Amazing Futures groups for young people
Our Amazing Futures youth groups provide a welcoming, inclusive space where young people aged 14 to 25 with additional needs can make friends, have fun, and be themselves. Your young person can find out much more on our dedicated Amazing Futures website for young people
The groups offer the chance to take part in activities like games, cooking and art, plus sessions with specific themes like boardgames or wellbeing workshops. There are also trained peer support volunteers (aged 18 to 25) available for young people to talk to.
Eligibility
Our fun, friendly groups are for young people in Brighton & Hove or East Sussex aged 14 to 25 with SEND or additional needs of any kind. For example autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, mental health difficulties, sensory impairments, or physical disabilities.
Our Amazing Futures youth groups provide a welcoming, inclusive space where young people aged 14 to 25 with additional needs can make friends, have fun, and be themselves.
The groups offer the chance to take part in activities like games, cooking and art, plus sessions with specific themes like boardgames or wellbeing workshops. There are also trained peer support volunteers (aged 18 to 25) available for young people to talk to.
What's on offer?
We offer a number of different groups and activities.
Brighton & Hove groups
- young people’s activity group: make new friends, play games, arts and crafts
- young women’s group: games, art and other activities with other girls and young women
- LGBTQ+ group: for young people who are – or think they might be – LGBTQIA. It’s okay if they aren’t sure about their gender or sexuality, they don’t have to have it all figured out to come along.
- boardgames group
- sports and games sessions
- walks for wellbeing
- art sessions
From time to time we run one-off events like talent shows, picnics, and parties, and sometimes team up with other organizations to offer opportunities like nature sessions, retro gaming, cooking courses, and more.
We also run the Power Group in partnership with Speak Out. This is a small closed self-advocacy group for young people aged 16 to 25 with learning disabilities. It’s a confidential space where young people can talk with their peers about what’s going on in their life, and work on solutions to their problems together.
East Sussex groups
- activity groups in Eastbourne and Bexhill: join us for fun activities, games, art & food
- boardgames group in Hastings
- pub social group for 20+ year olds in Seaford
- “give back” food bank sessions at Morrison’s in Eastbourne
Amazingly Active, our inclusive exercise programme, offers:
- wellbeing walks in Bexhill: we meet weekly for a gentle walk and a drink
- running groups in Eastbourne and Bexhill
We also run one-off events like parties and day trips. We sometimes team up with other organizations to offer special activities or short courses. Our young people are very community-minded, so we often get involved in local events, too.
We have an active WhatsApp group so our young people can keep in touch between sessions.
Visit our young people’s site to see a calendar of groups and activities that are coming up. Or download our latest schedule as a PDF at the bottom of this page.
Youth voice
Amazing Futures is a youth-led project, empowering young people to have a place where their voices are heard and valued, where they can be unapologetically themselves.
As part of our youth voice work, we provide a space where young people can share their experiences and help shape services, both inside of Amaze and elsewhere.
Young people are also supported to get involved in the Amazine – our online magazine made by and for young people with additional needs.
Wellbeing support
We know many of our young people need a little extra support with their mental health and wellbeing, so we incorporate the five ways to wellbeing and use the THRIVE framework to support all our young people as part of our regular group activities. We also provide regular wellbeing walks, and run wellbeing workshops.
Young people who would benefit from one-to-one support can talk with our volunteer peer supporters, or our qualified mental health worker. We also provide a number of accessible mental health and wellbeing focused resources for young people.
How to join a group
If your young person is aged 14 to 25 with additional needs and is interested in joining a group, get in touch (or pass on these details if they would prefer to get in touch themselves):
If you live in Brighton & Hove, contact Jem Hadert on 07485 349 659 or email Jem
If you live in East Sussex, contact Claire Piper on 07484 915 038 or email Claire
Sue or Claire can tell you more and answer any questions you or your young person might have.
Or call the Amaze advice line on 01273 772 289.
Please note: Places are sometimes limited, so we may not have a spot available right away, but get in touch and we’ll try to find a space as soon as we can.
Your young person will need to fill out a registration form before they can join the project. Spaces are free but they must book for each session.
Volunteer with Amazing Futures
Volunteering as a peer supporter or peer coach can be a good way for your young person to grow their confidence and learn new skills, as well as looking great on their CV.
