A young man sits at a table in an office, showing a colourful drawing to a woman standing beside them.

A group of young people and staff stand together in front of a black Sedulo-branded backdrop in an office space.

Steps in confidence and independence this Easter 💚

Our CYP team supported young people to challenge themselves and build skills for the future.

Post 16 highlights included a Workplace Safari with Sedulo (thank you! 🙌)

#SightLossSupport #Manchester

Poster for Henshaws BedFest 2026 at Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre in Knaresborough on 13 June, 12pm to 11pm. A large photo shows a busy outdoor festival with families and groups enjoying live music and activities. Ticket prices are £12 in advance, £14 on the day, £6 for children aged 3 to 17, with under 3s and carers free. The event is a family-friendly day out with food, drink and music. Booking available at henshaws.org.uk. Sponsored by Specsavers.

Poster for Henshaws BedFest 2026. Live music includes DJ Rory Hoy, Hot Sauce, The Song Collectives, Pips, Hellfire Jack, Rory King and Drop Leg Steppers. Local breweries include Harrogate Brewing Co, Roosters, Turning Point and Daleside. Food vendors include Urban Cuisine and Sparkle and Magic. Photos show a DJ performing, a group of friends enjoying the event, and families together. Tickets can be booked at henshaws.org.uk. Sponsored by Specsavers.

💜 BedFest 2026 is back!

Join us on 13th June for live music, great food, local drinks and family-friendly fun in Knaresborough 🎶

👉 https://www.henshaws.org.uk/events/henshaws-bedfest/

Every ticket supports people living with sight loss 💜

Artmaker Kerry from our Arts and Crafts Centre is demonstrating the Makaton sign for “dream"!

A thoughtful sign about imagination and possibility.

[Alt description] Artmaker Kerry demonstrates the Makaton sign for “dream” outdoors with yellow daffodils behind her".

#MakatonOfTheMonth 🧡

Smiling young person in a wheelchair outdoors, overlaid: hiring for care roles in Starbeck, Harrogate.

We’re hiring at Henshaws Specialist College (Starbeck) 💙

✨ Care Support Workers (no experience needed)
✨ Assistant Care Manager (care experience required)

Great for people with transferable skills or ready to progress in care.

🔗 https://www.henshaws.org.uk/careers/current-vacancies/

#CareJobs

A young woman in a wheelchair smiling at the camera wearing sunglasses and wrapped in burgundy fleece on a beachfront promenade with wind turbines offshore.

A young man and woman at an arcade, leaning forward and holding a racing-game wheel amid neon lights and colourful arcade machines.

A young man in a wheelchair wearing a green jacket, seated indoors and looking to the left.

Putting skills into practice in new environments 💙 

Our Partnerships programme helps young people continue to grow in confidence after College.

Recent highlights include a museum visit, time at the beach, shopping skills and trial sessions for current students!

#HenshawsSpecialistCollege #SEND

Bright graphic with abstract shapes in green and pink. A large pink speech bubble in the centre contains the text: “Surely you have sight if you can do that…”

This week’s myth: “Surely you have sight if you can do that…”

Sight loss is a spectrum. People adapt. That doesn’t make it any less real.

Have you heard this before? 💬 

#SightLoss

Amy and Quincy sat at a desk in an office setting, working on a handmade card together.

Quincy laughing, walking with her long cane on a concrete path outdoors, holding a stack of envelopes.

Last year, Quincy and Amy raised funds by selling handmade cards, and smashed their target. 💜

Your challenge can be creative, active or completely your own.

Raise £100 this June and make a difference.

Sign up:
www.henshaws.org.uk/events/henshaws-hundreds...

#HenshawsHundreds

Louise smiling in lace wedding dress and floral hairpiece at a decorated reception table with wine bottles and glasses.

Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre café set for dinner with white tables, blue chairs, a bar at the back and whimsical sculptures on an upper mezzanine.

Louise in a white lace gown and Nick in dark patterned coat embrace before tall bamboo, warm sunlight filtering through.

Planning an event? 🧡 

Our Arts & Crafts Centre in Knaresborough is a unique, accessible venue for weddings, parties & team days.

✨ “An unforgettable experience.” - Nick & Louise

Find out more: www.henshaws.org.uk/arts-crafts-centre/uniqu...

#Knaresborough #VenueHire

Green background with white text. Heading reads: “Sight Loss Myth Busters”. Main text says: “People sometimes assume: People with sight loss have fewer hobbies, don’t enjoy travel, or don’t care about their home or style.”

