ONCE a month Georgina Thompson and Jack Slade join other young teens for a night at the cinema or tenpin bowling.

Nothing unusual in that, you might think. It's the sort of thing thousands of young people in York do with their friends.

But as Georgina and Jack buy their movie tickets or pick up their bowling shoes, they are being watched from a safe distance by a responsible adult.

More often than not, that is Ruth Thompson, founder of York Inspirational Kids (YIK), a not-for-profit organisation, that runs social events for young disabled people and their families.

The Inditeens group is just one of the many offered under the umbrella of YIK, which has two arms, York Ausome Kids, for families with children on the autism spectrum and a second, York Hemi Kids, for parents of children with hemiplegia, a disability that weakens one side of the body.

For the teens, it's all about developing independence skills in a safe environment. So they learn how to handle money, engage with others and build confidence in their interactions outside the family home.

Also on the programme is a fortnightly Saturday club for the under 12s, regular bowling nights and visits to Energi, York's new trampoline park. There are parties and outings too – upcoming ones include a group trip to the panto, a visit to the Bradford Alhambra to see Mary Poppins and a night out at Leeds Arena to see Olly Murs.

Many of the events are open to all members of the family, with parents and siblings openly welcome to attend.

"Our focus is on families," says Ruth. "Here, children can make friendships as well as parents."

She set up the organisation in 2009, originally as a support group on Facebook, as a way to find other parents in York with disabled children. Her middle child, Georgina, was born 12 years ago with CMV, a virus that caused her to have a stroke at birth. It left Georgina blind and suffering from epilepsy. A scan later revealed that half her brain had been damaged too. Ruth also has a son Adam, 14, and a daughter, Hannah, nine.

Ruth said it was difficult to find places to go as a family. "Going to somewhere like Creepy Crawlies was a nightmare. Because Georgina couldn't see kids properly, she would push into them and then their parents would complain. But she felt she was being attacked because she couldn't see them. Or we would go somewhere and she would have a massive seizure. My other children had a very difficult childhood."

Georgina now has some vision while surgery has stopped her seizures. She is just one of the many children in York benefiting from YIK.

Dave Slade's 13-year-old son Jack is another. His hearing loss wasn't diagnosed until at school, leading to developmental delays. His learning disabilities are now being supported through his attendance at the Applefield's satellite unit attached to Manor School, where he moved to in year 8 after an upsetting first year in mainstream secondary. A change of school along with joining YIK has been the making of him, says Dave.

"Jack never used to interact or go anywhere until we joined the group last year. He now has a friendship group and some of the kids in the group also go to his school. His confidence has soared through everything he has done in the group."

Siblings and parents can get as much from the organisation as the disabled child, insists Ruth.

Rebecca Smith is a case in point. She brings her three children, Olivia, 12, George, six and Jake, four, to YIK events. Jake has Dravet Syndrome, which causes prolonged seizures as well as mobility, hearing and developmental problems. "We only joined the group in May, but Olivia and George love it."

She added: "It is nice to do things as a whole family. We all went to Sutton Park for a picnic and it was a lovely sunny day and the kids had the freedom to play outside."

Rebecca has found it helpful to meet other parents coping with disabled children. "I have close friends, but unless someone is in that environment, it is hard. Sometimes I only get two hours sleep as I am up because Jake has seizures all night.

"Other parents understand you if they have a child with disabilities as well."

Rebecca has found it useful to talk to other parents about everything from where to find a large high chair for a disabled child, to the pros and cons of attending a special school as opposed to a mainstream one.

Dave concurs, adding: "The group has a wealth of information to draw on. It's great to be able to relate to other people and just talk over a coffee. Just meeting up and letting it all out makes you feel so much better."

Jacqueline Helm is mum to seven-year-old twins Zachary and Florence and Matlida, six. Florence has Down Syndrome. Jacqueline and friends raised a few hundred pounds for YIK through the Micklegate Run Soap Box challenge this summer.

Fundraising is an important arm of the organisation. "We need to raise about £2,000 a year to play for room hire and subsidise different activities," says Ruth. One event being planned for next year is a black tie dinner dance at York Racecourse, which young Georgina is taking a lead in organising.

Organisers work hard to keep prices low for members and have success in arranging generous group discounts for activities such as trampolining, bowling and theatre visits. Membership is free.

Ruth said: "The idea is all about friendship. Up to year two, you find your child is included in things and gets invited to parties but as they get older and move through the school, the gap gets bigger and they tend to be left behind. A lot don't do anything socially afterschool because of their disabilities or because they can't cope in a mainstream setting.

"If you have other children, it is incredibly difficult to find something totally inclusive for all of them to do – that's where our activities fit in."

Find out more by joining York Inspirational Kids on Facebook