Children and young people with a disability are more likely to live in poverty, are more likely to be socially isolated and experience barriers to education, leisure and play. These young people are also at increased risk of mental health problems, and are more likely to have additional health problems such as being overweight. The Salmon Youth Centre is often the only social activity other than school for young SEND and autistic beneficiaries in this area of Southwark, London.

Salmon aims to help build the confidence, skills and independence of young people with disabilities and to increase their access to opportunities through:

• The Mixables Club – disabled young people aged 12-18 socialise with their peers, try new activities and practice their independence skills in new, unfamiliar environments.
• Befriending Scheme – connects fully-trained and supervised adult volunteers with young people with additional needs and/or disabilities, putting the young person in situations in which they are supported to manage their money, use public transport, etc.
• One-on-one support transitioning into mainstream clubs – as the young people grow in confidence, one-on-one support and short taster sessions encourage participation in Salmon’s mainstream clubs. Mentoring, counselling and specialist support lead to other activities, including education opportunities and work experience.