A charity supporting children and adults with disabilities will open an accessible Santa's Grotto in Lancaster this Christmas.
Unique Kidz & Co will launch the winter wonderland grotto at the Vino's venue on Rosemary Lane in Lancaster city centre - to open from December 3 to 9.
At the Santa's Sensory Grotto, children will be able to immerse themselves in a magical sensory experience, with the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and receive a small gift.
The Unique Kidz Santa's Sensory Grotto will be open for all young people, as well as for group bookings from schools, nurseries, and other early years settings.
Visitors to the grotto will be welcomed by Unique Kidz volunteers and guided into the sensory wonderland.
Children can enjoy the twinkling lights, touch the snow and festive decorations, and meet Santa’s elf, who will take them to visit Santa himself.
The space will be fully accessible for anyone with disabilities or additional needs, and there will be 'No Santa Sessions' available, where visitors can choose to enjoy the winter wonderland without meeting Father Christmas.
The grotto was originally based in the charity’s centre at Woodhill Lane in Morecambe.
But the growing number of young people on Unique Kidz' register and limited space, meant they needed a new location for the sensory experience, so as not to impact the running of crucial services.
“My daughter Connie, who is a wheelchair user, has always loved Christmas but we found that traditional Santa’s Grotto’s were inaccessible to us," said Jane Halpin, co-founder and trustee of Unique Kidz & Co.
Jane is pictured below with fellow co-founder Denise Armer.
“So, in true Unique Kidz style, we decided we could do it ourselves!
"We started the Unique Kidz and Co Santa's Sensory Grotto because we believe all children deserve to be able to experience the magic of Christmas in a safe, accessible environment.”
Jordan Halpin, general manager of Unique Kidz and Co, said: “We’re so excited to be able to bring Unique Kidz and Co’s Santa's Sensory Grotto back for 2025 and make it bigger, better, and even more accessible than ever.
“This year we’re able to run our accessible Santa's Sensory Grotto for a whole week, in the centre of Lancaster, which provides better access for those travelling by car, van, or public transport, and we’re able to offer individual and group bookings to allow more young people with disabilities and additional needs the opportunity to experience something magical.”
Individual sessions can be booked now at trybooking.com/uk/FLBC and group bookings of three or more can be made by contacting chris@uniquekidzandco.org.uk.
Q2Q IT, Lancaster and Cortus Advisory Group, Preston have sponsored this year’s Santa’s Sensory Grotto.
The charity is looking for additional sponsors, as well as volunteers to support the running of this accessible grotto and donations of festive decorations from local individuals or businesses.
Unique Kidz & Co was founded by two mums – Jane Halpin and Denise Armer - who couldn’t find suitable childcare for their own children with disabilities.
The charity opened in 2009 with its first after school club, where 65 young people attended – now the charity has 187 young people with disabilities on its system and an ever-growing waiting list.
Below, the Unique Kidz & Co centre on Woodhill Lane dressed up for Christmas in 2023.
Its services now include afterschool, holiday and weekend clubs for children aged 5-19 with disabilities (Kidz Club), daytime support for young adults aged 18-30 with disabilities (4Ever Unique), evening and weekend sessions for young adults aged 18-30 with disabilities, stay and play group for children under five that runs twice a week during term time, and siblings group for children over eight who have a disabled sibling which meets twice a month.
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