Children Shine Bright at the SNAPS Super Stars Awards

SNAPS families, staff, and supporters came together this week to celebrate the incredible achievements of children with additional needs at the 2025 SNAPS Super Stars Awards!

Our Super Stars Awards shine a light on the bravery, determination, and positivity shown by SNAPS children and their siblings every day.

Held at Co-op Academy Brierley, the event brought families together for a joyful morning of games, entertainment, and feel-good moments, in honour of the children and siblings who inspire those around them.

Children were nominated for a variety of reasons. Just a few of the messages shared included:

“Anyone that meets you always smiles, you really are a superstar and not just because you shine bright, but because you make others shine as well!”

“For being so brave trying new things. Always trying your best and always being kind and wanting to make other people happy!”

“Being brave, with an optimistic attitude whilst attempting to make the big leap from Year 1 to Year 2 class at school.”

Credit: Jenny D Cooper Photography

Each child nominated for a Super Stars Award received a certificate and a special keepsake. The awards also recognised siblings, parents, staff, and friends who have gone above and beyond to support others in the SNAPS community.

Fiona Lassey, Mum to Harrison (10) and his younger brother Konner (three) has been coming to SNAPS since Harrison was just 18 months old. She says:

“I nominated Harrison for never giving up, even when things have been tough – his courage amazes me every day. I also nominated his younger brother, Konner, for always looking out for Harrison and conquering everything with a smile.

“It means so much to be able to recognise them both. The Super Stars Awards were a truly lovely way to celebrate our children and come together with other families who understand. Seeing everyone’s stories shared and celebrated reminded me just how special the SNAPS community is.”

Lucy Owen, Chief Executive of SNAPS, said: “Every week at SNAPS, we see children achieving things that once felt impossible – whether it’s taking their first steps, building confidence, or simply having fun with friends who understand them. The Super Stars Awards are our way of celebrating those moments and recognising just how incredible these children are.

“It’s also a chance to remind families that their journeys matter, and that their children’s achievements – big or small – deserve to be seen and celebrated. The atmosphere at this year’s event was full of pride, joy and community, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.”

The event was free to attend and open to all SNAPS families. It was made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors Manning Stainton and Irwin Mitchell.

Mark Manning, Managing Director of Manning Stainton, says: “We’re very proud to sponsor this year’s awards and celebrate the incredible work that SNAPS does for children with additional needs and their families. Their services – from therapies, to building a supportive community – truly change lives and give every child the chance to thrive.”

The SNAPS Winter Raffle is here!

Get ready to win some amazing prizes while supporting a great cause!

Our Winter Raffle 2025 is now live, and every ticket sold helps SNAPS continue to be there for children with additional needs and their families.

Tickets are just £2 and can be bought online: https://snapsyorkshire.enthuse.com/winterraffle2025

Prizes include:

Cloud9 Airshot (hairdryer)
Cloud9 Wide Iron (straighteners)
Black + Decker Kitchen Wand
1-night stay at York Marriott Hotel with breakfast
Soft play and 4D Golf entries at Xscape
4 tickets to Cannon Hall Farm
£50 Style Attic voucher
£50 voucher for Chaophraya Thai Dining (thanks to Irwin Mitchell for donating)
Farmer Copleys voucher

Raffle closes: 15th December at 11:59pm
Winners drawn: 16th December – we’ll contact winners directly!

You must be 18 or over and live in Great Britain to enter. To access the full terms and conditions of the raffle, please click here.

SNAPS encourages responsible gambling. If you feel you have a problem with gambling, support is available from BeGambleAware.

For any queries, please contact: fundraising@snapsyorkshire.org

SNAPS Super Stars Awards: 28th October 2026

The SNAPS Super Stars Awards offer the chance for us to celebrate the bravery, determination and positivity shown by SNAPS children, and their siblings, on a daily basis!

We will be holding a special SNAPS Super Stars Awards event. This will be a fun-filled morning and all SNAPS families are welcome. The is free to attend for SNAPS families, please register for your places below so that we know numbers and any special requirements.

As well as being the newest SNAPS Saturday site, Co-op Academy Brierley is a fantastic venue that’s fully accessible and has a large car park.

As part of the event, we will also be presenting the annual SNAPS Super Stars Awards. If you’ve not made your nominations yet don’t worry! Details on how to make your Super Stars nomination(s) will be sent to you in an email after registering for your places at the awards party.

You can nominate your child for anything you wish – from trying their best at their favourite sport/activity, to being a kind caring sibling.

We will present each child with a certificate and small keepsake to mark their achievement.

We hope to see you there!

Guests at the SNAPS official launch event for Co-op Academy Brierley

Our new site at Co-op Academy Brierley makes headlines!

We were thrilled to see our new site at Co-op Academy Brierley featured in the Yorkshire Evening Post!

Their photo gallery gives a lovely first look at our site and the families, trustees, staff, local councillors and partner organisations who joined us to celebrate the launch.

Take a look at the full photo gallery at The Yorkshire Evening Post.

