MORE than 60 families spent last weekend at Nell Bank outdoor activity centre in Ilkley celebrating LS29 Special Needs Support Group’s tenth birthday.

LS29 is a positive, adventurous group of local families, who want to create the best life possible for their children with special needs and siblings.

The group was founded in 2006 by three parents who met in the park at the end of a particularly difficult half-term holiday. They spoke about feeling isolated, not being invited to events and the sadness their children experienced. The initial publicity party attracted 15 families and they have now grown to more than 100.

The weekend's celebration was a great success, with live music, dance, arts and crafts, a sensory area, mini zoo, face painting, outdoor games and a ceilidh.

The LS29 group is extremely grateful for the support of Ilkley Round Table, which contributed towards the funding of the event. The Round Table has been long-term supporters of the LS29 group, and has generously funded outings, activities and weekend residential trips during the past ten years.

LS29 chairman, Karen Goodman, said: “We are so lucky to have had the ongoing support of Ilkley Round Table, which has allowed us to be able grow and offer even more families a range of different experiences through activities and events, which they otherwise may not have had the opportunity or confidence to try."

LS29 group is an entirely parent-led charity offering support, events for all the family and information. It offers much-needed activities in school holidays, after school and at weekends to reduce isolation, offer inclusive family experiences and develop skills, independence and friendships

Most of the 100 families that use the LS29 Group live in the LS29 postcode of Ilkley, Addingham, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.

This month the group was also thrilled to be the regional winner for Yorkshire in the ‘Britain Has Spirit’ Community Initiative award, organised by Together Mutual Insurance. The awards were introduced to recognise the work carried out by local voluntary community groups, and LS29 will now be entered into the national competition in September, where it could be in with a chance of winning £25,000 towards making local play areas more accessible for children with special needs.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the group, either to join as a family or to support the charity through fundraising, can find out more information at the ls29group.co.uk website.