Coming Soon
Life Lab is a strengths-based, small-group programme designed specifically for autistic and ADHD children/teens, and those with related neurodivergent profiles, who are at risk of exclusion, currently home educated, attending alternative provision, or struggling in mainstream settings. No EHCP needed.
It is intended for young people who are academically able, but who may be at risk of poor post-16 outcomes due to anxiety, unmet SEND needs, school avoidance, or a lack of appropriate support. The programme is a 6 week course that will build identity, confidence, independence and practical life skills at a critical developmental stage, reducing isolation and improving long-term outcomes, and is designed for 11-15 year olds.
Across North Yorkshire, families of neurodivergent young people report increasing anxiety, school refusal, exclusion, and limited access to appropriate preparation for adulthood support. Many teenagers experience social isolation, lack explicit teaching of “hidden curriculum” social and workplace skills, have low confidence due to repeated school-based difficulties, feel anxious about GCSEs, college, and future employment and have little opportunity to practise real-world independence in safe settings. These worries often lead to anxiety and depression in their later teen years. Scarborough in particular faces shortages of specialist SEND provision, and families often describe fragmented, reactive support rather than proactive skills development.
Without early intervention many neurodivergent young people enter late adolescence without the confidence, practical knowledge or self-advocacy skills needed to transition successfully into further education, employment or training.
Havenswood Life Lab 1 is a rolling, modular programme delivered in small, low-sensory groups by experienced professionals.
The programme will be structured across three key strands:
Understanding Me
Real Life Skills
Future Thinking
The programme is practical, experiential and explicitly teaches skills that neurodivergent young people are often expected to “just pick up” but rarely do. Sessions will run weekly in small groups (6–8 young people), ensuring safety, predictability and relationship building.
What Makes This Different?
Young Futures is not a standalone life-skills course. It is:
• Neurodivergent-affirming, not deficit-based
• Delivered by professionals experienced in SEND education and advocacy
• Connected to parallel parent support provision
• Focused on long-term outcomes, not short-term behaviour change
• Built around confidence, capability and identity.The precursor to our Life Lab level 2 course, that focuses on application of the skills learnt in level 1.
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We teach young people to understand their brains, advocate for their needs, and translate their interests into meaningful futures and at the end of both courses, they will earn a Future Makers Diploma.
*To help us shape and plan upcoming programmes, please complete the expression of interest form below if you would like your child or teen to be considered for a place on this course.
OUR CHILDREN DESPERATELY NEED THIS SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
Please consider supporting Havenswood financially so that we can deliver quality programmes for those who really need them - even a small monthly gift would help us. You can give via the button below
Our longterm goal is to be able to offer all support free of charge.
Expression of Interest Form