SPACE Hertfordshire

Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming local professionals, schools and education settings to our brand-new Lending SPACE. It was a fantastic, bustling morning filled with positive conversations, insightful questions, and plenty of opportunities to learn about the wide range of services available at SPACE Hertfordshire. The event showcased our new Lending SPACE facilities and sensory room and highlighted the sensory aids and equipment available to loan and support neurodivergent children and young people. Attendees also had the chance to explore our wider services. Karen Spencer and Nicky Chaperlin from our Senior Leadership team commented: "Providing a bigger venue for our Lending SPACE has been an extremely positive move – SEND families can now easily access our hub and have more space to trial our sensory equipment, move freely and engage with our brand-new sensory room. It was fantastic to be joined by over 25 professionals and key individuals in our neurodivergent children and young people's education. We look forward to connecting more and taking our Lending SPACE outreach service into more schools and settings soon." A huge thank you to everyone who attended and engaged with us today. Your support and enthusiasm help us continue making a meaningful difference for families across Hertfordshire. We can’t wait to see Lending SPACE continue to grow and evolve as a valuable resource for our community!

Today marks 8 years since SPACE officially became a registered charity — and what a journey it’s been. We’re reflecting on those early days: ?? Paperwork signed at kitchen tables ? Work done from coffee shops ?? No funding, no office, no staff — just heart, determination, and a whole lot of hope. But our story started long before that… SPACE began in 2007 as a single monthly support group in Cheshunt, founded by an Autism Advisory Teacher and a parent/carer who simply wanted to improve things for families like theirs. Fast forward to today, and SPACE has grown into Hertfordshire’s largest neurodiversity charity, proudly supporting over 10,000 families every year. And while we’ve expanded our reach, our grassroots values remain unchanged. - We exist to meet the real needs of real families — families like yours, and families like ours. - We believe no one should face the emotional and practical challenges of raising a neurodivergent child alone. - Our work is designed to support and empower — whether that’s navigating services, building confidence, sharing knowledge, or creating safe spaces where families can truly be themselves. - We walk alongside families, every step of the way. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back — it’s about looking ahead. We’ve made significant progress, but there is still much more to do. We’re not done. Not even close. Together, we’re working towards a future where neurodivergent children, young people, and families are understood, included, supported, empowered and celebrated. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far. Here’s to the next chapter!

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Jaguar Cub Pack to our Lending SPACE, where they explored a variety of specialist equipment designed to support neurodivergent children and young people and learned more about neurodiverse conditions. Through a hands-on and interactive session they gained valuable insight into different types of disabilities, all contributing to their work towards achieving their Disability Awareness Badge. ???? Creating opportunities for young people to develop awareness and understanding of both visible and invisible disabilities is an important step towards building a more inclusive community. We’re always happy to host sessions or visit community groups across Hertfordshire to share knowledge and understanding, and encourage greater inclusion. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more!

When properly supported, neurodivergent employees bring innovation, creativity, problem-solving skills and much more to the workplace. At SPACE, our Neurodiversity in the Workplace programmes help businesses create truly inclusive environments where neurodivergent talent thrives. To celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re giving away a FREE workplace training session to one lucky organisation! No matter where your organisation is on its neurodiversity journey - whether you're just starting out or already leading the way - there’s always more to learn and new ways to create an even more inclusive culture. How to Enter: ? Comment with your organisation’s name ? If appropriate, tag an HR lead, manager, or DEI advocate who could champion this at your workplace ? Share this post for a bonus entry ?? Winner announced on Friday 28th March ?? Everyone who enters will receive exclusive access to a special offer for our workplace neurodiversity training programmes. *UK based organisations only please.

This weekend we delivered 13 hours of activities designed to support and empower neurodivergent young people. SPACE weekends are all about fun, confidence, connection and inclusion and this one had it in bucket loads! From climbing to driving, fishing to aerial gymnastics, therapeutic farming to gaming social clubs, there was something for everyone. From Biggleswade to Potters Bar, St Albans to Ware and beyond, young people made friends, swapped numbers for playdates, and experienced the joy of accessible, truly inclusive activities. We are already looking forward to doing it all again next weekend! The activities may change, but the ethos is always the same - supportive, inclusive, and designed with our young people in mind.

Bright Beginnings in action! Reflecting on the impact of our new play-based early intervention programme is a great reminder of how small strategies can make a huge difference for neurodivergent children and their families. From supporting communication and focus to building confidence and connection, sessions like these are at the heart of what we do.?

