When 13-year-old Bethany was diagnosed with autism last year she felt alone, but joining Ealing Youth Social Network has given her confidence, friendship and opportunities she never expected.

Ealing Youth Social Network (YSN) was set up by the council and Ealing Mencap last year to give a voice to 13 to 23 year-olds in the borough with additional needs and disabilities.

The group regularly meets to discuss topics such as accessing leisure facilities when you have additional needs, and they have also been sharing their ideas and experiences with Ealing Council managers through a mentoring programme.

In the spring, the YSN helped put together a youth conference attended by students from 7 schools.

‘It’s amazing’

Bethany, a student at Greenford High, was unsure about joining the network but said: “I think it’s amazing, to be honest. From the first meeting, I felt safe to talk and meeting other people who have additional needs was very good.”

Before joining the network Bethany found socialising challenging. She said: “I didn’t really have a lot of friends and I didn’t speak up in class if anyone was rude to me.”

A confidence boost

A turning point for Bethany was giving an anti-bullying presentation at the conference to an audience of more than 100 people. YSN staff helped Bethany to prepare for her presentation in which she shared her ideas on how to start talking to people and encouraged people to share their experiences of bullying.

Bethany said: “It’s really helped with how to speak to someone, even how to ask for water. It’s made me feel more confident. What has really helped was doing the presentation in front of other people. Now I think that if I could do that, I can do anything.”

She added: “I would 10,000% recommend joining the YSN to other young people with additional needs and disabilities. I would say it’s an amazing thing to be part of and share with other people. It’s really nice to be part of a group.”

Proud mum Rebecca says she has noticed a big change in her daughter. Bethany has taken part in social activities and Rebecca said it’s even given her the confidence to sign up for swimming lessons, which she would not have done before joining the YSN.

Find out more

To find out more about Ealing Youth Social Network, email Harvey Duncan at DuncanH@ealing.gov.uk or Sabrina Breatcliffe at sabrina.breatcliffe@ealingmencap.org.uk

For other details on local support for special educational needs and disability, visit the Ealing Families Directory website.