Neurodivergent Safe Space

We are a new, registered non-profit charity dedicated to supporting Neurodivergent (ND) (Autistic/PDA/ADHD/DCD) teens & young adults (aged 13-20 years) who are experiencing mental health difficulties.  We are the only organisation or charity that supports this specific demographic that has a very high suicide rate.  

We host a weekly meet-up in Southend where ND teens & young adults who are experiencing mental health difficulties can meet, have fun, make friends, play games, and participate in our weekly crafts activity.  We also go out for activities; indoor rock climbing,  going to the beach, to name a couple, but we have many more outings lined up.  At the meet-up, the teens and young adults are able to speak with ND adults who have a first-person experience and understanding of mental health difficulties and being neurodivergent, which makes them feel understood and heard.

We want to rent our own premises so that we can open our doors for more sessions, including supporting parents and families who are in crisis with ND teens/young adults who are experiencing mental health difficulties.

Our 12 month plan is as follows;

*  To have our own premises.

*  To invite other community groups and charities to use our space in order to help more people.

*  To attend events and festivals where we can promote the charity and reach more people in need within the community.

*  To open our training centre for teens/young adults, parents, families, and professionals.

*  To have two qualified counsellors available for free for our ND teens and young adults.

*  To create our own merchandise with designs made by our ND teens & young adults that will be available to purchase on our website and at events in order to raise money for the charity.

*  To open more clubs to make it more accessible for more people, including clubs for parents and carers of ND teens and young adults.

The difference that the weekly meet-up is having is extraordinary.  The feedback from the teens/young adults is incredibly positive and they report that the meet-ups help them to increase their mood, understand themselves, feel less isolated, increase their social skills, and reduce their desire to self-harm.  If we had our own premises, we would be able to help a lot more people and prevent the loss of young lives in our community.

In the last 18 months, 8 Neurodivergent teens have taken their own lives in my area.  This is due to insufficient support and understanding.

Our project aims to greatly reduce the occurrence of suicide in this demographic and to help support them in increasing their confidence, mental health, and access to the wider community.

Not only will the teens/young adults benefit from our project, but their families will benefit also.   There will also be less pressure put on local mental health services CAMHS where supporting this demographic is concerned.  Teens/young adults, families, and professionals will all benefit from training that we aim to provide.

Each of the trustees are Neurodivergent (autistic/PDA/ADHD/DCD) with lived experience of mental health difficulties.  This gives us a real insight into what the ND teens and young adults are going through, as ND individuals experience mental health difficulties differently than general society.  In order to correctly and completely support an ND teen/young adult experiencing mental health difficulties, you have to have experienced it yourself.

Before we opened, there was nowhere for ND teens and young adults to go when they were struggling with their mental health where they would be understood, supported, and given opportunities to socialise and meet other ND teens and young adults;  a safe space where they could drop their mask, be themselves, and not feel judged or rejected; which is integral to the healing process with mental health.

If someone does not feel safe enough to be themselves and be able to voice how they are feeling, knowing that they will be understood and accepted, their protective barriers will prevent them from receiving or accepting the right support; leaving them feeling more misunderstood, more isolated, and that they will never be able to heal.

We have that understanding, the mental health and suicide training, and the passion to support the ND teens/young adults who are struggling and feel lost.

But in order to keep the doors open, we need your help.  

We are trying to raise the money to rent our own premises; somewhere we can call home, enable us to reach more ND teens and young adults in need, and to reach out 12 month goals.

As TESCOS says; 'every little helps' so even if you can only spare a pound, please consider sending it our way.