Things to do

Manga Club works with an average of 6 young people every Wednesday in term-time 4:30-6:30pm with neurodiverse youth who mainly attend mainstream school. Dungeons and Dragons is the main focus of the time together with other activities to support social interaction with Anime cartoons and drawing available. The club is for ages 11-16 and takes place at Westbourne Park Family Centre, Westbourne Park Baptist Church, Porchester Road, London W2 5DX. The service is free and more information and a registration form can be found here https://sites.google.com/site/westbourneparkfamilycentre/activities/manga-club-xpress/. For more information, contact Geoff Biggs at [email protected].

Step Change Studios offer fun, engaging dance opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. They can work 1:1, in small or large groups supporting people with Autism and people with multiple disabilities. They teach standing and seated versions of dance and movement supporting people to enjoy music and moving and to achieve their potential. There are opportunities for ages 0-25 and referrals can be made at https://www.stepchangestudios.com/. Sessions are free. For more information, contact Rashmi Becker at [email protected].

Arts Club for Young Autistic People (aged 16-30) meet once a month on a Saturday. There are two groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It is a two-hour creative arts workshop presented by professional artists. Recent workshops have included creative writing, singing and song-writing, film and video, visual art, script writing for TV and radio, drama, photography and stop-frame animation. The sessions are 10am-1:15pm and 2:15-5pm at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, W6 0QL. For more information, contact [email protected].

QPR Football Sessions suit all abilities and are suitable for those aged 7+ with SEND. Sessions are every Thursday 5-6pm at Paddington Recreation Ground, Randolph Avenue, W9 1PD. Contact Connor Bagenal at [email protected] for more information.

Ciné Lumière Relaxed Screenings make going to the cinema an accessible experience for those with autism and other sensory sensitivities. They change things like the light level and volume, as well as supporting people to come and go as they like or move to a quiet space. Screenings cost £5 and are typically in the afternoon on the last Sunday of the month at 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 2DT. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Caxton Youth Organisation Under 18s Night offers space for young autistic people in Westminster to meet others and make friends. They run sports, trips, art sessions and provide support around employment, independence skills, social and emotional wellbeing, and run 3 evenings a week as well as during the holidays. The meetings are at Basement Clubrooms, Tintern House, SW1V 4JF. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Family SEND Explorer Events @ London Transport Museum opens outside its regular hours on certain days for autistic children, young people, and adults. The museum is quieter, free from the general public and has many of the gallery sounds turned off. The museum is in Covent Garden Plaza, WC2E 7BB. Advanced booking is essential – contact [email protected].

Access Digi-Base (Octavia Foundation) is an exciting new creative media project for ages 13-25 where you will explore Animation, Film-Making, Music Production, Digital Arts, and Gaming. It is a free programme, running every Tuesday 4:30-7:30pm at The Reed Centre, 28 Convent Gardens, London, W11 1NH. Contact Tommy Edwards at [email protected] or on 07940 715 672 for more information.

SEND Local Offer – check the Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster Local Offer for more inclusive activities in your area. These websites are updated regularly.