You can also read more about our new site and the launch event over on our News page.

Two runners at the Altra Yorkshire Marathon

Altra Yorkshire Marathon: 18th October, 2026

Sunday, 18th October 2026
9.30am
University of York
Registration fee: £30
Minimum fundraising target: £500
Age: 18+ years old
Register here

Fancy taking on a 26.2-mile challenge in the beautiful city of York? The Altra Yorkshire Marathon’s scenic route and incredible support make it one of the UK’s standout running events. Be part of this amazing festival of running and help change lives along the way.

When you run for SNAPS, every mile you complete helps provide vital therapies and support for children with additional needs and their families. SNAPS receives no government funding, so your fundraising truly makes a difference.

With an electric atmosphere and crowds cheering your name, you’ll experience the thrill of a flat, fast course that’s perfect for both first-time marathoners and seasoned runners chasing a PB.

This is a must-have in any runner’s calendar. Sign up today, fundraise for SNAPS, and make every mile matter!

Thank you and farewell to Debbie

After eight years of dedicated service, we are saying a heartfelt thank you to Debbie Hingerton as she steps down from her role as parent trustee.

Debbie first connected with SNAPS when she started coming to sessions with her son Lewis, when he was just 10 months old (he’s now 16!) Over the years she became an important member of our community and then a valued member of our Board, supporting SNAPS’ growth and being a vital part of our services at our sites whenever she could.

She has been part of so many important moments in SNAPS’ history from when she delivered a deputation speech about SNAPS to a full Leeds City Council meeting which resulted in a standing ovation, to being a constant welcoming presence at site, especially for new families as they started their SNAPS journey.

We were delighted to present Debbie with flowers at our recent launch event at Co-op Academy Brierley as a small token of our thanks. We’re incredibly grateful for everything she has contributed – we will miss your contribution to the leadership team very much Debbie but know that we will stay in touch and that you’ll always be part of the SNAPS’ family.

You can read more about Debbie and her family’s journey with SNAPS on our family stories page.

We’ve Expanded! Our New Site Launches at Co-op Academy Brierley

We’re thrilled to share that we’ve officially opened our third SNAPS site at Co-op Academy Brierley, helping us reach even more children with additional needs and their families.

The launch event took place on Saturday, 27th September and was a truly special day. We were joined by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Barry Anderson, along with SNAPS families, trustees, staff, local councillors, and partner organisations to celebrate this exciting milestone.

SNAPS was started over 20 years ago as a group of parents who wanted more for our children. Today, we support over 100 families every week with inclusive activities such as hydrotherapy, rebound therapy, dance, football, music, family support, and wellbeing sessions.

Until now, we’ve been running services from Penny Field School in North Leeds and Broomfield SILC in South Leeds. Our new site at Co-op Academy Brierley, based on Cross Green Lane, allows us to offer even more – including:

Private family sensory room sessions
Rebound therapy
Dance and musical theatre
Archery
Cookery club

We’re so proud of this next step in our journey and can’t wait to welcome more families to SNAPS at Brierley!

A message from our Chief Executive

“Opening a third site has been a long-held ambition for SNAPS. Demand for our services continues to grow rapidly – every week, we receive new referrals from families who are often overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn.

“SNAPS offers them a safe space, a community, and the professional support they deserve. It’s a place where children can thrive, and where parents and carers can find hope, support, and friendship.

“Brierley is a wonderful space, and we’re thrilled to be working with the venue to bring our services to even more families who need us.”

“This expansion reflects our incredible journey – from a £39,000 annual turnover ten years ago to nearly half a million pounds today. It’s thanks to the generosity of the local community, businesses, and foundations that we are able to sustain and grow our vital services.”

What our families say

"I’m so happy about the new site - it means that more children can be reached. We are especially looking forward to exploring the sensory room this term - we can’t wait to see it! SNAPS is a place to never feel alone or lonely. It’s somewhere we all belong - not just the children, but us parents too, facing the challenges and uncertainty of raising someone with disabilities. No one understands like the other parents and the SNAPS team.”

- Simona

SNAPS parent

"It will be great to meet new people, try new things and to know that more families are going to be able to experience what we have been so fortunate to have. SEND families really deserve this support and i'm so glad that SNAPS will be able to provide more. We are very proud to be a SNAPS family! "

Lora

SNAPS parent and trustee

Nominate Your Super Stars Today!

The SNAPS Superstar Awards are back!

These awards are a chance to celebrate the bravery, determination, and positivity shown by SNAPS children and their siblings every day!

You can nominate children for anything that makes you proud – from trying their best at a favourite activity, to being a kind and caring sibling, or simply showing courage in their own unique way. Each child will receive a special certificate and keepsake.

We’re also celebrating the everyday heroes in our lives – the friends, family members, carers, co-workers, and teachers who support us through life’s ups and downs. You can nominate someone for absolutely anything that makes them your super star. Each nominee will receive a personalised email with your message, letting them know how much they mean to you.

