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Struggling For Sensory Ideas? 15 Simple Ways to Help Your Child Regulate at Home
It’s 4 PM on a Tuesday. The telly is a bit too loud. The kitchen smells like tonight’s dinner. Your child is starting to spin in circles, or maybe they’re beginning to melt down...
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Carer: Putting Wellbeing First
Have you ever sat in your car for five minutes after getting home, just staring at the dashboard? The engine is off. The house is right there. You know as soon as you step throu...
It’s Official: Noa’s Place is Now a Registered Charity! 💜
By Josh Barnes You know that feeling when you finally get a letter you’ve been waiting for? The one that says you’ve been heard. The one that says, “Yes, this is real.” For a lo...
Co-Regulation Tools: 20 Calming Strategies to Get You Started
Ever felt like you are trying to put out a forest fire with a water pistol whilst standing in the middle of a hurricane? We have all been there. Maybe it is the supermarket aisl...
The Ultimate Guide to EHCPs: Everything You Need to Succeed in Getting SEND Support
You’re sitting at the kitchen table. It’s 10:00 PM. The house is finally quiet, but your mind is racing. Around you are stacks of school reports, doctor’s letters, and half-fill...
The After-School Meltdown: 5 simple ways to help your child regulate after a long day
You hear the front door click. You’ve been looking forward to this moment all day: the chance to finally catch up, hear about what they learned, and enjoy a peaceful evening tog...
Finding Calm in the Chaos: How Sensory Spaces Support Wellbeing
Do you ever feel like the world is just... a bit too loud? Maybe it’s the hum of the fridge that suddenly feels like a jet engine. Or the bright fluorescent lights in the superm...
Struggling With Sensory Overload? 15 Practical Ways to Help Your Child Regulate at Home
You’ve just walked through the front door after the school run. The door hasn't even clicked shut before the meltdown starts. Maybe it’s a scream, maybe it’s a sob, or maybe...
7 Mistakes You’re Making with Sensory Meltdowns (And How to Fix Them)
You’re in the middle of the supermarket. Or maybe you’re at the park. Suddenly, it happens. The screaming starts. The kicking. The complete and utter shutdown. You can feel the...
FeaturedAccessibility from the Ground Up: How We’re Designing for MS in Halifax
If you live in Halifax, or anywhere across West Yorkshire, you know that our landscape is beautiful, but it isn't exactly "MS-friendly." We’ve got steep hills, cob...
FeaturedSEND Reform: Turning Policy into Real Support for Our Families
If you joined us for our recent SEND Reform Webinar, you’ll know that the atmosphere was a mix of hope, frustration, and a lot of “how does this actually work for my child?” We...
The Ultimate Guide to EBSA: What to Do When Your Autistic Child Won’t Go to School
It’s 7:30 am on a Tuesday. The uniform is laid out, the school bag is packed, and the toast is getting cold on the table. But your child is under the duvet, or maybe they’re loc...
Sensory Rooms Aren't Just for Kids: Supporting Parkinson's at Noa’s Place
Hi, I’m Josh Barnes, the founder of Noa’s Place. If you’ve been following our journey for a while, you know that we are all about creating a world where everyone: regardless of...
The Ultimate Guide to EBSA: Helping Your Child When School Feels Too Much
It’s Monday morning. The alarm goes off, and instead of the usual rush to find matching socks, there’s a heavy silence. Or perhaps there are tears. Maybe your child is complaini...
5 Steps to Better Co-Regulation: An Easy Guide and Planner for Emotional Regulation
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a supermarket aisle, or perhaps just on your own living room floor, feeling your own heart rate climb while your child is having a...
World Autism Acceptance Month: Why Acceptance is the Goal
April is here, and with it comes a lot of talk about autism. You’ve probably seen the posters, the social media badges, and the landmarks lit up in different colours. For a long...
Founding Families Spotlight: Why Calderdale Needs an Inclusive Hub
Happy World Autism Acceptance Month, everyone. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either navigating the world of neurodiversity yourself, or you’re walking that path alo...
