A CHARITY working with special educational needs and autism is now turning its sights to Oxford’s hardest-to-reach areas.

Activities for youngsters in Blackbird Leys will be laid on at February half term, including a youth club, sports and trips.

After a whirlwind year that saw its new Witney cafe open and a county council commission, Yellow Submarine is raising awareness of its services among families away from Oxford city centre who need help.

Head of outcomes Anna Cheetham said: “Now we have been commissioned by the county council we are focusing on the city, south and west.

“We have prioritised areas within Oxford where we know there are issues of deprivation and families that have found it hard in the past to get in touch.

“We will be spending time in Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill and Littlemore to build that trust and enable families to let us support their children.”

Recently a team of Oxford University students was invited to spread the word, putting up posters in Blackbird Leys Community Centre to alert parents to services on offer. Staff have also met with local schools and early intervention hubs.

Ms Cheetham added: “The demand is there. There are barriers in place for families in more disadvantaged areas with children with additional needs.

“Transport is a huge issue. Also, if your son or daughter goes to a special school, they don’t follow the same boundaries and might have to go to Abingdon. You lose that sense of community in the playground, which we want to rectify by basing ourselves in the Leys.”

This year Yellow Submarine has expanded its holiday offering in the Leys to include ‘explore days’ to bowling alleys or the Kassam Stadium on Tuesdays, with a pick-up point on the estate, youth club days at the Blackbird Leys Satellite Hub, sports events at the Leys Pools and Leisure Centre and a minibus from the Leys to Hill End outdoor centre near Farmoor.

Charity chief Toby Staveley said: “There are areas where families are crying out for extra support and the more we can do to reach them the better.

“We anticipate that in those areas less people might use online services, so we are trying to grab attention with the posters and give families the knowledge that we are our there and the reassurance that there is help.”

In 2015 Yellow Submarine, best known for its cafe in Park End Street that provides training and jobs for young people with special educational needs and autism, opened a second cafe in Witney, was commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council as an activities provider, expanded into South Oxfordshire and had a visit from David Cameron.

For Mr Staveley, a personal highlight was a panto trip. He said: “Whenever we bring everyone together it’s amazing. We had 100 people there with families. When I see everyone in the one place it dawns on people how much we do. The event really struck a chord.”

For more on Yellow Submarine or activities, call 01865 236119.