Things to do

This network is a space for autistic young people, between the ages of 16-25 to meet other autistic young people, take on new paid opportunities, and join one of our group panels. The network is a fun and friendly space for autistic young people to be themselves.

Peer Support

Peer support sessions are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 5:45-6:45 over Zoom. These sessions are a chance to meet new autistic young people across the country.

Sessions are a safe environment where you can stay within your comfort zone, there is no pressure to turn on your camera or microphone. You can choose to participate or just observe.

The sessions are led by Ambitious staff trained in safeguarding, who you may contact at any point if you are uncomfortable or feel unsafe.

Every session has a different theme, past sessions have included arts and crafts, comedy night, DJ sessions, language lessons, and a monthly general knowledge quiz.

Youth network members over the age of 18 also have a chance to instant message each other on the platform.

Opportunity  

Youth network opportunities are mainly centered around educating the public about autism and making life better for autistic people. These are paid opportunities.

Opportunities include advising on toolkits and campaigns, developing presentations about autism awareness, taking part in advisory panel’s as well as leading training sessions. Companies we have worked alongside in the past include The Postal Museum, Compare the Market, Marsh McLennan, the NHS and many more.

We also work alongside the Employ Autism department at Ambitious, who offer paid work experience placements in places such as BP, the NHS, the civil service and more. These opportunities are also posted on the Youth Network platform.

Our opportunities are a great way to earn money as well as expand your knowledge and confidence.

Groups

Groups are panels consisting of members of our Youth Network, who are tasked with providing expertise and advise to different organisations. Each group requires its members to participate in paid sessions throughout the year.

Each group is limited in its members, but when spaces in the groups become available we will notify the Youth Network.

Groups include:

• Autism Education Trust: Young Experts panel
• Health Panel
• Postal Museum
• Youth Council
• Norfolk County Council Training

For more information please visit the Ambitious About Autism website

Are you between the age of 16 - 25?

Would you like to meet new friends, get creative and have fun?

Come along to Hangout Hub, a new FREE online club  for people with learning disabilities to meet and explore artistic and creative activities together, run by Cambridge House.

 Everyone is welcome!
 

• Parents / carers can join us!

• FREE art materials provided in advance (you can also use your own!)

When

Thursdays 4 - 6pm 

Where 

Online video platform ZOOM so you can join us from the comfort of your own home!  Click here to sign up.

Full technical support with ZOOM provided.

Cost

Free

Contact

Email: cjcalderwood@ch1889.org

Tel: 07399 867 605

Download flyer ^{(pdf, 3.7mb)}

Heart n Soul is a place for people with learning disabilities to do activities.

Do Your Own Thing is a safe, fun and friendly place with lots of cool activities to take part in. From Radio, Music, DJing, Videos, anything.

• The 2nd Saturday of the month for 10 -16 year olds to find their groove.  

• The last Saturday of the month is for all young people aged 10 - 25 to come together, be creative and share.

For further details:

• see our promotional video on YouTube

• download our flyer ^{(pdf, 1.3mb)}

• visit our website

• email us or call 020 8694 1632.

Girls Win is a free, inclusive sports and games club for young women with SEN, aged 15-25.
We support young women with disabilities ages 15 – 25 to set and achieve personal and professional development goals.

Day: Every Thursday

Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm

Location: The Africa Centre, 66 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 0BL (close to Southwark station)

Activities: Dance, sport, yoga, arts and crafts, mentoring, personal development, career support, free trips and residentials, holiday and term time.

Contact: Maddy Ford, Women and Girls Programme Manager
T: 07824 589443
E: maddyford@changefdn.org.uk
Click here to download the flyer ^{(png, 0b)}

Free creative workshops for adults who have experienced mental health challenges.

Day: Every Tuesday

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Location

Red Lion Court, 46-48 Park Street, SE1 9EQ

Cost

Free

Contact

To join, email: info@artsnetwork.org.uk

Website 

Download flyer ^{(jfif, 298kb)}

Free Swimming Lessons for Southwark Residents

Southwark Council is offering residents free swimming lessons. 12-week courses for beginners are available at leisure centres operated by Everyone Active on behalf of Southwark Council.  If you’re a Southwark resident, a non-swimmer and aged 16 or over you can book free swimming lessons.

