Helping shape neurodiversity learning and support for the voluntary and community workforce
Voluntary and community organisations play a vital role in the lives of children, young people and families. They create opportunities for children and young people to build confidence, develop friendships, learn new skills and feel they belong.
Many organisations are already supporting neurodivergent children and young people through their everyday activities and services. As understanding of neurodiversity continues to grow, organisations often tell us they would welcome practical guidance, tools and strategies that help staff and volunteers feel more confident and strengthen inclusive practice.
Brighter Futures Together is working alongside Dr Blandine French and Professor Amanda Kirby to explore the development of a new programme of neurodiversity training and support for the voluntary and community workforce.
As a voluntary sector organisation ourselves, we understand the realities of delivering services in busy community settings. That’s why this work will be shaped by the people who will ultimately use it.
Voluntary and community organisations are often among the first places children and young people feel accepted, develop confidence and build meaningful relationships. As awareness of neurodiversity grows, many organisations are asking how they can build on what they already do well and feel even more confident supporting every child and young person to thrive.
Rather than developing something behind closed doors, we want to build it with the sector. That’s why we’re starting by listening.
Why are we doing this?
This project brings together three equally important sources of knowledge:
- The experience of voluntary and community organisations
- The lived experience of neurodivergent children, young people and families
- Research evidence and professional expertise
Together, these perspectives will help shape learning, practical resources and support that are relevant, realistic and genuinely useful for organisations working in community settings.
Who we’d love to hear from
We’re particularly interested in hearing from organisations whose main focus isn’t neurodiversity but who work with children, young people and families every day.
This might include:
- Charities and CICs
- Community groups
- Volunteer-led organisations
- Voluntary sector infrastructure organisations (e.g. CVSs)
- Youth organisations
- Holiday activity providers
- Parent and carer organisations
- Sports clubs
- Arts, music and creative organisations
- Faith organisations
- Uniformed organisations
We also welcome organisations with specialist neurodiversity expertise who would like to contribute their perspective.
No specialist knowledge is required.
Whether your organisation has one volunteer or a large workforce, your experience matters.
Our first co-design workshop
The first stage of this work is an interactive workshop bringing together staff, volunteers and leaders from across the voluntary and community sector.
This workshop is an opportunity to help shape the future of neurodiversity learning and support for the voluntary and community sector.
Together, we’ll explore three key areas:
Understanding
Helping staff and volunteers recognise and understand neurodiversity in children and young people.
Practice
Exploring the practical skills, tools and approaches that help organisations create inclusive activities and support children and young people with confidence.
Learning
Shaping learning, resources and ongoing support that work for the realities of voluntary and community organisations.
There will be plenty of opportunities to share your own experiences, learn from others and help shape what happens next.
This is a conversation, not a training course.
We’re looking for honest experiences, practical ideas and different perspectives.
Workshop details
Date: Thursday 23 July
Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Location: Marlow Youth and Community Centre
Cost: Free
Places are limited to help create an interactive workshop and ensure everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
What happens afterwards?
The workshop is just the beginning.
We’ll combine everything we learn with lived experience and current research before developing the first ideas for training and support.
As the project develops there may be opportunities for organisations to review resources, pilot training or provide further feedback. Taking part in these later stages will be completely optional.
Why take part?
✔ Help shape support designed with the sector, for the sector
✔ Make sure your organisation’s experience is represented
✔ Share what’s working and learn from others
✔ Connect with organisations supporting children, young people and families
✔ Contribute to a programme grounded in lived experience, research and real-world practice
✔ Be among the first organisations invited to access the training and support developed through the project.
Register your interest
Please complete our short expression of interest form.
We’re aiming to bring together a diverse mix of organisations, roles and experiences. If we receive more expressions of interest than places available, we’ll seek to create a balanced group that reflects the wider voluntary and community sector.
We’ll contact everyone shortly after applications close to confirm next steps.
[Register your interest]
Questions?
If you’d like to find out more, we’d love to hear from you.
Brighter Futures Together