We’ll be celebrating with a special SNAPS Super Stars Awards event at Co-op Academy Brierley on Thursday, 30th October. This a free, fun-filled morning is for all SNAPS families, and will feature games, entertainment, and plenty of feel-good moments.

Nominate your Super Stars here:

Participants at the SNAPS Superhero Challenge 2025

Superheroes in Action for SNAPS!

We are absolutely thrilled to share that this year’s SNAPS Superhero Challenge has already raised over £12,000 to help us continue supporting children with additional needs and their families!

The event, which took place on Sunday 29th June at the John Charles Centre for Sport, brought families together for a day packed with fun, celebration, and superhero spirit!

Designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, the Superhero Challenge invites children of all ages and abilities to set their own distance goals around a 400m athletics track. Whether walking, running or wheeling, every child was cheered on to their personal finish line, where they were presented with a special medal and goody bag to mark their achievement.

Alongside the track challenge, families enjoyed a host of activities – from superhero character meet-and-greets, bouncy castles and face painting, to a petting zoo, silent disco, crafts, sensory play, and inclusive rugby sessions led by Leeds Rhinos Foundation coaches.

The day was made possible thanks to the generous support of our event sponsors Irwin Mitchell, Wade’s Charity, and Taylor Wimpey, as well as an incredible team of volunteers who gave their time to help everything run smoothly.

Lisa Morton, Head of Fundraising at SNAPS, said:

“What an incredible day of celebration! Seeing so many families come together to champion the amazing achievements of children with all different abilities has been truly inspiring.

“The funds raised through this event are crucial for keeping our services running, so we’re grateful to every family who participated and to our wonderful sponsors and volunteers who made the day possible.

“Most importantly, congratulations to all our young superheroes who showed such determination and joy — you truly are extraordinary!”

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this event such a success – our families, sponsors, volunteers, entertainers and supporters. We’re so proud of what we achieved together, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year!

📸 Check out some more of our favourite moments in our event photo album on Facebook.

Imaan gets set for the SNAPS Superhero Challenge!

"It’s a special way for us to say thank you to SNAPS and to help make sure other children like Imaan can benefit from the same life-changing support.”

Meet one of this year’s dedicated participants of this year’s SNAPS Superhero Challenge, taking place on Sunday, 29th June: four-year-old Imaan.

Imaan will be taking part alongside her mum, Dominique, and the pair have already raised over £540.00 in sponsorship for SNAPS!

Imaan, who was born with a rare chromosome condition that causes low muscle tone, has been supported by SNAPS for several years, accessing physiotherapy and taking part in inclusive play sessions. Dominique says that SNAPS has made a huge difference to their lives:

“For the first few years of Imaan’s life, everyday things that many take for granted, such as sitting up or walking, were major challenges.

“We were introduced to SNAPS when Imaan was around 18 months old, and it’s no exaggeration to say that they transformed our lives. Through regular physio sessions, Imaan has made incredible progress, and thanks to SNAPS, she took her very first steps at four years old – an unforgettable moment of triumph, courage, and independence.

“Being part of the SNAPS community has brought not only physical benefits for Imaan, but also emotional support for our whole family. It’s given us hope, strength, and a sense of belonging.

“This is our first time joining the Superhero Challenge, and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s a special way for us to say thank you to SNAPS and to help make sure other children like Imaan can benefit from the same life-changing support.”

Imaan and Dominique will join other families from across the region donning their capes for our Superhero Challenge. Hosted at the John Charles Centre for Sport this fully inclusive fun-run event gives all children, whatever their ability, the chance to feel like a superhero for the day.

All ages and abilities are welcome, and each child can decide on their own distance target around the 400m athletics track. Those requiring an accessibility aid such as a wheelchair, walker or pushchair can also wheel their way around. Children will be cheered on to the finish line, where they will each receive their own challenge medal and goodie bag.

As well as the zoom around the track, there will be lots of other fun activities, including:

Superhero meet and greet
Bouncy castle
Inclusive football sessions with Leeds United Foundation and rugby with Leeds Rhinos Foundation coaches
Fire and Rescue Service and Police
Face painting
Silent disco
Craft and sensory activities
Games

At SNAPS, we receive no government funding to deliver our services – all funds raised from the Superhero Challenge will go towards our vital work.

The event is being kindly sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, Wade’s Charity and Taylor Wimpey.

Lisa Morton, Head of Fundraising at SNAPS, says: “We’re thrilled to bring the Superhero Challenge back again this year! It’s one of the most joyful, and inclusive family events in the city. Every child is celebrated for their strength and spirit, and every family gets to enjoy a fun-filled day in a supportive and welcoming environment.”

Families can register for the Superhero Challenge for free if they commit to raising £47.00 or more in sponsorship. This would support the cost of a physiotherapy session for a child with additional needs. Alternatively, tickets cost £12 per child if you would prefer not to fundraise (adults are free).

The SNAPS Superhero Challenge takes place on Sunday, 29^th June at John Charles Centre for Sport, Middleton Grove, from 10.30am until 12.30pm.

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