Weekend FAQs

There are 2 venues for our Family Support weekends:

North (Hollowford Centre)

Hollowford Centre is set on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Castleton, Derbyshire, in the heart of the Peak District National Park. The centre is owned by the Lindley Educational Trust.

Venue address: Hollowford Centre, Castleton, Hope Valley, S33 8WB (do not use post code on Sat Nav see note below)

Venue telephone:  01433 620377

Venue website:  https://www.lindleyeducationaltrust.org for more information about the location and local amenities

PLEASE NOTE: Google Maps shows the correct route if you type in Hollowford Centre, however if you type in the postcode, it will not take you to the correct address !

Once in Castleton, Hollowford is signposted from the 90 degree bend adjacent to the post office in the town. The corner to turn down is Millbridge, where the roads, How Lane and Back Street meet.

Look out for the large yellow CCAA sign and/or the yellow CCAA flag at the entrance to the centre.

South (Hooke Court)

Hooke Court is located just 11 miles from the Jurassic Coast in the small village of Hooke in rural West Dorset

Venue address: Hooke Court, Hooke, Nr Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NX

Venue telephone: 01308 862260

Venue website: www.hookecourt.co.uk for more information about the location and local amenities,

In addition to the accommodation, both venues offer a range of communal spaces for families to relax and spend time together. These include games areas with activities such as table tennis, pool, and table football.

There is also a comfortable lounge area that serves as a central meeting point throughout the weekend and hosts our evening entertainment, as well as a bar and tuck shop.

Yes, both venues have ample parking available for families attending the weekend.

Hollowford Centre:
There is plenty of on-site parking. If the main car park is full when you arrive, additional parking is available just before the entrance to the Hollowford Centre.

Hooke Court has 2 charging points for vehicles.

Yes both venues have wifi throughout the main building.

Yes. CCAA staff and volunteers are on-site throughout the entire weekend and are available to provide support whenever needed.

During the night, a designated Duty Person from the venue, who is First Aid qualified, will also be on hand to assist with any emergencies or concerns.

Hollowford Centre:
The nearest train station is located in the village of Hope, just a five-minute drive from the venue. Taxis are usually available from the station, or we may be able to arrange a lift with a member of the CCAA team.

If you require transport from the station, please contact us before the weekend so that arrangements can be made.

Arrival on Friday (4:00pm – 6:00pm)

Please arrive between 4:00pm and 6:00pm. We kindly ask that you do not arrive before 4:00pm, as the venue may still be occupied by another group and access will not be available until they have departed.

When you arrive, please check in at the CCAA registration desk and collect your name badges. A member of the CCAA team, wearing a yellow CCAA t-shirt, will be there to welcome you and help you get settled. Once registered, you are free to explore the venue and familiarise yourself with the surroundings.

Friday Evening Meal (6:00pm – 7:00pm)

A hot evening meal will be served between 6:00pm and 7:00pm on Friday.

As the venue is unable to serve meals after 7:00pm, please let us know in advance if you expect to arrive later than this so we can adjust our catering numbers. If you are arriving after 7:00pm, we recommend stopping for something to eat on your journey.

Each Family Support Weekend varies slightly,depending on the number of groups, the ages of the children, and the healthcare professionals joining us for the weekend.

The schedule below is provided as an example to give you an idea of what to expect.

Friday

• Arrival between 4:00pm and 6:00pm
• Evening meal served between 6:00pm and 7:00pm
• Welcome talk from the venue staff and the CCAA Chair
• Bar and tuck shop open from 7:00pm

The evening is a chance to relax, settle in, and meet other families. We don’t run formal ice-breaker activities, as we find families prefer to connect naturally and at their own pace. The weekend provides a unique opportunity to meet others who truly understand the challenges of living with JIA.

Saturday

• Breakfast
• Children’s activity sessions begin
• Parent sessions led by healthcare professionals

After breakfast, children head off with their activity groups while parents attend informative sessions covering a range of JIA-related topics. There are breaks throughout the day, and families come back together for lunch—often accompanied by plenty of excited stories from the morning’s adventures!

The afternoon continues with activities for the children and further sessions for parents. Following dinner, there is time to relax, socialise, and chat with other families.

Sunday

• Breakfast
• Morning activities and parent sessions
• Group photo
• Lunch

After lunch, it’s time to say goodbye, exchange contact details, and head home—often with new friendships, happy memories, and a stronger support network than when you arrived.

