Give a gift to JIGSAW this Christmas! Our winter campaign for 2025 is raising vital funds to help us keep our safe space where young people with additional needs can be themselves without judgement. The rent for our home in the heart of Thornbury costs £1,800 per month and every donation towards this has an impact for the young people we support. You can donate online easily via our website, choosing to donate a one off amount, or a regular gift each month. https://buff.ly/3rKkZHW Thank you 💜
JIGSAW Thornbury
Non-profit Organization Management
Thornbury, England 177 followers
We support children and young adults (0-25 years) with additional needs and their families.
About us
JIGSAW THORNBURY is a charity based in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire. It was set up in 2013 by parents to support families with children and young people with any additional needs. This may be learning disabilities such as dyslexia to complex disabilities or health problems, and may be without diagnosis. We offer a range of events, socialising opportunities, support and information, signposting and the JIGSAW SENsory Lending Library. All events are open to parents/carers, siblings and children with additional needs. Last year we offered around 65 events and sessions and welcomed over 1000 attendees. SENSORY LENDING LIBRARY The library offers around 300 specialist items for families to borrow. Items include toys, Special Educational Needs (SEN) equipment, developmental toys & sensory items. There are items for children with additional needs and toys for their siblings. SEN resources & items to help with calming and relaxation. We are gradually expanding this resource and welcome donations which may help other families. SOCIAL AND SPECIAL NEEDS EVENTS These events provide a relaxed atmosphere for parents to meet and have some fun, whether it be craft events, skittles, tours of local businesses or outdoor activities. There is also an active Dad's Whatapp social group. Special Needs Awareness events are specifically designed to support families coping with particular needs and we are responsive to the demand from our community. We usually bring in a specialist from that particular field, and they can provide valuable information and advice, providing a friendly ear and answering questions. WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS We offer an opportunity for parents to come and share their concerns in a safe and understanding environment. Here we provide support for parents, eg. completing Disability Living Allowance forms or going through the Education Health and Care Plan process. Experts also attend the sessions from time to time providing advice and support. The session also provides a fun and relaxed play environment for the children and their families to attend, where items from the Lending Library are out to use, volunteers are on hand to play with the children and parents/carers can meet to chat and give/receive support. We also provide “signposting” families of children with additional needs to other specialist services appropriate to their particular child’s need. We continue to be responsive to parents needs in order to help them best cope with their own specific situation. HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES During every school holidays, activities are provided for children with additional needs, their siblings and parents/carers. These events are inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all families, and we aim to offer a range of activities including Forest School, horse riding, climbing wall/adventure centre. The activities are planned to encourage children to achieve things they did not think they could do, and so help them develop, learn and grow in confidence. The holiday activity events provide a real opportunity for families to have fun together with others going through similar experiences and provides a much needed break for the whole family in an relaxed environment.
- Website
-
http://www.jigsawthornbury.org.uk
External link for JIGSAW Thornbury
- Industry
- Non-profit Organization Management
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Thornbury, England
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2013
- Specialties
- Charity, Learning disabilities, Autism, Physical disabilities, Additional needs, Queens Award for Voluntary Service, SEN, Lending Library, Holiday activities, Support Groups, Youth Volunteers, Training, and Anxiety
Locations
-
Primary
Get directions
15/17 Saint Mary Street
Thornbury, England BS35 2AB, GB
Employees at JIGSAW Thornbury
-
Helen Staff
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer/Charity Trustee
-
Nikki Drake
Advanced Clinical Podiatrist - High Risk Foot. Independent Prescriber. Lead research Podiatrist for REDUCE project. Co-Chair for South West England…
-
Andrew Wilson
Retired-Part time Project Management Volunteer
-
Sara Waterhouse
Training Coordinator at JIGSAW Thornbury
Updates
-
🎄 The whole team at JIGSAW Thornbury wishes our members and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The office is now closed. Our team will be taking a well-earned 2 week break for the Christmas period returning on Monday 6th January. Hattie our CEO has written a Christmas message with her reflections on our charity's impact over 2024 and news of fundraising events planned for the New Year. You can find this on our website
-
