Almost 1,100 children and families from across the community and beyond attended Norwood’s most inclusive and accessible Carnival ever on Sunday, as part of Norwood’s mission to support neurodivergent children and their families and people with learning disabilities. The community charity made true inclusivity its mission for the day, developing a range of easy-read accessible materials, including social stories, to help parents prepare their children for the busy Carnival atmosphere. At the event, neurodivergent and neuro-typical attendees alike were able to experience Norwood’s specially-adapted Sensory Experience Pod. An interactive and educational experience, the pod is designed to allow users to focus on our senses, taking people through a series of short, guided activities led by a Norwood expert, offering valuable insight into how neurodivergent people may experience the world.
More than 100 Norwood volunteers, and volunteers from organisations including Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) Europe, Radlett Reform Synagogue and Project Impact and staff supported the delivery of the event, which was held at Edgware Primary School, and was designed to accommodate the needs and communication preferences of the diverse attendees, ensuring all members of the family could have an enjoyable day out. The event was kindly supported by the Shoresh Charitable Trust.
Participants enjoyed a wealth of attractions for all ages, including Bungee Jump, Tea Cups, Crafts, Archery, glitter tattoos, inflatables and bouncy castles, a Beat the Goalie challenge supported by Skill7, a tech coding experience provided by Code Ninjas, and a Carnival Crafts area. Away from the Carnival buzz, there were a range of signposted indoor and outdoor quiet zones & sensory spaces, offering safe, calming areas.
The event also featured a concert stage, with performances provided from across the community including musical acts from schools Hertsmere Jewish Primary School (HJPS), Kisharon Noe School Choir and Alma Primary and Showstoppers academy, as well as dance act Vanessa School of Dance and icandance, a creative therapeutic community which empowers disabled children and young people to shared their lived experience through dance and performance.
Speaking following the successful day, Emma Gray, Director of Children and Family Services at Norwood said: “The Norwood Carnival was an enormous achievement and something we all feel incredibly proud of. “Not only because of the scale of the event, but because of what it represented. The Carnival is such an important part of our mission as an organisation, particularly through our work towards building an inclusive community. For many of the families attending, events like this are about far more than entertainment. They are about participation, visibility, belonging and feeling that our community has a place for them.”