Yes, parents and children spend parts of the weekend separately during the activity and parent sessions. We have found that this helps children build confidence, make new friends, and get the most out of the activities in a supportive and independent environment.

While the children are taking part in activities, parents attend sessions led by healthcare professionals covering topics such as JIA management, psychology, education, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and podiatry. The exact programme will vary depending on the professionals attending the weekend.

We understand that the idea of being apart may feel a little daunting at first. However, after more than 30 years of running these weekends, we know that it works extremely well. Children quickly settle in, make new friends, and gain confidence, while parents benefit from the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with other families who understand the JIA journey.

If you have any concerns before the weekend, please get in touch—we’re always happy to help.

Children are placed into age-appropriate groups of around 8–12 children (depending on the venue). This helps them get to know other children of a similar age, build friendships, and share experiences with others who understand what it’s like to live with JIA.

You will be informed of your child’s group before the weekend, and they will have the opportunity to meet their fellow group members and CCAA group leaders on Friday evening.

Each children’s group is supported throughout the weekend by a qualified activity instructor from the venue and a dedicated CCAA group leader.

To help children feel comfortable, build confidence, and develop friendships, they remain in the same group for the entire weekend, allowing them to get to know both their peers and group leaders in a familiar and supportive environment.

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We kindly ask that children and young people do not bring mobile phones or other electronic devices to activities. The weekend is a chance to take a break from screens and social media, make new friends, enjoy the activities, and fully immerse themselves in the experience.

We have found that children get the most out of the weekend when they are engaged with their group and the opportunities around them.

Before the Family Support Weekend, we provide a simple social story to help children understand what to expect. Using clear language and pictures, the story walks children through the weekend step by step, including where they will be, who they might meet, and the activities they may take part in. For children with ADHD, knowing what is coming next can help reduce worries, build confidence, and make new experiences feel more manageable. We want every child to arrive feeling prepared, excited, and ready to enjoy their weekend with us.

Healthcare professionals are a vital part of our Family Support Weekends, and we are incredibly grateful for the time and expertise they generously give to support families affected by JIA.

Through their sessions, they provide valuable information and guidance to help you better understand JIA, its treatment, and its management. They are also happy to answer general questions and share their professional knowledge throughout the weekend.

Please note that while healthcare professionals are available to offer education and general advice, they are unable to provide individual medical consultations or specific treatment recommendations relating to your child’s care.

Details of the healthcare professionals attending the weekend, along with the topics and titles of their sessions, will be sent to the email address provided at the time of booking before the event takes place.

The healthcare professionals attending each Family Support Weekend will vary, although we always aim to have a Consultant and Clinical Nurse Specialist present to provide valuable insight into the management of JIA.

Over the years, we have welcomed a wide range of professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, podiatrists, dietitians, teachers, play therapists, and optometrists.

As each weekend has a busy programme and limited time available, it is unlikely that all of these specialists will attend the same event. Details of the professionals attending your weekend will be shared with you in advance.

Parent Sessions and Photography

To help minimise distractions, we kindly ask that mobile phones are switched off or set to silent during parent sessions.

Photography and Filming

We understand that families may wish to take photographs and videos during the weekend to capture special memories. When doing so, please be mindful of the privacy of other children, young people, and families attending the event.

If you share photos or videos on a private social media account that is only visible to friends and family, we recommend seeking permission from anyone who appears in the images before posting.

If you choose to share images on a public social media account, please take extra care and consider whether those featured would reasonably expect their image to be shared in this way. Particular consideration should be given when sharing images of children.

We encourage everyone to check their social media privacy settings and think carefully before posting images online.

If you would like an image of yourself or your child removed from social media, we recommend contacting the account owner directly to request its removal. We ask all attendees to respect such requests and remove images promptly where possible.

Yes, each family will be allocated their own bedroom for the weekend. Rooms vary in size and layout and may include a combination of single beds and bunk beds, depending on the venue and family requirements.

Accommodation at both venues is simple, comfortable, and similar to a hostel-style setting.

Hollowford Centre
All bedrooms have their own en-suite bathroom facilities.

Hooke Court
Bathroom and toilet facilities are shared. However, there is a generous number of showers and bathrooms available in relation to the number of rooms, helping to ensure facilities are readily accessible throughout the weekend.

