginnings – Family Cook Together @ The Old School
• Space Play & Film – Saturday 24th @ Creative Space Preston
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub

March

• FUN Club – Sunday 3rd 12.30pm-2.30pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Family Respite (It’s all about the Mums!) – 9th @ The Puddle Project
• FUN Invades WYZ Tour & Play – Sunday 10th 10.15 am – 3pm @ Warrington Youth Zone
• Chop & Chat with Carers Trust UK – Friday 15th March – The Old School Project
• Fresh Beginnings – Sunday 17th – Family Cook Together @ The Old School
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – Date TBC with Guests TBC
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub
• HAF session – Sport Works 29th

April

• HAF sessions – Sport Works 5th & The Puddle Project 5th & 12th
• FUN Club – Saturday 6th 12.30pm – 2.30pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Play and Film – Sunday 7th @ Space in Preston
• Family Respite – Sunday 14th @ The Puddle Project
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – 22nd 7pm – 9pm
• Parent Art Therapy – Saturday 27th 2pm-5pm @ Bloomingart
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub

May

• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 5th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project​
• FUN Club – Sunday 5th 12.30pm – 2.30pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Saturday 11th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Play and Film – Sunday 12th @ Space in Preston
• Family Respite – 19th 11am – 3pm @ The Puddle Project
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – Monday 20th 7pm – 9pm
• Fresh Beginnings – Friday 31st – Family Cook Together @ The Old School
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 26th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub 

June

• FUN Club – Saturday 1st 12.30pm – 2.30pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 2nd 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Circus Starr – Saturday 8th June 1pm – Very limited tickets
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 9th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Family Respite – 15th 11pm – 3pm @ The Puddle Project
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – 17th 7pm – 9pm
• Crazy Races – Sunday 16th June @ Warrington Town Centre
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Saturday 22nd 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 30th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub

July

• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Saturday 6th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• FUN Club – Sunday 7th July @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Play and Film – Saturday 13th @ Space in Preston
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 14th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Disability Awareness Day – Sunday 14th @ Walton Gardens 
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – Tuesday 16th 7pm-9pm
• Family Respite – 20th or 21st @ The Puddle Project
• The Masked Singer – 26th @ The Puddle Project
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 28th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Wednesday 31st 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• HAF FUN Club – Monday 29th 1pm to 5pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC – Special Guest Zoo Lab!

August

• HAF Puddle – Friday 2nd August 11am till 3pm – Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC
• FUN Club – Saturday 3rd @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre​
• Chester Zoo Annual Summer Trip – 3rd August
• HAF FUN Club – Monday 5th 1pm to 5pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC – Special Guests Pony Proud
• HAF Barnstondale – Friday 9th 10am to 4pm – Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 4th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Wednesday 7th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• HAF Puddle – Friday 9th August 11am till 3pm – Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 11th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• HAF FUN Club – Monday 12th 1pm to 5pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC – Special Guests Pony Proud
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Wednesday 14th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• HAF Puddle – Friday 16th August 11am till 3pm – Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Sunday 18th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• HAF FUN Club – Monday 19th 1pm to 5pm @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC – Special Activity from Go Fly Your Kite
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Wednesday 21st 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Puddle2Paris Paralympic Fundraising Event – 21st @ The Puddle Project for 1 week, a virtual walk/run fundraiser!
• Space in Preston – Saturday 24th 12.30-4.30 – Sensory Play and film
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Saturday 24th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• Puddle Boccia World Cup – 31st @ The Puddle Project
• Relax, Refresh, Unwind! Drop in exclusive to FUN! – Wednesday 28th 10am – 2pm @ The Puddle Project
• HAF Puddle – Friday 30th August 11am till 3pm – Buffet & activities for the whole family funded by Dept for Education & WBC

September 

• FUN Club – Sunday 1st @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre​
• Family Respite – 21st or 22nd @ The Puddle Project
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – 16th 7pm to 9pm with FEEO (Families Empowering Each Other) @ The Old School Project, Fairfield St
• Space in Preston – Sunday 29th 12.30-4.30 – Sensory Play and film
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub
• FUN Bake Off Fundraiser – Further Details TBC

October

• FUN Club – Saturday 5th @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Family Respite – Sunday 19th or 20th @ The Puddle Project Spooktacular!
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – 14th 7pm to 9pm with FEEO (Families Empowering Each Other) @ The Old School Project, Fairfield St
• Space in Preston – Sunday 19th 12.30-4.30 – Sensory Play and film

• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub

November

• FUN Club – Sunday 3rd 12.30 – 14.30 @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• Family Respite – 16th or 17th @ The Puddle Project
• Chester Zoo Lanterns – Date TBC
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – 18th 7pm to 9pm with FEEO (Families Empowering Each Other) @ The Old School Project, Fairfield St
• Blackpool Sandcastle – Saturday 23rd November – Family splash & picnic
• Space in Preston – Sunday 24th 12.15-4.15 – Sensory Play and film
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub

December

• FUN Club – Saturday 7th 12.30 – 14.30 @ Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• FUN Chat, Connect & Inform: Empowering Parent Carers – Monday 16th 7pm to 9pm @ The Old School Project, Fairfield St
• Exclusive Magical Christmas @ The Puddle Project – Tuesday 3rd, 10th & 17th, Thursday 5th & 12th
• Space in Preston – Sunday 14th 12.30-4.30 – Sensory Play and film
• Christmas HAF FUN Club – Sunday 29th December 10am-2pm – Warrington Play & Sensory Centre
• HAF Chester Zoo Lanterns – Sunday 29th December 5pm-8.30pm – Chester Zoo
• Sport & Swim sessions are held each Sunday with Sport Works @ Woolston Live Wire hub