Kane's World Foundation started with one family and one simple wish — for a child to have somewhere to play as himself.

Our founder, Kelly Knight, watched her son Kane, a bright, sensory-seeking little boy who loves to climb, jump and feel the wind and rain, turned away or overwhelmed in play spaces built for neurotypical children. What her family was missing, she realised, hundreds of families across Darlington and the North East were missing too: not the occasional one-hour SEND session, not a long drive to the nearest sensory centre, but somewhere close to home, open to them, built for how their children actually play.

So we set out to build it — and we didn't wait for a building to begin. Today Kane's World runs a full calendar of SEND-friendly events across Darlington: regular swimming sessions, beach days and science mornings, cooking clubs, our Funday Festival, and free Cuppa and Cake mornings where parents find advice, support and one another. Families come through our doors