Hooke Court
Bed sheets, pillows, and duvets are provided for adults. For children, a bed sheet and pillow are provided, but they will need to bring their own duvet or sleeping bag.

Hollowford Centre
All bed linen, including pillows and duvets, is provided.

Please note that only one pillow is supplied per person at both venues. If you prefer additional pillows, you may wish to bring your own.

Yes, please remember to bring towels for the whole family, along with any toiletries you may need during your stay.

Please note that shower gel, soap, and other toiletries are not provided in the bathrooms, so we recommend bringing your own.

Both venues make every effort to ensure their facilities are accessible and inclusive for families with additional needs.

Hollowford Centre
As a predominantly single-storey site, most areas of the venue are easily accessible. The centre also has specialist accessible bathrooms within three of its accommodation blocks.

If anyone in your family requires wheelchair access, please let us know in advance so that we can allocate a suitable accessible room with wet room facilities.

The activity instructors are experienced in adapting activities for a wide range of abilities and have access to specialist equipment, including adapted buoyancy aids, climbing and abseiling harnesses, and an all-terrain mobility chair.

At CCAA, we believe every child and family should have the opportunity to take part and enjoy the weekend. We work closely with the venue to ensure that nobody misses out.

Please bring suitable clothing for outdoor activities for the whole family. Activities take place in all weather conditions, so clothes are likely to get muddy and may get wet, so we recommend leaving your best outfits at home!

For safety reasons, long-sleeved tops must be worn for activities such as High Ropes and Archery. It’s also a good idea for children to bring a spare set of clothes and a towel to activities, just in case they need to change afterwards.

Don’t forget waterproof clothing, ideally both a waterproof jacket and trousers. The venues do have a limited supply of spare waterproofs available if needed, but we recommend bringing your own where possible.

A drying room is available for wet clothing and footwear. However, we strongly recommend bringing plenty of spare clothes, as outdoor activities can be muddy and wet, whatever the weather!

Please bring suitable footwear for outdoor activities for the whole family.

As activities often take place in muddy and wet conditions, shoes are likely to get dirty, so we recommend bringing a spare pair of old trainers, walking shoes, or wellies.

For safety reasons, all footwear worn during activities must be closed-toe. Flip-flops, sandals, Crocs, and other open-toe shoes are not permitted during activity sessions.

• • We recommend checking the weather forecast before you travel and packing accordingly. As many of the activities take place outdoors, it’s important to bring plenty of spare clothes. Please note that jeans are not suitable for most activities.

    Suggested Packing List

    • Rucksack
    • Reusable water bottle
    • Mug or flask
    • Outdoor footwear (walking boots, old trainers, or wellies)
    • Indoor footwear for the evenings
    • Coat
    • Plenty of spare clothes (activities can be muddy and wet!)
    • Warm layers and jumpers
    • Full-length trousers and long-sleeved tops (required for some activities)
    • Shorts (suitable for other activities)
    • Nightwear
    • Extra socks
    • Sun cream and a hat
    • Waterproof clothing (ideally waterproof jacket and trousers, or an all-in-one suit). If you only have a waterproof jacket, please bring it—the venue can provide waterproof trousers if needed.
    • Towels, toiletries, toothbrush, and toothpaste (towels are not provided)
    • Any prescribed medication (please ensure you bring enough for the entire weekend, as spare medication will not be available on site)
    • Additional pillow(s) if preferred
    • Bottles, sippy cups, or other items your child normally uses at home
    • Any specific snacks required for younger children
    • Comforters, blankets, or favourite teddies, if needed

    Being well prepared will help ensure everyone is comfortable and ready to make the most of the weekend’s activities.

Yes, all meals are included from Friday evening through to Sunday lunch.

Each meal includes a main course, dessert, and a selection of water and juice. Menus are varied, and we work closely with the venue to cater for any dietary requirements provided at the time of booking.

If you expect to arrive after 6:30pm–7:00pm on Friday evening, we recommend stopping for something to eat on your journey, as the venue may not be able to serve meals after this time.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide baby food, so please bring enough food, milk, and snacks to meet your child’s needs for the duration of the weekend.

A fridge is available for storing baby food and milk if required.

If you have any dietary requirements or food allergies, please include these on your booking form when reserving your place.

If you would like to check that we have your dietary information on record after booking, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to confirm this for you.

