Partner Spotlight: What to Expect at the Kidz to Adultz Exhibitions

Hosted by Disabled Living, a long-established charity offering vital disability information and resources, Kidz to Adultz events take place several times a year across the country. They are designed for children and young adults with disabilities or additional needs, their families, and the professionals who support them.

To find out more, we spoke with Carmel from Disabled Living about what families can expect at the upcoming Kidz to Adultz North event in Liverpool.

What is Kidz to Adultz?
Kidz to Adultz is a completely free-to-attend exhibition that brings together leading organisations, charities, suppliers and experts in the disability sector. As Carmel explains, the event showcases the very best products and services “for children up to the transitional age with disabilities, additional needs. There's a whole range of commercial exhibitors, charities and support organisations, and alongside the events, we have a whole range of specialist experts delivering seminars throughout the day”.

The exhibitions are held in five regions across the UK—Coventry, Farnborough, Newport, Glasgow, and Liverpool. This year, the Liverpool event takes place at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on 3rd December.

Types of Exhibitors You’ll Find
More than 100 exhibitors will attend the Liverpool event. These include suppliers offering:

• Specialist bathing and seating equipment
• Mobility aids
• Assistive technology
• Wheelchair accessible vehicles
• Condition-specific support organisations

Plus, many charities will be present, including Tree of Hope, which Carmel highlights as: “an amazing charity who support families helping to raise money for medical treatments for things that you wouldn't naturally get through the NHS”.

Other exhibitor types include specialist colleges, SEND schools, legal firms, transport providers, therapy centres and employment support services.

Transitional Support for Young People
As Kidz to Adultz approaches its 25th anniversary, the team has introduced a brand-new Transitional Area to support young people preparing for adulthood. As Carmel explains: “this year, we've introduced a transitional area, which was a natural progression for us. Many of the children who have been to our events are going through that transitional stage in their lives. They want to know what they can do after they leave school, what specialist colleges are out there, or how they can go to university.”

The transitional hub features organisations such as JobCentre Plus, life-skills providers and post-16 education specialists. This support is especially valuable for parents/carers navigating the often challenging shift from child to adult services. As Carmel notes: “having all that information under one roof in one day will be a massive plus for the parents and carers who attend this event, and obviously, these events are not just for parents and carers, they support professionals who support young people as well”.

Seminars at Kidz to Adultz Liverpool
A key feature of every Kidz to Adultz event is its programme of expert-led seminars—all completely free. At the Liverpool exhibition, sessions include:

• Dreaming Of A Good Night’s Sleep? – The Sleep Charity
• Posture Management, a Holistic Multi-Disciplinary approach – Occupational Therapists from Disabled Living
• Supported standing and stepping – Jiraffe
• Sensory Steps for Toileting Success – Bladder and Bowel UK
• Unleashing the power of language with AAC – Smartbox
• Wheelchair users in education – Whizz Kidz Youth Board
• Sling Selection – Adapt and Live Occupational Therapist
• Access to Work - Department for Work and Pensions
• Sensory Success – Occupational Therapist Services Liverpool
• EHCPs and SEND appeals – Slater and Gordon

These seminars make the event especially useful for both families and professionals seeking practical, evidence-based advice.

Financial Support at the Event: How Tree of Hope Can Help
While the variety of equipment and therapies on display is eye-opening, many families face the same challenge: how to pay for what their child needs.

This is exactly why Tree of Hope attends Kidz to Adultz—to help families create a clear financial plan and feel empowered to raise the funding they need.

You can visit our stand to:

• Discuss your child’s needs
• Learn how fundraising with Tree of Hope works
• Understand timelines, expectations and support available
• Start your fundraising journey with confidence

Other charities such as Caudwell Children, Newlife, and Family Fund will also be there to support with financial guidance.

As Carmel explains, organisations often “link quite closely with all the suppliers there, so between them they can hopefully bridge that gap so people can get the financial support they need, particularly in this climate now when there's so many cuts”.

Planning Your Visit
To get the most out of the exhibition, make sure you check the show guide—available digitally two weeks before the event and in print on the day. Carmel recommends using it to plan: “the day so you can go and see the people you want to see. It is also a good resource to refer to afterwards… the show guides have brief descriptions of the organisations in it.”

You’re Invited to Kidz to Adultz North
Location: Exhibition Centre Liverpool
Date: 3rd December
Accessibility: Fully accessible venue with WAV-friendly parking on the lower level
Who can attend: Parents, carers, disabled children & young people, professionals, and assistance dogs

Whether you’re looking for specialist equipment, therapy ideas, funding solutions, or transitional advice, Kidz to Adultz North brings everything together in one supportive, accessible space.

Tree of Hope looks forward to meeting you there.

Register your attendance here!