Supported Access & Short Breaks
Helping people access meaningful activities, experiences and opportunities through supported access and short breaks that support family flexibility and wellbeing.
Helping people access meaningful activities, experiences and opportunities
Supported access and short breaks are about helping people take part in meaningful activities, experiences and opportunities in a way that feels safe, planned and achievable.
For some people, accessing a club, activity, course, community space, holiday scheme, wellbeing opportunity or wider experience is not straightforward. They may need familiar support, communication help, sensory planning, preparation, transition support, emotional regulation support, or a flexible approach that responds to how they are on the day.
TishAbility supports access to recreational, social, learning, wellbeing and community-based opportunities as part of a wider person-centred support arrangement.
For some people, getting to and from an activity is part of making participation possible. TishAbility can support travel where it forms part of a wider person-centred support arrangement, helping people access activities, wellbeing opportunities, therapeutic settings, family life and everyday experiences.
The focus is not transport. The focus is enabling the person to access meaningful places and opportunities in a way that feels safe, predictable and achievable.
This is not a standalone taxi or private hire service.
Bespoke Community Support & Supported Access
We provide bespoke support to enable individuals to safely access meaningful activities, learning opportunities and community experiences that are tailored to their interests, strengths, needs and agreed outcomes.
Collaborative working
We welcome the involvement of parents, family members, schools, colleges, therapists, social care professionals and others who know the individual well. We recognise that those already supporting the young person often have valuable insight into what works best, what support is required and which outcomes are being targeted.
We actively encourage collaborative working to ensure support remains consistent across home, education, health and community settings.
Our role
Our role is to facilitate safe access to opportunities and experiences, not to replace specialist professionals or activity providers. Activities are often delivered by partner organisations, instructors, therapists or community providers, whilst we provide the support needed to enable successful participation.
What support may include
- • Preparation and planning before activities
- • Communication support
- • Total Communication approaches tailored to the individual
- • Sensory planning and regulation support
- • Emotional support and reassurance
- • Transition support between settings
- • Practical safety planning and risk awareness
- • Supporting participation during activities
- • Maintaining agreed staffing ratios
- • Generalising learning and skills across different environments
Communication support programmes
We can support the implementation of communication programmes and strategies under the direction of the individual's identified lead specialist. This may include communication systems recommended by Speech and Language Therapists or other communication specialists, such as:
- • PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
- • AAC systems
- • Visual supports
- • Communication books
- • Choice boards
- • Social communication programmes
- • Other specialist communication approaches recommended for the individual
Examples of activities
Activities may include:
- • Swimming sessions
- • Horse riding lessons
- • Equine and animal-based activities
- • Climbing wall activities
- • Outdoor education activities
- • Community leisure activities
- • Supported travel confidence and community access practice
- • Shopping activities
- • Eating out and learning how to order food independently
- • Using communication systems in real-world settings
- • Budgeting and money management activities
- • Community participation activities
- • Interest-based activities chosen by the individual
Agreed outcomes
Support is planned around agreed outcomes and may contribute towards:
- • Communication development
- • Social interaction and participation
- • Independence and daily living skills
- • Preparation for adulthood
- • Life skills development
- • Community access skills
- • Emotional regulation
- • Sensory-aware participation and sensory regulation
- • Confidence and self-esteem
- • Physical wellbeing
- • Safety awareness and risk management
- • Generalisation of learning across different environments
Safe staffing arrangements
Safe staffing arrangements are determined according to the individual's needs, communication profile, sensory needs, behavioural presentation, risk profile and agreed support plan. We work with families and professionals to ensure appropriate staffing levels are in place so that activities can be accessed safely, successfully and meaningfully.
Our focus is not simply attendance at activities. Our aim is to support individuals to participate, engage, communicate, learn, develop skills, achieve agreed outcomes and enjoy meaningful experiences within their local communities.
Supported access activities
We may support access to:
- • Clubs and hobby groups, including sports, arts, music and special interest groups
- • Courses and informal learning opportunities
- • Recreational and leisure activities
- • Social and friendship-building opportunities
- • Volunteering-style or work experience opportunities
- • Holiday and seasonal activity schemes
- • Wellbeing and therapeutic activity settings led by other providers
- • Community spaces, parks, cafés, libraries and local activities
- • Family activities and shared experiences
- • Activities that support communication, confidence, regulation and participation
Our aim is to help people access opportunities that are meaningful to them, not simply to fill time.
