Date: Friday 26th – Sunday 28th June 2026
Location: Barnstondale Activity Centre, Storeton Lane Barnston Wirral, CH61 1BX
We’re really excited to welcome families back for our 2026 SMS Family Weekend at Barnstondale Activity Centre. This weekend is all about bringing families together in a relaxed, supportive environment. Whether it’s catching up with familiar faces, meeting new families who just get it, or simply having a break from everyday life, this is your space to feel part of a community.
Across the weekend, there will be a mix of outdoor activities, time to relax, and opportunities to learn and share experiences.
What to expect
Outdoor activities for individuals with SMS and siblings
We’ll be running a range of outdoor activities that have been carefully chosen with accessibility and ability in mind.
Some of the activities will include:
- Archery
- Zip wire
- Abseiling
- Climbing
- Obstacle courses
- Target rifles
All activities will be supported by trained staff, including SOS Care Services, who will be available to support individuals with SMS throughout the weekend. SOS have supported our conferences and activity weekends since 2013 and bring a wealth of experience working with both children and adults with Smith-Magenis syndrome. Their understanding of the condition and its complexities helps ensure that activities are delivered in a safe, supportive and inclusive way for everyone taking part.
A space to relax (if activities aren’t your thing)
If outdoor activities aren’t for you, there’s still plenty to enjoy across the site:
- Chill-out space with a large screen
- Indoor games spaces
- Outdoor play areas and playgrounds
- Safe, secure areas to walk and explore
We’ll also have golf buggies available to help people move around the site more easily if needed.
Information sessions for parents and carers
Alongside the activities, we’ll be running a range of informal information-sharing sessions, some of the topics we have planned include:
- Health
- Sleep
- Behaviour
- Genetics
- Education
- Mental health
- Legal topics
Sessions will also be grouped by age and life stage, so information is as relevant and useful as possible.
Meet the professionals
We’ll be joined by a number of professionals who will support sessions and be available to talk with families, including:
- Dr. Gail Reiner, Pediatric Neurology/Smith-Magenis Syndrome Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital
- Dr. Ashley Liew, Consultant paediatric neuropsychiatrist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ (Evelina) Hospital
- Prof. Caroline Richards, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Conditions and Deputy Head of Education at Birmingham University
- Dr. Kate Baker, Programme Leader at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge
We’ll share more details about sessions and availability closer to the event.
Cambridge University – Springboard Project
The team from Cambridge University will be joining us to:
- Share the latest updates
- Talk to families about the Springboard project
- Answer questions and connect with the community
Evening activities
Friday evening campfire – we’ll kick things off with a relaxed campfire where families can gather, chat, and toast marshmallows together.
Saturday night disco – our resident DJ Justin Perks will be back to host a fun, relaxed disco for everyone to enjoy.
Accommodation
Families will stay in log-cabin style accommodation across the Barnstondale site.
- All rooms are en-suite
- A small number include fully accessible bathrooms with hoists
We’ll do our best to match accommodation to individual needs wherever possible.
Food and drink
Your stay includes all meals from Friday dinner through to Sunday lunch. Throughout the weekend, we’ll have tea, coffee, water, squash, and a selection of soft drinks available freely for everyone.
Please note:
Barnstondale does not have a licensed bar, but families are welcome to bring their own drinks if they wish.
Booking information
Ticket types (one per person)
- SMS Child/Adult (Free)
- Sibling – £150*
- Parent/Carer – £150
*Activities are available for siblings aged 5 and over. Infants and children under the age of 3 are welcome to attend and do not require a ticket or incur any charge. There is also a soft play area and several playgrounds around the site for younger children to enjoy.
We want to be open about the costs involved in running a weekend like this. The true cost of each place at Barnstondale is around £256 per person. As a charity, we are covering the full cost for individuals with SMS to attend for free, and we are also subsidising places for family members by £107 per person, keeping the ticket price at £150.
We know that attending events like this can be a big commitment for families, and we’ve done our very best to keep costs as low as possible while still delivering a safe, supportive and high-quality weekend for everyone.
What’s included
All tickets include:
- Accommodation (Friday & Saturday nights)
- Meals (Friday dinner to Sunday lunch)
- Activities for individuals with SMS and siblings
- Information sessions
- Evening entertainment
Payment schedule
- £50 deposit (per paying participant) paid at booking
- £50 (per paying participant) on 30 April
- £50 (per paying participant) on 29 May
A non-refundable deposit of £50 per paying participant (one third of the total cost) is taken at the point of booking to secure your place. This deposit cannot be refunded, as the SMS Foundation commits to accommodation, facilities and administration costs in advance, which cannot be recovered.
Day places
We are initially opening bookings for residential places only, as this weekend has been designed as a full residential experience. We hope to offer a limited number of day places, depending on availability once residential bookings are confirmed.
We’d love you to join us
This weekend is always something special. It’s not just about the activities or sessions, it’s about being surrounded by people who understand your world. We can’t wait to bring everyone together again at Barnstondale.
Help shape the future of support for people with SMS