Youth Work Week Youth Work Insight – Agency, Identity and Belonging – Neuro-Affirming Youth Work in Action

Join us this Youth Work Week for an empowering Youth Work Insight session exploring inclusive and affirming youth work practices for neurodivergent young people.

This 90-minute facilitated webinar will feature sector specialists and the voice of those with lived-experience, offering insights into how youth work can be radically inclusive, responsive and empowering.

The session will unpack the concept of neurodivergence as a form of diversity rather than deficit, challenge stereotypes and stigma and explore how youth work can support young people with or without a formal diagnosis. Attendees will gain practical strategies to make their youth practice more accessible, drawing upon the lived experiences of the expert panel. We’ll also address the mental health challenges neurodivergent young people face, often due to social exclusion, misunderstanding, and lack of support, and highlight the importance of trauma-informed, neuro-affirmative approaches.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in live Q&A, hear personal stories and receive follow-up resource.

Our Panellists:

We are excited to announce our panel of experts for this session:

• Chelsea Renehan – Sheffield City Council’s Community Youth Services
• Helena Rodgers – Ambitious about Autism, a national charity supporting autistic children and young people.
• Jess Thom – Play/youth worker, artist, comedian, Tourettes Hero
• Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Cree – Presenter, filmmaker and writer

---