19 Aug 2026

Families enjoy inclusive sportsability gymnastics sessions

More than 100 children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families have taken part in Sportsability gymnastics sessions at South Durham Gymnastics.

Supported by a £1,000 Healthy Places Grant from us, South Durham Gymnastics delivered three dedicated sessions for children with ASD and their families.

Children had access to a range of specialist equipment, including trampolines, bars, the air track, inflatable challenger and foam pits, giving them the opportunity to take part in gymnastics activities designed around their needs.

The sessions were open to the whole family, allowing parents, carers and siblings to get involved while meeting other families and learning more about the support available through South Durham Gymnastics.

Sarah Chanley, parent from gymnastic session said: It's a great opportunity for my daughter to come along, especially during the holidays. As soon as she's got her clothes on, she wants to be out and about doing something. It's also a safe environment for her, which is really important to us.

Becca Armstrong, Admin and Operations Manager, South Durham Gymnastics said: “The funding has made such a difference to what we’ve been able to offer over the summer. We’ve been able to put on Sportsability sessions, significantly reducing the cost for families and reach more children in our local community. It has been fantastic to see the gym so busy and welcome so many families.”

Find out more information about South Durham Gymnastics here > > https://bit.ly/SDGymnastics

Community Grants

How do I apply for a Livin home or bungalow?

We advertise all of our available homes on our Find A Home page, simply visit this page for more information.

Before you can place a bid on one of our homes, you must first have an active account with the relevant Choice Based Lettings Scheme. Almost all our homes are located in County Durham and therefore are allocated through the Durham Key Options scheme. Durham Key Options (DKO) is a partnership between Durham County Council and landlords across County Durham.

We have a small number of homes which are located outside Durham, these are all advertised through Tees Valley HomeFinder, Hartlepool HomeSearch and Darlington HomeSearch; They are similar to Durham Key Options but we do not process applications registered for these schemes. If you wish to register an application for homes advertised in this area, please apply directly.

Once your application is approved, you will then be able to bid on homes that meet your needs. You can access the application form directly by visiting the relevant Choice Based Lettings system.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

We aim to start processing your application within 10 working days. If we require any further information after this point, we will contact you to ask for this. Once we have received all the required information we will notify you of our decision within 20 days, and if accepted we will activate your account. You can also check your application status online by logging into the DKO portal.

How can I get involved with Livin and help to shape services?

To find out more about the different ways you can get involved, please visit our getting involved section.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Buy?

Tenants who have been with Livin since before the transfer from Sedgefield Council in 2009 may have the “Preserved Right to Buy” their property. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Buy website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Acquire?

If you have been a tenant for 3 or more years you may have the right to buy your property under the Right to Acquire scheme. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Acquire website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.