• Residents with disabilities can book at any centre below.

• Camberwell Leisure Centre, Artichoke Place, London SE5 8TS
• The Castle Centre, 2 St Gabriel Walk, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6FG
• Dulwich Leisure Centre, 2b Crystal Palace Road, London SE22 9HB
• Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre, 10 Melon Road, London SE15 5QN
• Seven Islands Leisure Centre, 100 Lower Road, Rotherhithe SE16 2TU

For more information, please click here and also download the physical Activity leaflet ^{(pdf, 443kb)}. 

Disability Swimming Sessions

Sessions for children and adults with disabilities or long-term medical/health conditions are available to Southwark residents.  Further details of availability are below.

• Dulwich Leisure Centre

Supported swimming sessions take place on Sunday afternoons at Dulwich Leisure Centre from 2.00pm-2.50pm

Check availability and book sessions here.  

• Seven Islands Leisure Centre 

Supported swimming sessions take place on Monday afternoons at the Seven Islands Leisure Centre from 2.00pm-2.50pm

Check availability and book sessions here.

• Peckham Pulse - Disabled Swimming Hydrotherapy Pool

Sessions are available at the following times throughout the week: 

Monday:12:30 - 13:20

Tuesday:19:00 - 19:50

Thursday:20:30 - 21:20

Friday:12:00 - 12:50, 14:00 - 14:50

Saturday:15:00 - 15:50

Sunday:15:00 - 15:50, 18:00 - 18:50

Check availability and book sessions here.

• The Castle Centre

Supported swimming sessions take place on Fridays 3:00pm-3:50pm and Saturdays 2:00pm-2:50pm at the Castle Centre 

Check availability and book sessions here.

• Camberwell Leisure Centre

Supported swimming sessions take place on Fridays 2:30pm-3:20pm and Sundays 10:00am-10:50am at Camberwell Leisure Centre 

Check availability and book sessions here.

As the first of London's professional football clubs to launch a Down's Syndrome football team in 2005, our commitment to disability and inclusive sport is highly regarded. From Blind/Partially Sighted Football tennis to Active Autism, our football provision for young boys and girls on the autism spectrum, and pan-disability holiday camps, our programmes provide specialist coaching for people of all ages with varied disabilities.

Location

Sessions take place at locations across London including various venues in the neighbouring borough of Lambeth.

Dates and fees  

Please click on the links below for further information.

• Active Autism Football

• Blind/Partially sighted

• Down's syndrome

• Pan Disability

Inclusive cycling sessions

We run inclusive cycling sessions for Disabled people and their families, carers or friends, from the following three bases in south London:

• Croydon Sports Arena (outdoors) Albert Road, South Norwood, SE25 4QL

Dates and Times

Tuesdays: 10 am – 1 pm (three bookable 45-minute slots starting at 10 am, 11 am & 12pm)

Saturdays: 10 am – 12 pm (two bookable 45-minute slots starting at 10 am & 11 am)

To book a space for a specific time slot please email bookings@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

We welcome groups to a maximum size of 10 cyclists.

• Herne Hill Velodrome - (outdoors) 104 Burbage Road, Herne Hill, SE24 9HE

Dates and Times

Mondays: 11 am – 1 pm (two bookable 45-minute slots starting at 11 am & 12 pm)

Thursdays: 12 pm – 2 pm (two bookable 45-minute slots starting at 12 pm & 1 pm)

To book a space for a specific time slot please email bookings@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

We welcome groups to a maximum size of 10 cyclists.  We ride on the flat part of the track.

• Ladywell Day Centre - (outdoors) 148 Dressington Ave, Lewisham, SE4 1JF

Dates and Times

Fridays: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm (two bookable 45-minute slots starting at 10.30 am & 11.30 am).

To book a space for a specific time slot please email bookings@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

We welcome groups to a maximum size of 5 people (including both cyclists and supporters/carers).

Cost

We try to keep prices affordable and good value, while using suitable venues, excellent staff and volunteers and a range of specialist cycles. It costs us £25 per head to provide these sessions, and we ask for a contribution towards this as below. We are always grateful to those who are able to make an additional donation to support our work.

