The CCAA Family Support Weekend is a special event for children and families affected by JIA. For more than 30 years, we have been bringing families together for a weekend filled with fun activities for children and informative support sessions led by healthcare professionals.
The weekend provides a unique opportunity for families to connect, share experiences, and learn from others who understand the challenges of living with JIA. For many children, it is their first chance to meet others with the condition, helping them realise they are not alone and often leading to friendships that last long after the weekend has ended.
Our aim is to help you gain a better understanding of JIA, its treatments, and how it can be managed, so that you leave the weekend feeling more informed and supported.
Through the activities, workshops, and shared experiences, children and young people can build confidence, make new friends, and discover that JIA does not have to limit their ambitions or aspirations.
If you would like to join the waiting list for our 2027 Family Support Weekend, please click the link below.
What is the weekend about?
One question we are often asked is whether the Family Support Weekend is just for a parent and the child with JIA. The answer is simple – no!
JIA affects the whole family, which is why we encourage siblings, parents, carers, and guardians to come along too. The weekend is designed to support and bring together everyone who is part of the JIA journey.
Take a look at our video to see what the weekend is all about and hear directly from the families who have experienced it.!
We just came back from a wonderful weekend organised by the CCAA. We are 5 years into the journey and still learned so much! It was very special for our little daughter to connect with other children with JIA and to realise that she is not alone and there are many other superstars.
JIA Parent, Lucia K
It was wonderful to meet other families going through the same journey and we hope to keep meeting up locally now too. It was great to put faces to the names from this group. Well done CCAA team! Do go and try it if you can, it will really help your little ones! Feeling very happy.”
Learn More About JIA
Our parent sessions are led by experienced healthcare professionals and are designed to provide valuable information about the treatment and management of JIA. By the end of the weekend, we hope you will feel more informed, confident, and supported in managing your child’s condition.
Build Confidence
The activities are designed to help children build confidence, develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, and most importantly, encourage them to try new experiences and embrace new challenges in a fun and supportive environment.
Meet Other Families
The weekend provides a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, share experiences, and support one another. For children, it’s a chance to meet others living with JIA, realise they are not alone, and often build friendships that last long after the weekend has ended.
Have Fun!
Children living with JIA face challenges every day. That’s why our biggest goal for the weekend is simple: to ensure every child has fun, makes new friends, builds confidence, and leaves with happy memories and a smile on their face..
The Venues
Hollowford Centre
Derbyshire – Venue for Northern weekend.
The venue for the North weekend is Hollowford Centre, on the outskirts of the village of Castleton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District National Park.
Address: Hollowford Centre, Castleton, Hope Valley, S33 8WB.
Telephone: 01433 620 377
Visit the Hollowford Centre for more information about location and local amenities.
Hooke Court
Dorset – Venue for Southern weekend.
The venue for the South weekend is Hooke Court, located just 11 miles from the Jurassic Coast in the small village of Hooke in rural West Dorset.
Address: Hooke Court, Hooke, Nr Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NX
Telephone: 01308 862260
Visit the Hooke Court website for more information about location and local amenities.
What’s Included?
Activities
Throughout the weekend, children can enjoy a wide range of exciting outdoor activities. While activities vary slightly between venues, they may include zip wiring, abseiling, climbing, adventure courses, caving, hiking, low and high ropes, archery, raft building, bushcraft, and shelter building.
These activities are designed to be fun, build confidence, encourage teamwork, and give children the chance to try something new in a supportive environment..
Meals
All meals are provided throughout the weekend, from Friday evening dinner through to Sunday lunch. A varied menu is available, including vegetarian options.
If you have included any dietary requirements on your booking form, these will be catered for wherever possible. Meals are served in a relaxed, canteen-style dining area, and the best part is—you can leave the washing up to someone else!
Accommodation
Throughout the weekend we will provide full board accommodation.
All rooms are family rooms and each family will have their own room with a combination of single and bunk beds.
Hollowford Centre: Each room has it’s own bathroom with shower.
Hooke Court: Bathroom and showers are a shared facility.
Penguin Club
Hollowford Centre
Our Penguin Club is designed for children under 6 attending the weekend. Led by members of the CCAA team, including experienced nursery and school teachers, it provides a safe, fun, and engaging environment for our youngest attendees. Children can enjoy woodland walks, toys, arts and crafts, games, and plenty of playtime while making new friends along the way.
Hooke Court
At Hooke Court, Penguin Club is available for children under 5 and is run by the experienced team at Wren Nursery, which is based on-site, ensuring your little ones are well cared for while enjoying a fun-filled weekend.
What The Kids & Parents Say
Read what children, young people, and parents have said about their experiences at our Family Support Weekends over the years.
“Everything was my favourite. If you have JIA, you have to come, it’s amazing!”
“I love climbing! I want to join a climbing club when I get home mum!”
“I have had so much fun and met some new friends, some have JIA too!”
“It was very special for our little daughter to connect with other children with JIA.”
“It’s reassuring to know we all go through and experience the same emotions.”
“This has been a brilliant weekend with memories made that will last a lifetime!”
It was a fantastic weekend! Rosie had such a brilliant time and really enjoyed meeting other children going through the same thing. It was so nice to meet you all and your lovely families.
JIA Parent, Louise J
I really think that when it comes to dealing with arthritis, knowledge is power so it was wonderful to have access to such expert knowledge and experience. Well done CCAA!”
Weekend FAQs
We’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions about the CCAA Family Support Weekend to help answer some of the most common queries.
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, or would like to know more, please contact us at weekends@ccaa.org.uk and we’ll be happy to help.