The Island Project

05/03/2026

A worker who was bitten three times by an eight-year-old boy wants more support from the council.

05/03/2026

Join us for one of our informative SEND law training sessions in April and May. Our training is delivered virtually via zoom by a member of our legal team and aims to support families of children and young people with SEND in securing the education they are entitled to by law.

Training sessions are £79 and we also have funding available on our 'Introduction to SEND law' training for families who are unable to access a full price place (check event details for if this is available).

Book your place today: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/upcoming-training-events-for-parents-and-carers

05/03/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122116345077182250&id=61585467527224

27/02/2026

A little more peace and quiet..

We’re hoping to raise £600 to add a beautiful new bench right next to our school’s Peace Pole.

We want to give our students a dedicated spot to sit, reflect, and just "be" during their busy school day. It’s all about creating a calm corner for everyone to enjoy.

Want to help us create this calm little corner? You can donate here

Every little bit helps! Thank you for the support. ❤️

24/02/2026

What can we say! Thank You, again, to the amazing army of knitters at Graceful Hands.

We enjoyed a visit from Gemma and Denise today when they delivered Dammit Dolls and trauma bears for pupils

The Dammit dolls will be put through their paces tomorrow . . .

This amazing group of knitters deliver parcels all over the UK, helping diverse organisations such as neonatal units, cat and dog charities, homeless charities, as well as charities like The Island Project

They fund most of it themselves - if anyone is able to donate wool to their army of knitters, please do contact them - I am sure they will be grateful

🙏 🧶🧶

23/02/2026

Did you know that 40% - 80% of autistic children experience ongoing sleep difficulties. Poor sleep affects learning, behaviour, emotional regulation, and the wellbeing of the whole family.
Train in paediatric sleep support grounded in neurodiversity-affirming research.
https://buff.ly/26SjMAY

22/02/2026

18/02/2026

Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs are designed to give young people a financial start in adulthood. But for those who lack mental capacity to manage their money, accessing those savings can mean facing a complex, lengthy and often costly legal process.

For many families, this feels deeply unfair. These savings were set aside for their child’s future yet when that future arrives, the money can be out of reach.

On Wednesday 4 March, Contact and the UK’s largest Child Trust Fund provider, OneFamily, have organised a parliamentary meeting.

MPs will have the opportunity to hear from families and financial providers about the possible solutions to unlocking savings.

MPs are much more likely to attend if they hear from families in their constituency.

Invite them here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rlblvlrnnl

18/02/2026

I mentioned on my stories last night about how we’d been having a lovely day, and then out of nowhere I got a huge slap across the face.

Which hurt a little, but shocked me more than anything. I gave Jude some space for a while, he calmed, and we carried on with the transition to his mum’s house.

It’s a tricky topic to talk about, being on the receiving end of your child’s frustrations. How in that moment of overwhelm, how during a meltdown, it can turn into aggression and lashing out. Often at those closest to them. To us.

How at times we might feel afraid of our child, especially as they might be bigger and stronger than us now. Feel like we spend our days walking on eggshells. Flinch at a totally innocent moment and feel incredibly guilty afterwards. Feel incredibly anxious ourselves and find it hard to relax, our bodies being so used to being hyper-vigilant, trying to avoid a meltdown.

But how do you talk about it? We don’t want people to think badly of our children. Hold onto a fear that others will think our children are dangerous, that we can’t cope, and that something will happen to them.

Who do you talk about it with? Who would truly understand what it’s like?

The first few times it happened, when Jude was only 4 or 5, it shocked me deeply. This wasn’t in the parenting plan. This wasn’t how life was supposed to go. I must be doing something wrong. I must be an awful parent. I can’t even make my kid understand what’s right or wrong. Why does he want to hurt me?

As time went on, as I learned more about autism, anxiety, meltdowns, aggression, and self injurious behaviours, I changed my way of thinking.

These moments aren’t my fault. Nor are they Jude or Tommy’s. Nor are we the only family experiencing moments like this.

I got hundreds of messages last night, people saying they felt seen, relieved to know they’re not the only ones. And whilst that knowledge might not help when you’re in the midst of a meltdown, I hope it helps afterwards. To know it’s not your fault. To know there’s so many other families out there who get it.

To know you’re not alone ❤️

16/02/2026

We’re excited to launch a new Sensory Sport session on Saturday 21st February taking place at Auckland Hall, 25 Sunbeam Close, B36 9JR, working with Sporty Minds, Sense, Think Active and Solihull Active. The session is designed specifically for children aged 5–11 with complex needs. The sessions provide a safe, supportive and accessible way for children to enjoy activities.

The promotional poster includes a booking QR code and the link to the same booking page is-
https://www.sense.org.uk/shop/online-shop/sensory-sport-solihull-5-11yrs/

Please note that there are only eight family spaces available for this session.

The term “complex needs” refers to situations in which an individual has two or more co‑existing, significant conditions such as learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, or sensory impairments that substantially affect daily life and require a higher level of support.

For more information you can contact Matthew Rickard (information on the poster)

16/02/2026