K&DMS is a grassroots organisation started in 1978 by a group of parents of children with a

learning disability who wanted to offer their children a social life. We celebrated 46 years of

quality provision for people with a learning disability and neurodivergence in 3 counties in

2024.

From offices in Keynsham BS31, we run 9 weekly social, music and sporting clubs. These

clubs offer people with a learning disability a place for fun and friendship. Our 9 weekly

clubs welcome adults and children affected by a range of issues such as Down’s Syndrome,

Cerebral Palsy, and Williams Syndrome. Some members also have autism, other

neurodivergence, physical disabilities and need more accommodations. We ensure that

everyone can join in.

We are a small, but passionate team. Our Chair volunteers in clubs at least once a week,

and our trustees are very active and connected to what we do and our 170 club members.

Our members travel from all over WECA and beyond, from Bristol, BANES and South Glos.,

from Yate and Nailsea, from Bath and the Chew Valley for our excellent services which are

run from rented halls in Bath and Keynsham.

We have 3 children’s clubs and 6 for adults. Go Explore is for 18–25-year-olds, which

bridges the space between adolescence and adulthood, and has a variety of activities for

young people to enjoy. Our weekly music performance club, Music Man Project Bristol and

Bath returned to perform at The Royal Albert Hall in April 2024. Our 3 weekly sports and

fitness clubs offer Boccia bowling and Football, which both compete in league fixtures as

well as Fitness, which is often circuit training.

The other clubs are age-bracketed general social groups, which have a variety of activities

over a term. This varies according to the age group, and may be such as trips to Ninja

warrior, the pub or paddleboarding, or games nights or perhaps a visit from 3 rd party

professionals bringing fun and expertise such as the reptile handling workshop or line

dancing.

We are self-funding, and do this via grant applications, the support of local businesses and

philanthropic organisations, community fundraising, events and membership fees.

If you’d like to know more about us, check out our ThisIsMe! Blog on socials. We hope that

you enjoy this insight to our members’ lives.