Bespoke Person-Centred Breaks and Supported Access
TishAbility supports access to bespoke, person-centred breaks, community experiences and wider life opportunities where these are linked to the individual's agreed outcomes, wellbeing, confidence, communication, sensory needs, life skills, family participation or preparation for adulthood.
We recognise that one model of short-break support does not fit every person or every family. For some individuals and families, residential short breaks or support away from home may work well. For others, that model may not feel right, may not meet the person's needs, or may create distress, guilt or separation from family life. Some families want to spend holidays, days out, family activities or community experiences with their loved one, but need practical support to make this safe, meaningful and achievable.
TishAbility can support bespoke access with or without family members present, depending on what works best for the individual and their family. This may include support during holidays, family outings, community activities, therapeutic or wellbeing settings, leisure opportunities, life skills experiences, short breaks or everyday routines outside the home. The focus is always on the person's identified outcomes and what helps them participate in ordinary life in a safe, supported and meaningful way.
Our role is to step in where the individual is—whether within the family context, alongside family members, or outside the family setting—where this supports the person's wellbeing, confidence, relationships, independence, communication, sensory regulation or access to meaningful experiences. This approach can help families stay connected and included, rather than feeling that support must always mean separation from ordinary family life.
Supported access can also help reduce the guilt or emotional strain families may feel when they want to include their loved one in holidays, activities or wider family experiences but cannot do so safely without the right support. Additional needs should not automatically exclude a person from mainstream activities, leisure opportunities, community spaces, family experiences or everyday life where reasonable adjustments and appropriate support can make access possible.
Our approach is grounded in inclusion and meaningful participation
We support preparation, transitions, communication, sensory planning, confidence, routines and participation so that individuals with additional needs are not unnecessarily excluded from ordinary opportunities. Support may include:
- • Helping the person prepare for an activity or experience
- • Supporting the journey as part of wider community access
- • Helping them manage transitions between environments
- • Supporting communication and understanding
- • Promoting confidence and positive engagement
- • Helping them return safely and calmly from the activity
This means the individual is not excluded from family life, holidays, community activities or wider experiences because of additional care or clinical needs. Instead, the right support should be planned around them, with each person, family member, professional or provider working within their proper role.
What we do provide: Non-regulated supported access, preparation, participation, practical support, community inclusion and wider person-centred support around the individual's identified outcomes.
What we do not provide: Personal care, nursing care, clinical treatment, CQC-regulated activities, domiciliary care, standalone transport, taxi services or passenger transport services.
Where a person requires regulated personal care, nursing care or clinical input during a break, holiday or activity, this should be identified and pre-arranged as part of the wider supported access plan. TishAbility can work alongside the family and the relevant registered provider or qualified professional so that the person's access, participation, routines, communication, transitions and wellbeing remain supported in a joined-up way.
Short breaks and flexible support
Short breaks can support both the person and their family.
They may give the person opportunities to enjoy meaningful activities, build confidence, practise life skills, develop communication, experience different environments and take part in community life.
They may also give parents and carers time to rest, attend to other responsibilities, spend time with siblings or simply pause from the intensity of daily caring responsibilities.
TishAbility's approach is flexible and person-centred. We recognise that a planned activity may not always be accessible on the day. A person's sensory needs, communication, emotional regulation, health, anxiety, energy levels or preferences may change.
We do not force rigid participation where this would be distressing or unsafe. We support preparation, pacing, processing time and gentle engagement. Where needed, we adapt the plan so that support remains respectful, meaningful and safe.
What flexible short breaks may include
TishAbility may support:
- • Regular weekly or fortnightly access to community activities, clubs, hobby groups, wellbeing sessions or activity schemes
- • Access to holiday clubs or seasonal activity schemes where support is needed to make participation possible
- • Flexible breaks shaped around the person's needs, routines, presentation, interests and environment
- • Community-based breaks within the person's local area
- • Supported access to activities locally, nationally or, where suitable, agreed and properly insured, internationally
- • Supported transitions to and from activities where this forms part of accessing the opportunity
- • Activities based on individual interests, strengths, communication needs and preferences
- • Social and recreational opportunities linked to the person's routines and lifestyle
- • Wellbeing and therapeutic activity access led by other providers
- • Family-linked activities where shared participation is important
- • Short breaks that support confidence, regulation, communication, life skills and community inclusion
The support is shaped around the person, their family, their environment and what is achievable at that time.
