Wolverhampton - Family event

Venue to be confirmed.

Our Young People and Families Service run several family events across the UK. Young people from the age of 11-18 years and their whole family are welcome to these day events, a mix of activities and an opportunity to speak to other families and health professionals about living with arthritis, in a relaxed environment.

These family events also provide great opportunities to get to know our young adult volunteers who have grown up with arthritis or a similar condition, take part in new activities that you might not have tried before, as well as learning more about your health condition and ways of looking after yourself by sharing tips and ideas with each other. Mostly it’s a chance to have fun and meet new people!

“He’s gained in confidence on so many levels and with the support of Versus Arthritis has been given a safe haven of friends and fun where he can be himself and learn to live in the most positive way with a lifelong medical condition.” – Ann (mum).

What can I expect?

Our family events are usually run on a Saturday afternoon. On arrival there will always be a hot drink ready to greet you from wherever you have travelled from.

We then get everyone involved in a game to help us get to know each other better – think bingo but names instead of numbers. Then with a short welcome we all dive into lunch which is usually sandwiches, crisps, fruit … we can cater for any dietary needs.

Then it is time to split adults up from their children/young people, as they go off to do an activity. At each family event all those under 18 get to do an activity, in the past we have done circus skills, chocolate making, bouldering, 3D pens, hockey …. We know you are not defined by your condition – our events are about having fun too.

Adults take part in a Q&A session with our professionals who work in paediatric rheumatology, this is a chance to ask any questions you don’t get time to ask in appointment’s or were unsure about asking.

After a quick tea break, it is now the children/young people’s time to ask their questions and chat about their or their family members’ condition.

At the same time, adults will hear about helpful information, in the past we have covered current research in rheumatology, support available at school and our young adult volunteers’ experience of growing up with their condition.

The afternoon draws to a close with the opportunity to take any resources away and some free time, where you’ll have time to chat to people. It’s a great chance to come together and have a fun and informative day as a whole family.

Hear from Izzie, one of our young adult volunteers who has attended our family events and find out what she thought.

“You have loads of fun and you get to meet the best people” – young person who came along to a previous event.

Want to find out more?

You can find out more about travel, the venue and plans for the family event and how to sign up to secure your place, by emailing us at ypf@versusarthritis.org.

We also host other events across the country, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All of our events are fully insured and run by qualified and experienced staff and volunteers, all with criminal record checks. Versus Arthritis is able to run this activity thanks to the generous donors who support us. Find out more and keep an eye on what’s coming up in your area or contact us.