Kangaroos

23/06/2026

Day 2 of Big Give Small Charity Week

Meet Damon.

Before joining Kangaroos four years ago, Damon had limited opportunities to socialise outside school and college. His family wanted him to have fun activities to enjoy, friendships to build and experiences to look forward to.

Today, Damon is an active and enthusiastic member of Kangaroos. From rock climbing and camping on residential trips to days out with the group, he has embraced new experiences, grown in confidence and become a supportive, encouraging part of our community.

The difference extends beyond Damon himself.

His mum told us:

“He loves Kangaroos activities, particularly the trips. He mixes more with his peers and points out other members to us when we collect him. We have had more chances to spend time together, and with other family members, so things feel better balanced and we are consequently better carers for him and his sister too.”

At Kangaroos, we’re proud to be a whole-family service. While our members enjoy opportunities to socialise, build confidence and try new experiences, families can benefit from having more time together and a better balance at home.

This week only, every donation made through our Big Give campaign will be doubled, helping us reach more children and adults with learning disabilities and the 150 families currently waiting to access our services.

Donate here:
https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000CZNpFYAX

Small Charity Week Big Give NCVO Global’s Make Some Noise

22/06/2026

At midday today, our Big Give Small Charity Week campaign opens.

Every day, we see the difference that friendship, belonging and new experiences can make.

Right now, 150 families are waiting to access Kangaroos and the opportunities, support and connections that come with it.

For one week only, every donation made through our Big Give campaign page will be doubled, helping us reach more children and adults with learning disabilities and their families.

If you can give, now is the time to make your donation go twice as far.

Donate through our campaign page here:
https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000CZNpFYAX

Thank you for helping us bring colour to the lives of people with learning disabilities.

Big Give Small Charity Week NCVO

18/06/2026

Just 4 days to go until our Big Give Small Charity Week campaign begins.

From 22–29 June, every donation made to Kangaroos through the campaign will be doubled at no extra cost to the donor.

Right now, 150 families are waiting to access our clubs, trips and activities. The funds raised during this special week will help us work towards reaching more children and adults with learning disabilities and their families.

The Big Give is the UK’s largest match funding platform, meaning your donation can have twice the impact for one week only.

We’ll be sharing our campaign link on Monday when the campaign opens. Until then, please save the date and help us spread the word.

Friendships. Confidence. Independence. Opportunities. That’s what your support helps make possible.

Small Charity Week Big Give

10/06/2026

Exciting news!

We’re delighted to share that Kangaroos has been selected to take part in this year’s Small Charity Week Match Funding Campaign with Big Give.

From 22–29 June, every donation made to our campaign will be doubled at no extra cost to the donor, helping us raise even more to support children and adults with learning disabilities and their families.

We’ll be sharing more details soon, but for now please save the dates. With 150 families currently on our waiting list, this campaign will help us reach more children and adults with learning disabilities who are waiting to access the support, activities and friendships that Kangaroos provides.

07/06/2026

“Volunteer at Kangaroos they said… it’ll be fun they said!”

As Volunteers’ Week comes to a close, we’d like to say a huge thank you to every single person who gives their time to support Kangaroos.

On Saturday, we brought together our sessional volunteers, volunteer trustees, staff team and family members who have helped throughout the year for a Volunteers’ Brunch. It was a lovely opportunity to celebrate the people who make so much of what we do possible, and to thank them for the time, energy and enthusiasm they bring to Kangaroos.

The morning included some fun volunteer awards, plenty of laughter and a chance to reflect on everything that has been achieved together. There was also an exciting update on our journey towards creating a permanent Hub for Kangaroos, something that would not be possible without the support of our volunteers.

A special thank you to Denise for organising the Volunteers’ Brunch, and for the thoughtfulness, support and encouragement she shows our volunteers throughout the year. Her care and dedication help make Kangaroos such a welcoming place to volunteer.

If you’ve enjoyed following our Volunteers’ Week posts and would like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. There are lots of ways to support Kangaroos, from helping at sessions and events to lending a hand behind the scenes.

A special thank you to for their generosity and support. Sue and the team could not have done more for us and helped make the morning such a success.

07/06/2026

So grateful, thank you so much.

Every child and young person deserves the opportunity to feel included, build friendships, grow in confidence and simply have fun.

That's why Focus Foundation is proud to have awarded a grant of £4,674 to support Easter holiday activities and trips delivered by Kangaroos Sussex for children, teenagers and adults with learning disabilities and additional needs across Mid Sussex.

💙 About Kangaroos:

For more than 30 years, Kangaroos has been creating safe, inclusive spaces where people with learning disabilities can thrive.

What began as a small parent-led play scheme in 1994 has grown into a charity supporting hundreds of children, young people and adults through year-round clubs, activities, trips and residential experiences.

Their work provides opportunities for friendship, independence, confidence-building and belonging, while also offering valuable respite for families and carers.

👋 Visiting Kangaroos:

Recently, our CEO, Katie Gibson, and Grants & Charity Manager, Mandi Stanley, had the privilege of volunteering with Kangaroos' PALS school holiday group.

Spending time with the children and young people, joining activities and seeing the confidence and joy these sessions create was incredibly inspiring.

What stood out most was the strong sense of belonging. Being surrounded by peers with similar experiences gave attendees a space where they felt understood, accepted and supported, a powerful reminder of why inclusive opportunities like these matter so much.

⭐ The impact of our grant:

Our funding helped support Easter holiday activities and trips for 60 children, teenagers and adults, creating memorable experiences, meaningful connections and opportunities to develop confidence and independence.

We're incredibly grateful to Becky Coles, Jenni Herrit and the entire Kangaroos team for the warm welcome and for the extraordinary work they continue to do for families across Mid Sussex.

To learn more about their work, please visit: https://www.kangaroos.org.uk/

06/06/2026

Are Emma and Jackie going to abseil 450ft from the doors of the Brighton i360 pod all the way to the ground?

Absolutely!

Are they scared?

Of course… but they’re doing it anyway!

On 28th June, Emma and Jackie will be taking on the Brighton i360 abseil to raise money for Kangaroos.

At Kangaroos, we help children and adults with learning disabilities grow and thrive within the community, build confidence and friendships, and live life without limits. Our trips and activities give our members the chance to enjoy new experiences, gain independence and make unforgettable memories.

They’re hoping to raise £500, and every donation, big or small, will make a real difference.

Donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/emma-and-jackie-are-taking-the-leap

A special thank you to the Focus Foundation for helping to make this happen.

01/06/2026

“Volunteer at Kangaroos, they said… it’ll be fun, they said.”

This week is Volunteers’ Week, and we’re taking the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of our incredible volunteers and trustees.

From weekly clubs and trips to events and special moments, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. They bring energy, kindness and a real sense of fun to Kangaroos, helping create a space where our members can feel confident, supported and part of something special.

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing a few glimpses into what volunteering at Kangaroos is really like, the fun, the friendships and everything in between.

Thank you for everything you do.