Light background with green text and decorative shapes. Main message reads: “Hobbies, travel, home and style can all still be part of everyday life.” Smaller text adds: “People with sight loss live full, independent lives. Everyday life and routines look different for everyone.”

Sight Loss Myth Busters 💗 

People sometimes assume sight loss limits hobbies, travel or everyday life.

But people with sight loss live full lives, with varied interests and lifestyles.

Read more:
www.henshaws.org.uk/hints-and-tips/sight-los...

#SightLoss

“It’s a very friendly place.” 🧡

Kez has been part of our Arts & Crafts Centre since 2005, creating jewellery and performing music in a welcoming creative community.

Learn about becoming an Artmaker 👉 www.henshaws.org.uk/arts-crafts-centre/be-an...

#InclusiveArts #Disability

A laughing young man reclining on a purple beanbag outdoors, holding a tablet and resting one leg on top of the other.

Young woman sitting on a blanket outdoors holding a pink and purple bubble gun, wearing a beige coat with a fur-trimmed hood.

Hope everyone’s enjoying the Easter holidays 🐣🌼

Before the break, our students enjoyed a sunny walk around campus and a picnic outdoors ☀️

What have you been up to this Easter? 💙

#HenshawsSpecialistCollege #EasterHolidays #Spring

Makaton of the Month ✋

Another sign for this week.

Students Tom and Tess from Henshaws Specialist College are demonstrating the Makaton sign for “sport.” 💙

A great sign to practise!

#MakatonOfTheMonth #HenshawsSpecialistCollege

A female Artmaker outside on a sunny day holding a wooden bird box and a wire robin ornament. She smiles widely towards the camera, standing with trees and grass behind her, glowing in the sunlight.

A male Artmaker stands outdoors in the gardens holding up a colourful circular artwork on a turquoise background. The design features bright splashes of paint in pink, yellow, green, blue and orange arranged in a swirling pattern. Trees and a decorative brick sculpture can be seen in the background.

Thank you to Morley Glass for supporting our Secret Garden Appeal with a £500 grant🧡💜

The appeal will help us build two new workshops at our Arts and Crafts Centre so we can welcome up to 40 more people each day to build confidence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging.

#Henshaws #SecretGardenAppeal

Artmaker Darren holding up a tactile artwork of a sausage sandwich made from felt and seed beads, layered between soft felt “bread” shapes and displayed on a turquoise plate.

Artmaker Darren holding a felt sausage sandwich artwork towards his face, showing soft felt “bread” layers with bead and sequin textures representing the filling.

A sausage sandwich… but make it art. 🧡 

Darren created this felt and bead sausage sandwich in the workshop, using tiny seed beads threaded onto wire to form the textured filling.

#Henshaws #DisabilityArts

A young man set in a reception area with a tea station, toaster and 'Hello and Welcome to Henshaws' sign behind him.

A young woman smiling while walking on a treadmill.

A life skills catch-up from Henshaws Specialist College.💙 

One student recently helped on reception answering the phone and supporting staff. Students have also been learning about finance and money management through enterprise and PSHE, alongside sports and PE!

#SENEducation

Makaton of the Month ✋

Artmaker Kerry from our Arts and Crafts Centre is demonstrating the sign for “help,” along with some everyday variations.

Makaton uses signs, symbols and speech to support people to communicate.

#MakatonOfTheMonth 🧡

Here’s a jungle throwback from our Specialist College. 🌿🐯

Students sang, signed and smiled their way through The Jungle Book with Image Musical Theatre. Pure joy and inclusivity in action! 💙🎶

#HenshawsSpecialistCollege #Creativity #Inclusion

This is Henshaws. 💗

Hear from our Artmakers, families and staff about what Henshaws means to them.

Watch the full film:
https://youtu.be/voE6Ico_AE4

[Alt] Montage of artmakers, families and staff speaking to camera, with overlay clips of artwork and activities.

#Henshaws

Green graphic reading “Sight Loss Myth Busters”. Large text says: “Another assumption: You shouldn’t use phrases like ‘see you later’.”

White graphic reading “The reality”. Text explains that everyday phrases like “see you later” or “did you watch that?” are completely fine unless someone prefers different wording.

Sight Loss Myth Busters – Week Five 💗 

People sometimes worry about saying the wrong thing to someone with sight loss.
But everyday language like “see you later” is completely fine.

Read more:
www.henshaws.org.uk/hints-and-tips/sight-los...

#SightLoss #Accessibility #Inclusion

Person painting a lobster in blue and orange paint, surrounded by loose green brushstrokes, onto a large sheet of paper.

Bright lobster stencil print in orange and blue on a colourful background of yellow, pink and green washes.

