Friends for Leisure, the local charity supporting disabled children and young people, had lots of plans this year to celebrate its 25th anniversary, but lockdown sadly put a stop to that.

However the charity has said that enthusiasm would "not be dampened".

July marks 25 years of serving the local community of Congleton, as well as the rest of Cheshire East.

This would have been their busiest month of celebration events and fundraising activities, but due to social distancing guidelines staff had little choice but to cancel them.

However, the charity are going to hold a special 'virtual' celebration day full of Facebook Live activities instead on Friends for Leisure's Facebook page on Wednesday 29th July, from 9.30am until 7pm.

Open to everyone, not just children registered with the charity. There will be baking and art workshops, a live animal encounter with Zoo2U, mindfulness and even workout classes.

They will also be sharing some great memories and interviews with local families and services they have worked with in the past.

Staff, volunteers, trustees and families have already enjoyed looking back and remembering all the great times they have had with Friends for Leisure.

Paul Walker, chair of Friends for Leisure for the last seven years said: "From such small beginnings in Macclesfield 25 years ago, we are all very proud to see the charity still flourishing across the whole of Cheshire East. Providing opportunities for leisure for almost 300 children with disabilities is a huge achievement.

"Add to that providing one to one friendships for these children, in what would otherwise be a very lonely and isolated work, is what would be otherwise a very lonely and isolated world, is something we should all be proud of and celebrate."

Manager Gillian Jones also shared: "In the 12 years I have worked at Friends for Leisure I have seen the charity double in size and hundreds of young people benefit from the charity's services.

"Our 25th anniversary is a great milestone and I feel extremely privileged to be celebrating with a board of dedicated trustees, a fantastic staff team and amazing volunteers."

Children and families have reminisced about everything over the years, from Christmas parties to drama group performances; meals out to canal building at Astbury Mere; fun holiday activities to one-off opportunities like the Up project in Castleton.

Hundreds of friendships have been forged and children have been able to experience things they never imagined they would.

Heidi Reid, mum to Ava, one of the young people who has accessed Friends for Leisure's services for several years said: "Friends for Leisure is brilliant. The breadth of opportunities, it's all the different activities that are great, some are very familiar so she feels very comfortable with them and then there are some that will stretch her.

"Having the environment to try new things means she knows you can try them and it doesn't matter if you can't do them as nobody is going to say 'you've done that wrong'.

"When Ava first started coming to Friends for Leisure activities she was far less independent than she is now.

"She has an anxiety disorder as well as Downs Syndrome so she lacked confidence using language, but Friends for Leisure gave her the opportunity, in a very supportive environment, to practise and open up conversations. She is now so confident and has a very busy social life."

Heidi added: "For me, the best thing about Friends for Leisure is seeing how it has helped Ava develop friendships. They are so happy to see each other which is wonderful."

To access the event on 29th July go to Friends for Leisure's Facebook page and check out the events section to see the whole timetable of activities.

Claire Addis, fundraising coordinator, said that supporters are taking part in the Friends for Leisure 25 Challenge - a fundraising challenge themed around the number 25 to mark 25 years of supporting disabled children and young people.

If you're interested in taking part you can find out more here.

Anyone interested in supporting the charity in any other way can email Claire at [email protected]

Young people with a disability or readers who know someone who would benefit from Friend for Leisure's services can get in touch in 01260 275333.

- Friends for Leisure provide disabled children with the opportunities to have fun, make friends and do the everyday things that other children and young people take for granted.

- The charity was formed in 1995, following a Cheshire Social Services survey, which revealed that many disabled children faced barriers to participation, leaving them at risk of issues including isolation, poor well-being, low levels of confidence and little independence.

- In 1998, Friends for Leisure became a registered charity and since then many hundreds of disabled children and young people have benefited from the friendships and leisure activities provided.

- In 2008 the charity was awarded funding to spread its reach across Cheshire East. Since then, it has developed and refined its model of working to the successful one used today.