Chester

Mum Alison talks about the benefit that LinkAble brings to her whole family. 

My son Chester is 10 and has been coming to LinkAble since he was about five years old. He is autistic, has ADHD, and a rare chromosome condition that causes global developmental delay. 

At the moment, Chester isn’t in school. He used to attend a SEND school, but they struggled to meet his growing needs, particularly as he’s been finding it harder to manage his anger as he’s getting older. This has been really challenging for us as a family and takes a huge amount of our time and energy. Chester needs a lot of attention from me and his dad, but we also need to ensure his older brother, Frankie, who is 13, feels supported as well. 

This is why LinkAble is such an important part of our lives. It gives us precious time and provides Chester with structure, understanding, and a sense of belonging that we’ve struggled to find elsewhere. I love taking Chester to LinkAble as I can see him light up the moment we arrive. The staff really understand him and know what helps him feel calm, safe, and happy. It’s one of the few places where Chester’s needs are fully met and where he can truly be himself. 

Before we found LinkAble, there really wasn’t anywhere suitable for Chester to go. We don’t have help nearby, so getting any kind of break was difficult. At times, we felt exhausted and isolated, but I can wholeheartedly say that things feel different now. 

"LinkAble is the only place where I’ve never been called to collect Chester early. I cannot overstate how important this is! When I drop him off, I know he’ll be there for the full session and that he will have a brilliant time. Those few guaranteed hours give me a chance to get weekly tasks done, spend time with Frankie, or just rest for a moment without worrying."

This rest time supports every member of our family. When you have a child with additional needs, it affects the whole family, but LinkAble gives us the balance we need so that we are a strong and happy unit. 

"It would be such a loss for Chester if we didn’t have LinkAble. He’s so happy there, surrounded by children who understand him. LinkAble gives him a sense of belonging and a place where he feels valued and included. And for us, we have great peace of mind knowing we can trust LinkAble.

For our family, LinkAble isn’t just a service. It’s a lifeline."