• Per disabled cyclist: £5 (if you need a supporter/carer they are included in the price)

• Per non-disabled cyclist: £5

• Special family price (up to 4, including at least one disabled cyclist): £10

How to access the service

At all venues our qualified instructors, supported by fantastic volunteers, help participants try our cycles or get comfortable on the one that suits them, and offer ongoing support.

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, booking a space at a specific time slot is required at all our sessions. Please note that we will not be accepting participants on a drop-in basis.

If you would like to book a place for yourself or your client/family member at any of our sessions, please email bookings@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk and let us know:

1. Full name of the Disabled cyclist(s)

2. Full names of all supporters/family members attending with the cyclist(s)

3. Preferred date and time slot

4. What cycle/s you would like to book and what cycle should be booked for a supporter/family member (this only applies for people that have attended our sessions before and know what cycle they like to use – our team will support new participants to find out which of our cycles works best for them during their first session).

Please note that:

• We cannot take bookings more than 2 weeks in advance

• We will confirm each booking enquiry by sending you a confirmation email

See our website for full details

Contact

Telephone: 020 7346 8482

Email: info@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

Address:336 Brixton Road, London, SW9 7AA

Useful information

Information for your first visit

Before attending your first session, please complete our online registration forms:

• CYCLISTS please complete the CYCLIST REGISTRATION form

• CARERS/SUPPORTERS please fill in the SUPPORTER REGISTRATION form (carers/supporters need to be above 18 years old)

• ORGANISATIONS please also complete the ORGANISATION REGISTRATION form

• INDIVIDUALS & ORGANISATIONS please READ THE GROUND RULES

Covid-secure measures and new rules at our sessions 

We have Covid-secure measures in place at all our sessions and have introduced new rules that follow government guidelines. We do everything to make sure that participants, carers and our staff members are safe during the sessions. Please read our rules before attending the session and follow instructions from our Inclusive Cycling Instructors, Volunteers, and venue staff at all times.

The Service:

S-Factor Academy’s Inclusive team works with disadvantaged and disabled (physical/learning or sensory) young people to help them achieve their full potential in sports; improve well-being and overall quality of life.

Working with Access Sport Ignite we help to build on fun activities and fulfilling programmes.

Who is the service for?

Anyone with any disability, impairment or additional need. Also open to non disabled siblings.

Criteria for access to service

Everybody is welcome at our club

Accessibility of this service

• Services / facilities within the arena include adapted and standard toilets and showers and changing rooms. There is a ramp or slope to access this service.

• There is permanent, easy ramp or slope access.

How this is provided:

Provided by trained volunteers

Do you need to pay for this service?

Session are £2.50 for a disabled athlete and free for non disabled siblings

Contact

Email: admin@sfactoracademy.co.uk

Telephone: 07719596045 or 07719596044

See our website for further information 

Inclusive Dance is a contemporary dance and drama programme for young people with learning disabilities, aged between 16 and 25.

Participants learn movement and social skills that can be transferable to the world of work. They also develop arts-related technical skills, such as performing and improvisation that can be used in future performing arts-related employment.

We try new things every week, from making up dances together to having fun practising our singing! You don’t need to have too much room to move – enough space to reach your arms out to the side is enough!

When: Thursdays  4:30pm-5:45pm

Where:  Pembroke House, 80 Tatum Street, SE17 1QR

Contact:  ella.frampton@pembrokehouse.org.uk

Cost: FREE

Sign up here

Padel tennis is a mix between tennis and squash. Padel is usually played in doubles on an enclosed court surrounded by walls of glass and metallic mash. The court is one third of the size of a tennis court.

The ball can bounce off any wall but can only hit the turf once before being returned. Points can be scored when the ball does bounce twice in the competitors’ field. The racket and ball are also adapted slightly.

Where can I play?

Sundridge Park Tennis and Squash Club, off Garden Road, BR1 3NA

When:

Thursdays 2–3:30 pm
 

Who is it for?