Beyond Awareness: Making Halifax Truly Autism-Friendly with Noa’s Place
Hi everyone, Josh here. If you’ve been following our journey at Noa’s Place for a while, you’ll know that everything we do comes from a place of lived experience. It comes from...
7 Mistakes You’re Making with ADHD Family Support
Let’s be real for a second. Parenting is hard. Parenting a child with ADHD? That’s a whole different ball game. It’s like trying to navigate a ship through a permanent storm whi...
Why Your Child Melts Down When They’re Hungry (But Won’t Eat)
You know the moment. We’ve all been there. You ask your child, "Are you hungry, love?" and they give you a flat "No." They might even seem a bit annoyed you...
7 Mistakes You’re Making with Sensory Overload (and How to Fix Them Using a Sensory Profile)
Ever had one of those days where the sound of the kettle boiling feels like a physical punch to the gut? Or maybe you’ve watched your child go from "perfectly fine" to...
FeaturedThe Road to the Hub: Why Our Community is Already Growing (Even Without the Keys)
I’ll be honest with you: I spend a lot of time thinking about keys. I think about the weight of them in my pocket, the sound they’ll make when they turn in a lock for the first time, and the feeling of pushing open a heavy door to welcome you all inside.
Celebrating Neurodiversity Week: Why Our Halifax Hub is More Than Just a Building
If you’ve been following our journey at Noa’s Place, you know we’re usually pretty busy behind the scenes. But this week feels different. It’s March 17th, which means we are right in the middle of Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 16-22, 2026).
Top 10 Sensory Friendly Activities for Adults: Why Everyone Needs a Calm Space to Unwind
Being an adult is hard enough without having to mask your sensory needs. We’ve put together 10 simple, sensory-friendly ways to help you decompress and find your calm, right where you are.
The Ultimate Guide to SEND Support in Halifax: Navigating the System with Noa’s Place
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re tired. Maybe you’re tired of the endless phone calls. Maybe you’re tired of being told to wait and see while your child struggles. Or maybe you’re just tired of feeling like you’re the only person in Halifax fighting to get your child the support they deserve.
FeaturedNoa’s Place Statement on the Government’s SEND Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper
Noa’s Place responds to the Government’s proposed SEND reforms and outlines what families say must happen for change to genuinely improve support.
Noa’s Place on the Government’s Early Support & SEND Prevention Announcement
Noa’s Place welcomes the government’s commitment to building a prevention-first early support system rooted in fairness, connection and long-term outcomes for children and families.
Finding Calm at Christmas: Support Through the Festive Season
Christmas is magical, but it can also be overwhelming for children with sensory needs or SEND. At Noa’s Place, we’re sharing gentle ways to help families find calm, connection, and moments of joy during the holidays.
A Small but Significant Step Forward
This month, we reached a milestone in the journey of Noa’s Place — our first official trustee meeting, the approval of our constitution, and the welcoming of our new Co-Chairs, Megan and Laura. This step brings us closer to opening a space where families feel understood, supported, and never alone.
Our Story: Why We Started Noa’s Place
Noa’s Place was born out of our family’s journey with our son Noa, who has complex sensory needs. What began in isolation and heartbreak has grown into a vision for a safe, inclusive hub where families with additional needs can find warmth, understanding, and belonging.
ADHD Awareness Month
October is ADHD Awareness Month — a time to listen, learn, and celebrate neurodiversity. At Noa’s Place, we’re standing with families and individuals who think differently, helping build a world where everyone feels understood, supported, and truly belongs.
Meet the Trustees of Noa’s Place
Meet the dedicated trustees behind Noa’s Place — a passionate team of parents, professionals, and advocates united by one mission: to create a world where children, adults, and families of every ability can play, learn, and belong together.
Our Three Year Strategy: Together We Make Space for Every Family to Shine
This is our three year strategy for Noa’s Place. A clear, compassionate plan rooted in lived experience, early support, and community. We are building something steady, inclusive, and sustainable — together.