We’re Hiring! Join SPACE as a Trainer. Are you passionate about neurodiversity, inclusion, and empowering others through training? Do you thrive on delivering engaging and impactful training to diverse audiences? We are a Hertfordshire-based charity dedicated to empowering and supporting families raising neurodivergent children and young people through a range of programmes and services. As part of this, we offer an extensive free training programme for parents and carers, alongside a growing paid-for training arm that delivers high-quality training on neurodiversity and inclusion to workplaces and professionals. All profits from our paid training directly support our charitable services, ensuring that parent carers of neurodivergent children and young people continue to receive the support they need – so every session delivered helps make a real impact. We’re looking for a Trainer to join our team and deliver training on neurodiversity and inclusion to professionals in workplaces, health, education, and social care, as well as parent carers and neurodivergent individuals. ?? Full-time (37.5 hours) – job share considered ?? Stanstead Abbotts/hybrid with travel (expenses covered) ?? Salary: from ￡27,000 FTE depending on experience ?? Closing date: Friday 28th March 2025, 5pm We particularly welcome applicants with lived experience, whether as a neurodivergent individual or as a parent/carer of a neurodivergent child or young person. ?? Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share! Interested? Find out more and apply now: https://lnkd.in/etdq4CTA

At SPACE, we’re proud to be a women-led organisation working to create a world where all neurodivergent children, young people, and their families feel empowered, understood, included, and supported. But for many women and girls, that support comes far too late, if at all. Gender inequality in neurodiversity diagnoses means that far too many girls and women are still overlooked, misdiagnosed, or diagnosed late. Many of the women in our incredible team have experienced this first hand – only being diagnosed in adulthood after years of masking, misunderstanding, and struggling without the right support. The theme for this years International Women’s Day is, #AccelerateAction, and is a reminder that we need to keep pushing for better understanding, earlier identification, and the right support for neurodivergent girls and women. We need to accelerate action in education, healthcare, and society to ensure that neurodivergent girls and women get the recognition and support they deserve, when they need it. Because done right, it changes lives. ?? Today we are celebrating the women in our team and beyond - those leading change, supporting others, advocating for inclusivity and making a difference in the lives of neurodivergent children and young people. Thank you all!

We are incredibly grateful to autistic actor and advocate Bradley Riches and his mum, Karen Riches, for generously giving their time to support SPACE and our community this week. Brad is best known for Netflix’s Heartstopper, Celebrity Big Brother, and BBC’s Wreck. Together with his mum Karen they spent 2 evenings in our company this week! Our Q&A events were huge successes, bringing together parent/carers and neurodivergent children and young people for an open, honest, and truly inspiring conversation. ? Brad shared his journey of growing up Autistic - reflecting on his early years as a nonverbal child, how acting helped him find his voice, and the importance of special interests. ? Karen joined Brad on the second night, offering a powerful parent’s perspective - sharing the highs, the lows, the challenges, and the victories, along with invaluable advice for fellow parent/carers. The engagement was incredible! The chat box was buzzing with insightful and heartfelt questions, and Brad and Karen answered each one with authenticity and warmth, bringing comfort, connection, and inspiration to so many. Their honesty, advocacy, and generosity shone throughout both events, making a real difference to those who attended.?We can’t wait to collaborate again in the future.

???? Celebrating Community in Hertford ???? Last weekend, Nicky Chaperlin and our Chair of Trustees Lyn Heathcote Sharif had the pleasure of joining the Mayor of Hertford, Cllr Rachel Carter, and many wonderful local individuals and organisations at a special event celebrating the incredible communities that make Hertford such a vibrant and welcoming place. We were treated to the beautiful voices of the newly formed Hertford Children’s Choir, who sang of springtime with their uplifting song Focus on a Crocus, followed by a lovely performance from Take Note Choir. We also heard inspiring words, stories, and poems honouring the four rivers of Hertford and the strong sense of community that flows through the town. It was a reminder of the dedication and passion that so many people bring to making Hertford a truly special place. A heartfelt thank you to the Mayor of Hertford for recognising the contributions of organisations like SPACE and for bringing us all together to celebrate the power of community. And, of course, for thoroughly spoiling us with delicious cakes and the chance to connect with so many fantastic people. ?? At SPACE, we are proud to be part of Hertford’s community - supporting and empowering neurodivergent children, young people, and their families. Events like this remind us just how strong and important our local connections are, and we look forward to continuing to play our part, not just in Hertford but in all of Hertfordshire's cities, towns and villages - working together to build more inclusive, supportive communities where every family feels understood and valued.