Making waves in the textiles workshop 🦞🧡 

Artmaker Mark has been creating lobster prints as part of an Under the Sea theme. His designs will soon be turned into tote bags and cushion covers!

#DisabilityArts

A small dog sits on a blue chair beside a table laid out with raffle prizes, including wine bottles, gift sets and wrapped items, ready for Sue and Caroline’s fundraising coffee morning.

A large table filled with homemade cakes, pastries, fruit, sandwiches and crisps, decorated with pink roses and small food labels, set up for Sue and Caroline’s coffee morning.

A coffee morning raised £800+ for Henshaws last year. 💜

Cake, community and even a few supporters’ dogs joining the fun.

Henshaws Hundreds returns in June 2026.

Pick your challenge and change lives. 💜 

Sign up:
www.henshaws.org.uk/events/henshaws-hundreds...

#HenshawsHundreds

Josh sat at a table with an older man, sorting through papers.

Josh standing outside in a pedestrianised square wearing a blue Adidas t-shirt with a running race number pinned to the front. He wears glasses, a medal and there are buildings in the background.

A Day in the Life at Henshaws 💚

Meet Josh, an Enablement Officer in our Sight Loss Support Team supporting adults across Greater Manchester.

Read his story:
www.henshaws.org.uk/news/josh-a-day-in-the-l...

More staff stories coming soon!

#Henshaws

Makaton of the Month ✋

Spring is here 🌱

Artmaker Kerry from our Arts and Crafts Centre and student Tess from Henshaws Specialist College are sharing the Makaton sign for “spring.” A perfect sign to practise as we officially begin a new season. 🧡💙

#MakatonOfTheMonth #HenshawsSpecialistCollege

Lawrence running along a riverside path on a sunny day, wearing black running clothes and white trainers. Green trees arch overhead and historic buildings are visible across the river.

Lawrence smiling towards the camera in front of a bright green background. He has very short hair and is wearing a black polo shirt.

Meet the Runner: Lawrence 💜 

Lawrence is running the London Marathon for Henshaws in memory of his little brother Josh.

“Running it feels like a way to honour his life.”

Support his fundraising:
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/lawrence-byers

#LondonMarathon #TeamHenshaws

Sight Loss Myth Busters – Week Four 💗

A common myth is that people with sight loss can’t work, study or live independently.

In reality, many people do all three with the right tools and support.

Read more:
www.henshaws.org.uk/hints-and-tips/sight-los...

#SightLoss 💗

A smiling young woman in a wheelchair with a cup of tea and a smartphone on the table in front of her.

A young man in glasses holding a communication device, standing at the counter in a café waiting to order.

Learning beyond the classroom at Henshaws Specialist College.💙

Students recently visited Tropical World, Fountains Abbey and went bowling. During a visit to the Arts and Crafts Centre café, Alex used his communication device to independently order and pay!

#Henshaws #HenshawsSpecialistCollege

A female Artmaker with a big smile wearing clear protective glasses and holding up a rectangle of woven wool in pink, yellow and orange.

A female Artmaker smiling at the camera, holding up a wire outline of a blackbird: black with a gold beak.

A pair of hands using a piece of wood to pull bright red ink across a screen printing frame, transferring a floral design onto fabric beneath.

Close-up of hands using a jeweller’s saw to carefully cut a bird shape from a thin sheet of metal on a workbench.

Artmakers at our Arts and Crafts Centre have been experimenting with techniques in our workshops 🧡 

Screen printing, metalwork and wire sculptures are all part of the creative process.

#Artist #Henshaws #DisabilityArts #Printmaking #CreativeCommunity

A bright pink graphic with white text that says 'Choosing the right cane tip matters' and 'Learn more in our new blog'. Four cane tips are positioned across the centre: pencil tip, rolling ball tip, marshmallow tip and pathfinder roller tip.

The tip on your long cane affects how confidently you navigate.

If certain environments feel harder to manage, it may be worth exploring alternatives.

Our new blog explains more 💚
www.henshaws.org.uk/hints-and-tips/cane-tips...

#SightLoss #Accessibility

Handmade with care for Mother’s Day 🧡💐

Artmaker Tash has been using our printing press to create beautiful flower cards in pink and purple, with support from workshop assistant Alex. 

[Alt: Tash uses a press to print light pink cards with purple flower outlines.]

#InclusiveArts  #Printmaking

A welcoming place to stay, grow and build confidence. 💙 

Short Breaks at Henshaws Specialist College offer personalised stays for people with additional needs, while also providing valuable respite for families and carers.

Email college.info@henshaws.org.uk to learn more.

#RespiteCare