Friends, relationships and community

The information on this page is intended to help young people and their families to get the most out of what is on offer in their local community, including ways to meet new people and taking part in sport and leisure activities.

Meeting people, making friends and dating

When young people leave school or college, it can become harder to maintain the friendships they have made. Many young adults will also want to enjoy romantic relationships too but might need some support to meet people.

• The National Autistic Society (NAS) Resource Centre run social groups and employment support for young adults with autism across Surrey.
• Scope, and The National Autistic Society have online forums that help young adults to connect with other people with similar needs or interests as themselves.
• The Sunnybank Trust runs social groups and activities for adults and young adults with learning disability.
• Lifeworks by YMCA East Surrey run activity days for people with disabilities age 16+ in Reigate and Redhill.
• Online dating is now one of the most popular ways for young people to meet a partner. There are several dating agencies available that specialise in helping people with SEND to meet other people. These include Flame Introductions, Outsiders, Able2UK and Disability Matches.
• Surrey Youth Voice and groups like ATLAS are great places to meet other young people who have similar experiences and passions, and to feel part of your community.  Surrey Youth Voice would love to hear from you. Please visit  Surrey Youth Voice webpage or email user.voice@surreycc.gov.uk .

Sports, art and leisure

All organisations should make reasonable adjustments to be inclusive to people with additional needs and disabilities (AND). The directory has many sports and arts clubs listed in the Leisure category. Use a keyword that describes your interest to find out what is available in Surrey.

There are also many groups with activities specifically aimed at people with AND, some of which are listed below:

• Activity Alliance is a charity working to help organisations support disabled people to be active. They have a guide for people with disabilities about how to get active.
• Active Surrey have an activity finder for sports clubs and organisations that are inclusive of all abilities.
• Wheels for All has a wide range of adapted cycles that help make cycling an option for people who find other forms of physical activity difficult.
• Disability Arts in Surrey (Daisy) is an umbrella organisation which promotes and celebrates the works of disabled artists and disability arts organisations in Surrey. Daisy works with its member organisations to share skills, resources and grow together.
• The Just So Singers is a choir for people with additional needs and disabilities choir with free membership. Any student from a Surrey SEND school, at a referral unit/ sixth form unit or home educated can join between the ages of 9 to 19 years.
• Kids Young People's hub runs various online groups, workshops and virtual drop-ins. Their website also hosts stories by young people with additional needs and disability about various aspects of life and work.
• Surrey Libraries are not just for borrowing books. In any of the 52 Surrey Libraries, you can go to events, use quiet study spaces, and borrow other things like camping equipment, board games and fitness trackers. You can also volunteer to help build your CV and learn new life skills.

Financial support to access community activities

In some circumstances, financial support is available to help young people take part in activities:

• Personal budgets can be requested by young people (over 16) who have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, or by their parents. From their personal budget, young people can use Direct Payments to pay for leisure and social activities that will help meet their needs, as outlined in their EHC plan.
• Turn2Us is a website offering information about benefits and it has a database of charities who offer grants. Use the filters on the grant finder to find what is most relevant to your situation.
• Trefoil is a charity offering personal development grants to young people under the age of 25 years with special needs which may be psycho/social or of a physical nature which impacts upon their development.

Staying Safe in the Community

Autism Friendly Surrey is an organisation that works together with the Autistic community in Surrey to work towards making Surrey a more inclusive and understanding place. They help to design and share activities that are welcoming for autistic and neurodivergent children and adults. They do this through creating inclusive communities, understanding autistic experiences and connecting people through peer network of social/support groups and meet-ups at  Autism Friendly Meetings.

The ATLAS participation group for young people with additional needs and disabilities collaborated with Autism Friendly Surrey to create a Community Safety Guide to give advice and information that is useful to young people. This includes information on staying safe when:

• travelling
• being online and on social media
• when meeting new people
• navigating friendships

Support for young adults with complex needs

For young people with complex needs, support services can help with access to leisure and social activities in their local community.

• Day services in Surrey are available through social care services for adults with complex or severe learning or physical disabilities.
• Surrey Choices offer community groups and activities for adults with learning and physical disabilities across Surrey.
• Services who support post-16 transitions lists several teams within Surrey County Council who may be able to assist young people who need support with being part of their community, during the transition from children to adult services.
• Advocacy services are available free of charge to help vulnerable people with learning disabilities to express their interests, gain more independence and be able to access their local community.
• Surrey Independent Living Council have an online Personal Assistant (PA) Finder to help people find the right Personal Assistant to help them with day to day living. The PA can assist you with getting out and about and taking part in local activities.

Having your voice heard

• Surrey Youth Voice helps shape the services and support available to young people in Surrey. They work with Surrey County Council to create opportunities for young people to share their views, take part in groups and projects, and influence real change in their communities. There are also paid roles that help young people build skills and confidence. Surrey Youth Voice supports young people to speak up and makes sure their voices are heard.

There are several participation groups, including ATLAS, which is for young people with additional needs and disabilities. No diagnosis is required—only an interest in improving support and services for young people with additional needs and disabilities.

ATLAS offers a safe and supportive space for young people to share their experiences. Members meet regularly to discuss what is working well and what could be improved. They work with professionals across health, education, and social care to help shape better services. ATLAS also leads awareness projects about ableism and inclusion, making sure that the voices of young people with additional needs and disabilities are listened to and respected in decisions that affect them.

• The Surrey Learning Disability and Autism Partnership Hub bring together people working for Surrey County Council, people with autism and/or learning disabilities and their carers to ensure they have a voice. The website and Facebook page help keep people informed about services and events in Surrey. Easy Read information is available on topics ranging from benefits to advocacy services, which can help young adults make informed decisions about things that will affect them.