A safe place of real connection & friendship

SNAP’s Marvellous Me started in January 2024 with 15 attending. Since then, it has come on in leaps and bounds ending the Summer Term with 34 young people in regular attendance.

Services Manager, Rachel, shared the importance of Marvellous Me and why it was originally created.

“We have a lot of young autistic girls coming through that are all very different. Many of them are not coping at school and are struggling with friendships.

“We wanted to create a safe, relaxed space for those in Year 6 and above who identify as female or non-binary.

“Many of them are struggling with anxiety and masking so we wanted to create an environment where there is no judgement, they can nurture friendships, and they are able to be themselves around similar people. For many of them, it’s been a lifeline”.

The activities at Marvellous Me often swap and change with the girls’ input. Arts & crafts are a shared interest for many of them, so there’s always some variation of painting, colouring, bracelet making or mood board making. They have also tried mocktail making, biscuit decorating, karaoke, board games, and gaming.

Julia regularly volunteers with the arts & crafts table. She shared, “We talk openly about things without judgement – big or small. Whether it’s about music and our favourite artists or catching up on life or their day at school, we’re all able to be ourselves without being shot down”.

“It’s a place to be yourself with no limit” – SNAP young person

One SNAP parent shared, “It’s so nice to see a mix of interests in the girls and see them spark off each other when they find out they share common interests.”

SNAP counsellor, Tina, also joins in the arts & crafts table, an avid artist herself. She often opens conversations between our young people and shares wisdom and advice to shed light on some of the difficult circumstances our teens might be going through.

When asked what they enjoy most about Marvellous Me, most of the girls referenced making new friends. Many of them have experienced bullying at school because of their additional needs. Here, they are in the same boat and can relate to one another. The word cloud shows what Marvellous Me means to them. The bigger the word or phrase, the more it was said.

While our young people meet downstairs, their parents meet upstairs. They are able to catch-up over a drink and biscuits. Our Family Support Advisers are on-hand to offer advice, information and a listening ear.

Another parent shared, “My daughter enjoys these sessions a lot. She appears to have a lot of fun and always comes out smiling and chatting. It is also really lovely to speak to other mums who understand while she is with her peers.”

Rachel added, “Throughout the past year, we have seen many friendships grow and we’ve also witnessed the talent of our young people soar as they became more comfortable creatively expressing themselves. Many of them have come out of their shells and have the confidence to start conversations or ask questions now. It’s been very exciting seeing this session go from strength to strength and I can’t wait to see how it continues to flourish.”

There are spaces available to attend Marvellous Me sessions. Please contact our Services Team to register your interest on 01277 211300 or email [email protected].

These sessions are held on Mondays once every half term and in school holidays.