Our Social Development activities address shortages of out-of-school and post-college activities for children and young adults with autism and/or learning disabilities in North London, as well as their desire to mix with a wider peer group, and the support they need to fully participate and achieve
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Isolation and lack of opportunities. Our projects, clubs and healthy living activities for young people with autism /learning disabilities take place at the times they tend to be most socially isolated: weekends, evenings and holidays. The activities help them socialise with a wider peer group, stay healthy and learn new (social) skills, with the support of trained volunteers, who ensure they can fully participate. In turn they gain a sense of achievement, increased self-esteem and confidence.
Solution
Our activities link disabled participants with volunteers (close in age to them wherever possible) who help them actively participate in creative activities (music, drama, art, craft, dance); and healthy living activities like football, choir, massage, fitness, and healthy cooking. We are doing all of these in person, but some choir zoom/hybrid sessions continue by popular demand. The trained volunteers provide the wider peer-group interaction on which the participants thrive.
