Youth services providing more for young people with special education needs and disabilities
Targeted support for young people facing challenges related to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) for example can offer significant benefits, including increased safety, improved mental and physical health, enhanced social inclusion, and better access to education and employment opportunities. These specialised services address unique needs and vulnerabilities, promoting resilience and wellbeing.
Through Better Youth Spaces 63 services across England have introduced new or improved offering for young people with new equipment for accessibility and SEND totalling over £820K.
Spotlight on services
AutismAble
AutismAble is using Better Youth Spaces funding to improve two community bases for neurodiverse young people across Sunderland and South Tyneside.
Working with local company Adams Bespoke Joinery, the plans were shaped with young beneficiaries to ensure the spaces are practical and inclusive for autistic young people.
At AutismAble’s South Shields base, Better Youth Spaces funding has supported the creation of a fully accessible kitchen and life skills training area, alongside a new sensory room at the Westoe Crown Community Centre.
At AutismAble’s new Sunderland base, the funding is supporting the refurbishment of the top floor of a recently purchased building. The space will become a safe, modern and accessible youth and community hub where young people can take part in gaming, social clubs, music, film production, Arts Award and citizenship sessions.
Andrew Forster from AutismAble said: “Better Youth Spaces funding is helping us create more inclusive, accessible and welcoming spaces for autistic and neurodiverse young people across Sunderland and South Tyneside.
“At South Shields, the new kitchen, life skills area and sensory room will support young people to build independence and confidence in a safe, calm environment.
“At our new Sunderland base, the funding is helping us develop a modern, engaging environment for social clubs and youth activities. These improvements will increase capacity, strengthen our wider youth offer and create spaces that feel inclusive and welcoming.
“We have also been fortunate to work with Adams Bespoke Joinery, whose thoughtful approach has helped ensure the spaces are sensitive to the needs of autistic young people.”
Young and Inspired
Young and Inspired in Hackney offers wrap-around support to help young people from ethnic minority communities feel anchored, safe, and motivated as they exchange limited beliefs and coping tools for strategies that get them further.
Pearl Guttman from Young and Inspired, said: “Our double-decker sensory and soft play bus, Banana Bus, provides a calming, mobile space designed for young people who experience learning, behavioural, or emotional health challenges. Many struggle to regulate emotions in busy or overwhelming environments, affecting their ability to learn, connect, and thrive. The bus will offer a safe, soothing setting with soft lighting, tactile resources, gentle sound, and comfortable seating. It also enabled us to purchase accessible audio resources, including a specialist Roger System that connects directly to children’s implants, enabling them to participate in this and wider youth activities. Banana Bus will travel to schools, youth hubs, community spaces, and young people’s bloc of flats, and will also be stationed at our Treehouse Teens outdoor activities site as a quiet base or “command centre” where young people can pause, reset. Alongside this, it’s also a fun, welcoming space that all young people enjoy during events, where inclusion happens naturally.”
“During the Passover holiday break, my 12-year-old with ASD would often sit at home all day, reading instruction manuals or asking endless questions about really detailed, technical things that I usually take for granted. It can feel intense at times, like she’s frustrated and not fully understood, and I feel a bit stuck not knowing how to meet her where she is. It’s so important for her to be able to let go and just play, but most playschemes are too unstructured, too noisy, and what feels like fun for other children can actually be really distressing for her. She had some private time on the Banana Bus, and it was incredible to see her let her guard down. For the first time in a long time, I saw that she can play, and actually enjoy it.” Mariam Grosz
Explore more youth services using Better Youth Spaces funding to support accessibility:
Kids love their new trikes at two London Adventure Playgrounds