Supported holidays and wider experiences
TishAbility recognises that many families want support to access holidays, short breaks and meaningful experiences together.
For some families, a break is not just about time away. It may be about connection, wellbeing, family inclusion, sensory regulation, confidence, outdoor learning, shared memories and access to opportunities that would otherwise feel impossible.
Some services focus only on the person being away from home. TishAbility also recognises that some families want to remain connected and experience important moments together, with practical support around the person's access, transitions, routines and participation.
TishAbility may support access to holidays or wider experiences locally, nationally or internationally where this is clearly linked to agreed outcomes and remains within our non-regulated remit.
This support is about enabling participation, connection, learning and wellbeing. It is not clinical care, regulated personal care, nursing care, or a standalone travel or transport service.
Where a person needs regulated personal care, nursing care or clinical input during a break, holiday or activity, this should be identified and pre-arranged as part of the wider supported access plan. TishAbility can work alongside the family and the relevant registered provider or qualified professional so that the person's access, participation, routines, communication, transitions and wellbeing remain supported in a joined-up way.
Support before, during and after the activity
For many people, successful access depends on what happens before and after the activity, not just during it.
TishAbility may support with:
- • Preparation before leaving home
- • Communication and visual support
- • Sensory planning
- • Understanding expectations
- • Pacing and processing time
- • Transition support
- • Emotional regulation support
- • Support during the activity
- • Safe return and settling afterwards
- • Reflection on what worked
- • Planning for future access
This helps activities become more predictable, meaningful and transferable into everyday life.
Communication and choice
TishAbility recognises that communication is central to meaningful participation.
Some people may communicate through speech, behaviour, gestures, facial expression, movement, sensory responses, AAC, visuals, objects, symbols, routines or the people who know them best.
We support communication in everyday settings so the person can express preferences, make choices, understand routines, participate in activities and have their voice respected.
Where communication approaches have been recommended by professionals, we can help support their use during activities, transitions, community access and short breaks.
Behaviour, regulation and flexible planning
Some people may express distress, anxiety, overwhelm, frustration, pain or unmet needs through behaviour that others may find challenging.
TishAbility approaches behaviour with curiosity, respect and dignity.
We consider what the behaviour may be communicating, what helps the person feel safe, what changes may be needed in the environment, and how support can be adapted.
Where Positive Behaviour Support plans, behaviour support guidance or professional recommendations are already in place, TishAbility can help support their practical use in everyday environments.
We do not replace psychologists, behaviour specialists, clinicians or statutory professionals. Our role is to help agreed approaches become practical, respectful and consistent in real life.
Safe staffing and individual planning
Safe support depends on the person, the activity, the environment and the level of need.
Staffing arrangements should be planned around the person's communication, sensory needs, health considerations, emotional regulation, behavioural presentation, transition needs, activity setting, professional recommendations and safeguarding considerations.
Some support may be suitable with one familiar worker. Other situations may require additional staffing, specific skills, careful planning or support from other providers.
TishAbility will consider staffing needs proportionately and will not take on support that cannot be delivered safely within its non-regulated remit.
We avoid saying fixed ratios unless they are formally assessed and agreed.
Our approach
We aim to support access in a way that is:
- • Person-centred
- • Communication-aware
- • Sensory-informed
- • Flexible
- • Respectful
- • Safe
- • Outcome-focused
- • Family-aware
- • Guided by the person's preferences
- • Informed by family knowledge and professional recommendations
- • Responsive to the person's needs and environment on the day
The aim is not simply to provide an activity or a break. The aim is to make meaningful participation more possible.
Clear scope
TishAbility provides non-regulated support.
We do not provide:
- • Regulated personal care
- • Nursing care
- • Clinical treatment
- • Medical treatment
- • Domiciliary care as a regulated provider
- • Standalone taxi or private hire services
- • Statutory decision making
- • Legal representation
- • Emergency crisis response
Where a person requires regulated care or clinical input, this must be provided by an appropriately registered provider or qualified professional.
TishAbility can work alongside those providers to support access, routines, communication, preparation, transitions, life skills, community participation, wellbeing activities and implementation of agreed recommendations.