Activity age requirements vary by venue:

Hollowford Centre
Children must be aged 6 or over to take part in the activity programme.

Hooke Court
Children must be aged 5 or over to participate in the activities.

Younger children are welcome to attend the weekend and can enjoy age-appropriate care and activities through our Penguin Club provision.

Yes! Our Family Support Weekends welcome children of all ages, from just a few months old through to 17 years old.

Activities and support are tailored to different age groups, helping every child and young person get the most out of the weekend while giving families the opportunity to connect with others on a similar JIA journey.

The Penguin Club is designed for children who are too young to take part in the centre-run activity programme and is available on-site throughout the weekend.

At Hooke Court, children are cared for by the experienced team at Wren Nursery while parents attend their sessions. At Hollowford Centre, the Penguin Club is run by dedicated CCAA volunteers.

We ensure appropriate child-to-adult ratios are maintained at all times, providing a safe, caring, and engaging environment for our youngest attendees.

Children can enjoy a variety of fun activities, including woodland walks, stories, arts and crafts, painting, drawing, play dough, singing, dancing, games, and free play with toys. It’s a wonderful opportunity for little ones to have fun, make friends, and enjoy their own special part of the weekend.

It’s no problem!

Before the weekend, you will receive a form asking for important information about your child, including feeding and nap routines, allergies, comfort items, favourite activities, and any other details that will help us provide the best possible care.

If your child still naps during the day, please bring a buggy or pushchair so the Penguin Club team can take them for a walk or help them settle comfortably during nap time.

During the weekend, parents and carers remain responsible for administering and managing their child’s medication.

Please ensure that you bring all medication your child may need for the duration of the weekend, as we are unable to provide or supply any medication on-site.

Yes, a communal fridge is available for families to use throughout the weekend.

If you need to store medication, food, or drinks, please ensure that all items are clearly labelled with your name to help avoid any confusion.

Throughout the weekend, full First Aid cover will be available, and the venue will provide families with an emergency contact number should it be needed.

In addition, each CCAA group leader carries a small essential first aid kit while accompanying children during activities, ensuring support is always close at hand.

The CCAA Family Support Weekend is free for families to attend.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, fundraisers, volunteers, and healthcare professionals, we are able to provide this unique experience at no cost to families affected by JIA.

Your accommodation and all meals from Friday evening through to Sunday lunch are provided free of charge for the duration of the weekend.

You may, however, wish to bring some spending money for the tuck shop and bar, which are open on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Your accommodation, meals, soft drinks, and activities are all provided for the duration of the weekend.

For younger children who are not old enough to take part in the activity programme (under 5 or 6, depending on the venue), Penguin Club childcare is also included.

Children will be provided with snacks and drinks during activity breaks, while parents can enjoy complimentary tea and coffee during their session breaks.

Any dietary requirements provided at the time of booking will be taken into account when catering for meals and children’s snacks.

Yes, CCAA merchandise will be available throughout the weekend.

We hope to have a range of items available, subject to stock, including:

• Children’s and adults’ yellow and black CCAA t-shirts
• Children’s and adults’ wristbands
• Cotton shopping bags
• Pin badges
• Stickers
• Pens
• Water bottles

Every purchase makes a difference, as 100% of the proceeds go directly back into funding our Family Support Weekends and supporting children and families affected by JIA.

We understand that sometimes circumstances change and plans don’t go as expected. If you find that you are no longer able to attend the Family Support Weekend, please let us know as soon as possible.

Our weekends are often oversubscribed, and we maintain a waiting list of families who would love the opportunity to attend, sometimes at short notice. The earlier you let us know, the sooner we can offer your place to another family and ensure they can benefit from the experience.

Thank you for helping us make the most of every available place.

Approximately one month before the weekend, we are required to confirm final attendance numbers with the venue. After this point, the charity is committed to the full cost of each booked place, whether it is used or not. This is why we ask families to let us know as soon as possible if they are unable to attend, giving us the opportunity to offer the place to another family on our waiting list.

We understand that unexpected circumstances can sometimes arise at short notice. If you are unable to attend on the day, we would still appreciate being informed so that we can update activity groups and notify the venue for health and safety purposes.

Each Family Support Weekend costs between £15,000 and £20,000 to deliver, depending on the venue and number of families attending. By letting us know if your plans change, you help ensure that as many families as possible can benefit from this valuable experience.