Do Your Own Thing is our free creative project co-produced by and for learning disabled and autistic young people aged 10-25. Each month, young people try new things, gain confidence and skills, see friends and have fun! “DYOT makes my life better, offers so much choice, makes me feel respected.”
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Impact areas
Learning disabled and autistic young people often feel excluded, isolated and lonely which impacts on their mental health and wellbeing. Their families are facing rising levels of hardship. 95% of young people we work with receive benefits and 24% have lost some or all of these. Local provision is under pressure with services closing down or unable to meet young people’s needs. Disabled young people want the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers to take part, see friends and have fun.
Do Your Own Thing offers free monthly creative activities on Saturdays, 1-4pm, in Deptford. Sessions are facilitated by artists, with social time built in. There is high demand for places reflecting lack of provision, particularly for young people with complex needs: we want to invest more in meeting their needs. Young people decide what happens at DYOT. This aligns with our mission of championing young people’s talents and allowing them to create, connect and change their lives for the better.
