The CCAA Family Support weekend is organised for the children and families that live with the effects of JIA. For over 30 years, CCAA have been organising weekends of fun activities for the kids and informative support sessions, led by Health Professionals, for the parents. Not only is the weekend a unique opportunity for your family to meet and share experiences with other families, the children meet others in similar situations, realising they are not alone and often leave with lasting friendships.
Our aim is to provide you with an insight into the treatment and management of JIA, so that at the end of the weekend you feel more informed about JIA. Through the activities and sessions we run, your children will also leave with the confidence that despite the disease, they can achieve anything they put desire.
If you wish to add your name to the waiting list for 2026, please click on the link below:
What is the weekend about?
We are often asked if the weekend is just for a parent and the child with JIA. The simple answer to this is, no!
JIA can have an impact on the whole family, and therefore we believe that it’s just as important for siblings and both parents/carers to come along too.
Just take a look at our video to see and hear for yourself!
We just came back from a wonderful weekend organised by the CCAA. We are 5 years into the journey and still learned so much! It was very special for our little daughter to connect with other children with JIA and to realise that she is not alone and there are many other superstars.
JIA Parent, Lucia Kossarova
It was wonderful to meet other families going through the same journey and we hope to keep meeting up locally now too. It was great to put faces to the names from this group. Well done CCAA team! Do go and try it if you can, it will really help your little ones! Feeling very happy.”
Learn More About JIA
The parent sessions are run by Health Professionals. They aim to provide you with an insight into the treatment and management of JIA, so that at the end of the weekend you feel more informed about JIA.
Build Confidence
The activities that the children take part in are designed to build confidence, encourage them to work together and problem solve, but above all else take on new challenges.
Meet Other Families
Not only is the weekend a perfect opportunity for your family to meet and share experiences with other families, the children meet others in similar situations, with lasting friendships often made.
Have Fun!
Children with JIA, face so many challenges every day. Our main focus for the weekend is that the children have fun, make new friends and go home with a great big smile on their face.
The Venues
Hollowford Centre
Derbyshire – Venue for Northern weekend.
The venue for the North weekend is Hollowford Centre, on the outskirts of the village of Castleton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District National Park.
Address: Hollowford Centre, Castleton, Hope Valley, S33 8WB.
Telephone: 01433 620 377
Visit the Hollowford Centre for more information about location and local amenities.
Hooke Court
Dorset – Venue for Southern weekend.
The venue for the South weekend is Hooke Court, located just 11 miles from the Jurassic Coast in the small village of Hooke in rural West Dorset.
Address: Hooke Court, Hooke, Nr Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NX
Telephone: 01308 862260
Visit the Hooke Court website for more information about location and local amenities.
What’s Included?
Activities
Your children will have access to a variety of activities during the weekend. Each venue offers slightly different activities, and may include some of the following: zip wire, abseiling, climbing, adventure course, caving, hiking, low ropes, high ropes, archery, mud-run, raft building, bushcraft and shelter building.
Meals
Your meals are catered for the weekend, from Friday dinner through to Sunday lunchtime. The menu is varied and will include vegetarian options.
Where specific dietary requirements have been noted on your booking form, these will be catered for. The dining room is run on a canteen style, but don’t worry you won’t be expected to do the washing up!
Accommodation
Throughout the weekend we will provide full board accommodation.
All rooms are family rooms and each family will have their own room with a combination of single and bunk beds.
Hollowford Centre: Each room has it’s own bathroom with shower.
Hooke Court: Bathroom and showers are a shared facility.
Penguin Club
Hollowford Centre:The Penguin Club is run for under 4’s that attend the weekend. Some of our committee members are nursery and school teachers, so your little ones are in great hands. The CCAA team take the children on woodland walks, play with the club toys, paint, draw and play games with them. They will have so much fun!
Hooke Court: Penguin Club is run by Wren Nursery which is located onsite.
What The Kids & Parents Say
See some of the feedback we have had over the years from the kids and parents that have attended the weekends.
“Everything was my favourite. If you have JIA, you have to come, it’s amazing!”
“I love climbing! I want to join a climbing club when I get home mum!”
“I have had so much fun and met some new friends, some have JIA too!”
“It was very special for our little daughter to connect with other children with JIA.”
“It’s reassuring to know we all go through and experience the same emotions.”
“This has been a brilliant weekend with memories made that will last a lifetime!”
It was a fantastic weekend! Rosie had such a brilliant time and really enjoyed meeting other children going through the same thing. It was so nice to meet you all and your lovely families.
JIA Parent, Louise Jupp
I really think that when it comes to dealing with arthritis, knowledge is power so it was wonderful to have access to such expert knowledge and experience. Well done CCAA!”
Weekend FAQs
We have put together some frequently asked questions about the CCAA family support weekend.
Please take a look at these, as they may answer some of your questions. If you require further information or cannot find an answer to your query, please contact weekends@ccaa.org.uk and we will be happy to help you.