Type of service: Play and leisure

As well as their multi-aged youth club evenings, St Andrews Methodist Youth Centre provide social opportunities to people with special needs including various learning, behaviour, emotional and physical disabilities. They pride themselves on having an open and accessible club where all are valued and welcomed. They run two youth clubs for young people with special needs on a Thursday evening.

• 5.30-7pm is for 11-15year olds with any form of learning difficulty, ASD, or just young people who do not feel comfortable accessing a 'mainstream' club.
• 7.30-9.30pm is a youth club / transitions night for 16-25 year olds.

Either session costs £1 and is accessible to young people with or without a support worker (we do not offer 1-2-1 or personal care). Both are supported by extra staff and volunteers to allow young people with additional needs to fully access the range of activities that they provide. Buddies can be found through Playlink for any young people who would benefit from extra support to access their clubs. They have five staff who are trained in Makaton and have tried to make sure that their facilities are as accessible as possible, with visual supports and simple to read signage.

The youth clubs on Tuesday-Friday nights are open to all and are not exclusively for young people with special needs, bringing a great access point for integrated work, building tolerance and respect between this group and 'mainstream' young people. They try to challenge all of their young people, including those with additional needs, to reach or exceed their potential. This means that they stretch their thinking, or activity level, and enable them to maybe think differently about what they can do. St Andrews Methodist Youth Centre run various events and accreditation schemes specifically for their special needs groups to enable them to grow and develop in a safe and supportive environment alongside their peers. They do trips throughout the year, including local trips such as swimming or bowling, plus those further afield including Brecon Beacons, London theatre trips, Exmoor and Alton Towers. They can also give young people with additional needs the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Adult , Child

Specialisms: Generic

Other specialisms: Learning disability