🎉 We are ending the year on a high with 2 nominations for the Thornbury Town Council Mayor’s Awards! Please vote for JIGSAW Thornbury in the Community Hero (Group or Organisation category) to help us reach the final. You will also find nominations for Hattie Clayton, our CEO, for consistently going above and beyond to ensure JIGSAW families are supported, advocated for, and welcomed into the community, and 2 small businesses that have supported our charity: Elite Fitness Thornbury and Raybeam Makes. You can vote once in each category with voting open until Thursday 2nd January. Our nomination was written by some of the young people who join in with JIGSAW regularly. ‘‘JIGSAW has meant a lot to me growing up as it is a place I can go to without feeling judged and misunderstood. Also, being a young volunteer has pushed me to do things I would never have been able to do without JIGSAW being there supporting me all the way. The opportunities they have given me are very special as being a neurodivergent young person in this society is very challenging but with JIGSAW I can be myself and prove everyone wrong. JIGSAW changed my life for the better.’’ Vote here 👉
Thornbury Town Council | Mayor’s Awards
https://www.thornburytowncouncil.gov.uk
-
We're very proud of everything the group of young people attending our Youth Empowerment Sessions have achieved this year. They have bravely shared their own experiences and collated the views of other young members with the ultimate aim of making the world a fairer, more inclusive place for young people with additional needs or disabilities. To celebrate they enjoyed a Christmas meal out last week and were joined by 3 members of the South Gloucestershire Youth Board, helping to build connections and join up efforts to drive change for young people in our community. Read more about our Youth Empowerment Services here https://buff.ly/3OZQyeZ
-
-
Thank you to Thornbury Golf Centre for hosting our two youth clubs for their end of term trip last week. All the young people had so much fun both on the driving range and playing snooker in the games room afterwards. We are pleased to announce that we are in the process of confirming a golf fundraising day with them for 2025. Look out for more news in the new year when we will be able to confirm the date and will be looking for sponsors for the event too!
-
-
A date for your diary! Our Tuesday morning invite sessions kick start 2025 with a visit from an Irwin Mitchell representative on 28th January. Parenting a young person with additional needs as they transition into adulthood comes with a whole new learning curve. We are fortunate enough to have a visit from a Solicitor from Irwin Mitchell to answer questions and help with subjects such as mental capacity, power of attorney, wills and trust funds. Enabling your young person to be as independent and financially secure as possible in a supported way. No need to book, this is a drop in session for parents and carers to attend with or without young people. https://buff.ly/4gxsYlv
-
-
Vote for JIGSAW Thornbury in the Thornbury Mayor's Awards! We've been nominated for the Community Hero category for our work with children and young people with additional needs or disabilities, and their families. The public vote is open until Thursday 2nd January 👇
Thornbury Town Council | Mayor’s Awards
https://www.thornburytowncouncil.gov.uk
-
Give a gift to JIGSAW this Christmas instead of sending Christmas cards! You can donate online easily via our website, choosing to donate a one off amount or a regular gift each month. https://buff.ly/3rKkZHW Donate now! 💜
Donate
https://www.jigsawthornbury.org.uk
-
Raise funds for JIGSAW Thornbury this Christmas! Our Wellbeing craft packs for adults and young people make ideal gifts and are available in the JIGSAW Shop now at £4 each! https://buff.ly/3gWeIoo Choose from: * Make your own relaxing mood mist * Design your own pencil case * Make your own lip balm * Cross Stitch – The Heart of JIGSAW craft kit We also have some fabulous Forset School Activity Kits and Den Building if your children or young people love the outside! Order from the online JIGSAW shop for delivery, or collection from our venue in Thornbury. Members can also buy during our regular group sessions. #Charity #Wellbeing
-
-
This #GivingTuesday please give a gift to JIGSAW Thornbury and help us keep our safe space in your community, where we know young people with additional needs and disabilities can thrive? One of our young members said: "JIGSAW has meant a lot to me growing up as it is a place I can go to without feeling judged and misunderstood. The opportunities they have given me are very special as being a neurodivergent young person in this society is very challenging but with JIGSAW I can be myself and prove everyone wrong. JIGSAW changed my life for the better." We are grateful to all the individuals and groups who donated to JIGSAW during our last financial year (April 2023- March 2024). Together, they contributed almost £30,000 towards our life changing impact! Every donation helps us in raising the amount needed to keep our home open as a safe space for families. It costs £1,800 per month to rent our space in the heart of Thornbury. This is a vital expense that opens up opportunities for our member families to connect, fit in, and thrive when too often other spaces have failed to do this. You can donate easily online via our website, choosing to donate a one-off amount or a regular gift each month. Click here and see what your gift can provide https://buff.ly/3rKkZHW Thank you!
-