D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent adults aged 17 – 25

Cost

First session free, £3 thereafter

Register here 

Contact
For further information call 020 7993 9883

Email: Disability.Inclusion@AccessSport.co.uk

Download flyer ^{(png, 824kb)}

In partnership with Access Sport, The LTA and Sundridge Park Tennis and Squash Club

Heart n Soul's Allsorts is our creative taking part project for adults with learning disabilities (aged 18+).

It’s a place where you can try new activities, learn new skills and meet new people in a safe and friendly atmosphere. Take part in a range of different sessions every season where you decide what to do. Everyone is welcome!

When:
Every Thursday, in seasons of six weeks

Dates of season:
Thursday 4 August – Thursday 8 September 2022

Where:
The Albany
Douglas Way
Deptford, London
SE8 4AG

or
Online, on Zoom

Season theme coming soon!

Book your place:
Tickets cost £2 per person, pay-what-you-can for parents and carers. You can pay when you arrive.

You must book Allsorts sessions in advance. You can do this by contacting Heart n Soul!

Call: 020 8694 1632
Email: takingpart@heartnsoul.co.uk

Website

Spark is a youth group in Southwark for LGBTQIA+ young people aged 13-19, and up to 25 with SEND.

We welcome all those on the spectrum as well as anyone who is questioning or exploring their identity.

COVID-19 UPDATE: We meet in person in well-ventilated, risk-assessed spaces, with hand sanitiser available and masks optional.

Who can use this service

You need to live in Southwark or able to travel, and be LGBTQIA+ or questioning your gender or sexual orientation.

Why people use this service

• To meet other queer young people
• Have fun in a safe and affirming space
• Engage in creative projects and workshops
• Learn about LGBTQIA+ identities, history and culture
• Go on free trips to the theatre, galleries, museums, Pride events and more
• Attend our annual Southwark LGBTQIA+ Youth Summit
• Gain experience as part of METRO Youth to plan events including the Winter Ball, Summit and Youth Pride

How we can help

• Get help to understand your identity and share experiences of coming out
• Discuss topics including bullying, feeling safe, life at home, education and work
• Get free and confidential support and information
• Have one-to-one check-ins with LGBTQIA+ identified youth workers or be referred for free counselling at METRO

Join this group

Email youth@metrocharity.org.uk or call 020 8305 5004. You can refer yourself or be referred by someone who works with you (like a youth worker or teacher).

We'll get back to you in 2-3 days. We'll arrange a quick chat to find out more about you and how we can help. After you're signed up, you can drop into any session. You don't have to come every week if you don't want to.

Aerial classes for disabled adults. We welcome wheelchair users and blind or visually impaired adults to come and give aerial a go!  We’ll work in small groups, adapting movement and teaching through touch where useful.

Age: 16 +

Cost: £2 per session

Where: Flying Fantastic, Arch 27 Old Union Yard Arches, 229 Union Street, SE1 0LR

When: Starting 25th January 2023, Wednesdays @ 12.50pm for 10 consecutive weeks

Contact: For more information and details of how to join please email Amy - amy@flyingfantastic.co.uk 

Funded by Access Sport. Download our flyer ^{(pdf, 173kb)}

British Youth Music Theatre is a national performing arts education charity and the largest commissioner of new musicals in the UK. Every year we engage around 2000 11-21 year olds in our auditions, workshops, Young Company and projects. BYMT helps young people and developing artists to navigate and further their training and careers in the arts.

BYMT’s mission is to create opportunities for young people and early career creatives from all backgrounds to develop theatre skills and enhance wellbeing, through the collaborative and inclusive process of making original music theatre.

We offer:

1) Constant communication with the Casting and Young Company Manager and Schools and Pastoral Manager
2) Adapting project requirements to create safe and inclusive environments
We have received many supportive testimonials from young people and parents / guardians regarding our support and encouragement of our neurodiverse and disabled young people.

We offer dedicated and bespoke pastoral support – four team members on each project, whose primary focus is the wellbeing of the young people. They receive all information on young people prior to the project and often converse with the parents to set up a suitable care plan prior to the project.

Please note that we offer bursaries on Productions and free (supported) places on our Summer Camps.

To view our courses and programmes, please click here 
Address: Mountview, 120 Peckham Hill St, London SE15 5JT
Telephone: 020 8563 7725
Email: mail@bymt.org