We are a small registered charity working to support, educate, and bring change. There are resources on here to help, and it will benefit you to take a different route through the site depending on ...
AGN Volunteer Group Facilitator for groups ages 9-12 and 13-18
Practical details
Volunteering • Longer term volunteering
Contact person
catherine parry
#121450
Scan me or visit www.volunteerbrum.org/o/Autistic-Girls-Network/activities/AGN-Volunteer-Group-Facilitator-for-groups-ages-9-12-and-13-18/121450 to join
Our groups are one of the most powerful things we do for young people’s mental wellness. We run 2 groups on alternative Friday evenings - 5:15-6:45 & 7-8:30pm
Our groups are one of the most powerful things we do for young people’s mental wellness. The space itself is built around how autistic young people experience the world: soft or natural lighting rather than harsh strip lights, low noise, no strong smells, predictable routines, small, capped numbers, and absolutely no pressure to speak or join in. In that safety, anxious and isolated young people grow in confidence, make friends who truly understand them, and learn to advocate for themselves. Families consistently describe it as life-changing.
We have vacancies for volunteer group facilitators who are neurodivergent and bring their own relatable experience. Our volunteers are passionate about nurturing a positive autistic identity, helping to change the narrative around neurodiversity and ensuring our young people feel seen and understood. We co-create our groups so you’ll be working with our young people to plan sessions. You’ll spend time talking about their passionate interests, do crafts, chat about their lives and ensure the group is a place where young people can be themselves and be accepted exactly as they are.
You can apply via our website.
What’s special about our groups?
Our groups are neuro-affirmative spaces where, most importantly, autistic children and young people can be themselves and be accepted exactly as they are. Our group facilitators are neurodivergent themselves, often with neurodivergent children - we really get it. All are DBS checked with safeguarding training. Our group sizes are capped so that the group does not become too big for the young people to be comfortable coming to it. We do lots of craft, cooking or outdoor activities but we also make time for understanding more about being autistic, in a positive way. We spend a short time covering different life skills-related topics each session, for example we might talk about emotions, or friendship etc. We genuinely get it – there is space to talk about passionate interests, and respect those interests. All of them. We create an environment where co-production is the norm, and where self-advocacy is encouraged. We want to help these young people to be able to advocate for their needs.
Related to
About Autistic Girls Network
We are a small registered charity working to support, educate, and bring change. There are resources on here to help, and it will benefit you to take a different route through the site depending on the support you need. Everything we do supports the mental wellness of neurodivergent girls, women, and non-binary people. Structured, neurodivergent-led support that helps them move from crisis and isolation to confidence, connection and belonging.
We run face to face groups for autistic girls and non-binary young people aged from 9-18, in Birmingham our group is based in Stirchley at Pineapple house.
Our groups are one of the most powerful things we do for young people’s mental wellness. The space itself is built around how autistic young people experience the world: soft or natural lighting rather than harsh strip lights, low noise, no strong smells, predictable routines, small, capped numbers, and absolutely no pressure to speak or join in. In that safety, anxious and isolated young people grow in confidence, make friends who truly understand them, and learn to advocate for themselves. Families consistently describe it as life-changing.
Our groups are neuro-affirmative spaces where, most importantly, autistic children and young people can be themselves and be accepted exactly as they are
Our group facilitators are neurodivergent themselves, with neurodivergent children, and they understand. Most of our facilitators have trained as teachers or Forest School practitioners. They are DBS checked with safeguarding training.
Our group sizes are capped so that the group does not become too big for the young people to be comfortable coming to it.
We do lots of craft, cooking and outdoor activities but we also make time for understanding more about being autistic, in a positive way.