School Holiday Neurodiversity Workshops
Purpose
We run these workshops to give neurodivergent children aged 8 to 14 the opportunity to find out how their unique and wonderful brains work; discuss issues related to being neurodivergent; and enable them to spend time with other neurodivergent children. We also run a sibling workshop for children aged 9 to 14 who have a neurodivergent sibling.
Location
All workshops take place at our Hub in Beaconsfield with a maximum of 10 children participating in each workshop.
Format
The children at each workshop will be split into two groups depending on age so we can tailor the content to the different age ranges. Our members of staff will lead activities with the two groups, switching half way through the workshop. Both groups will come together at the end to go through what they've learnt and to be given the opportunity to ask questions.
Meeting Needs
Our staff are experienced at working with neurodivergent children and supporting their individual needs. For example, workshops will include movement breaks, free use of fidget toys and we have our sensory tents available to anyone who needs them at any time. We give each child a lanyard to help them communicate their interaction preferences if they want to. We have a video we send out to all children attending beforehand where they can see the venue and learn more about what will happen. If your child needs any specific accommodations, please let us know.
Suitability
All children attending the workshops need to be able to participate in a group environment safely and have the ability to engage in discussions about neurodiversity. Children may attend whether they have a formal diagnosis or not and whether they are aware of any diagnosis or not. A key factor of the workshops is that all the children attending want to be there so please discuss this opportunity with your child before booking. If your child usually has a 1-to-1 supporting them in school, please let us know so we can ensure they have adequate support during the workshops.
Staff
All workshops are run by neurodivergent mentors or teachers so they understand what it is like growing up with a brain that works differently to many other people's. There will be a minimum of two staff members present at all times with neurodivergent youth mentors supporting the groups.
Booking
Places are offered on a first come, first served basis and payment must be made in advance.
Cost
Individual workshops cost £30 for 1.5 hours.
Workshop Topics
It's great to be me
The group will explore what it means to them to be neurodivergent. They will do activities to build self-esteem and confidence and focus on building a positive neurodivergent identity.
Emotional Regulation
The group will learn about where in the brain emotions are processed and why neurodivergent people often experience higher levels of emotional dysregulation. The group will discuss their experiences with emotional dysregulation and a variety of strategies to help manage emotions will be explored.
Anxiety
The group will learn about what anxiety is and why neurodivergent people often experience higher levels of anxiety. The group will discuss what makes them anxious and how they experience anxiety. A variety of strategies to help manage anxiety will be explored.
Friends
The group will learn about why neurodivergent people often find it difficult to make and keep friends and how to manage common friendship issues. They will discuss their own experiences of making friends, what makes a good friend and why it's so important to find friends who accept them for who they are.
Being Autistic
The group will discuss what it means to be autistic and their individual experiences of being autistic. They will learn about the Double Empathy Problem and why their way of communicating and interacting is just as valid as someone who is neurotypical. They will also practise advocating for their needs.
Having ADHD
The group will discuss what it means to have ADHD and their individual experiences of being ADHD. They will learn about executive functioning difficulties and how these impact people who have ADHD. They will learn various strategies for managing common executive functioning difficulties as well as being able to advocate for their needs.
Making Mistakes and Accepting Challenges
The group will learn about why neurodivergent people are often perfectionists and discuss their experiences with making mistakes and accepting challenges. They will explore the emotions involved in making mistakes and being faced with a challenge and various strategies to help manage these strong emotions.
Accepting Feedback and Asking for Help
The group will learn about why it can be so hard to accept feedback and ask for help. They will explore the emotions involved in accepting feedback and asking for help and various strategies to help manage these strong emotions.
Strengths and Challenges
The group will learn about the most common neurodivergent strengths and challenges. They will explore their own individual strengths and challenges and discuss how they could use some of their strengths to overcome some of their challenges.
Sensory Processing and Interoception
The group will learn about the eight senses and why neurodivergent people often have sensory processing differences. They will explore the signs they are experiencing sensory overwhelm and strategies to manage this. They will each explore their own body's signs and reactions to a variety of stimuli and how these link to the emotions they feel.
Flexible Thinking
The group will learn about what flexible thinking is and why neurodivergent people can often struggle with this. They will explore when flexible thinking can be useful and how to consider different perspectives in a way that will benefit them in their everyday lives.
Back to school
The group will explore what they are looking forward to and worried about before entering the new school year. They will think about why school can be so challenging for neurodivergent children and look at strategies for being organised, making homework less stressful, managing friendship issues and helping their teachers to understand them better.
Surviving Christmas
A special festive workshop helping neurodivergent children understand why Christmas can be such an overwhelming time, strategies they could use to help and how to advocate for their needs.
Siblings
This workshop is especially for neurotypical siblings to find out more about how their neurodivergent sibling's brain works; why they might sometimes be treated differently to them; and how to ensure that both of their needs get met. This workshop is for 9 to 14 year olds.
What do parents say?
"Small group work seldom works with him at school so the ease with which he joined in your session is a testament to your skills and empathy."
"Attending the workshops was the first time in years I had seen my son run to the car because he could not wait to attend the next workshop."
Upcoming Workshops
Date | Time | Topic |
| Sunday 3rd August | 09:30-11:00 | It's great to be me |
| Sunday 3rd August | 11:45-13:15 | Strengths and challenges |
| Monday 4th August | 09:30-11:00 | Emotional regulation |
Monday 4th August | 11:45-13:15 | Anxiety |
| Monday 11th August | 09:30-11:00 | Being autistic |
Monday 11th August | 11:45-13:15 | Having ADHD |
| Sunday 17th August | 09:30-11:00 | Flexible thinking |
| Sunday 17th August | 11:45-13:15 | Friends |
| Monday 18th August | 09:30-11:00 | Sensory processing and interoception |
| Monday 18th August | 11:45-13:15 | Siblings (neurotypical siblings age 9 to 14 only) |
| Sunday 31st August | 09:30-11:00 | Making mistakes and accepting challenges |
| Sunday 31st August | 11:45-13:15 | Accepting feedback and asking for help |
| Monday 1st September | 09:30-11:00 | Back to school (going into Year 3, 4, 5 or 6) |
| Monday 1st September | 11:45-13:15 | Back to school (going into Year 7, 8 or 9) |