A Different
Future
At ASL, we bring joy to our wonderful community of people with Down Syndrome or additional needs through creativity and kindness. By developing their unique talents, we bring out their potential and build their confidence.
What We Do.
Life Academy
At ASL, we broaden horizons and ignite passions, transforming lives. We help people with Down syndrome or additional needs discover their unique gifts, transforming unfulfilled lives into joy and purpose.
Our Life Academy is welcoming & fun.
We work with individuals' strengths at their own pace, which helps them feel seen and accepted and builds their self-esteem.
We are an inclusive community.
We give individuals a sense of belonging, which helps them feel happier and more confident. We foster connections, friendships, and better life experiences that reduce isolation.
We encourage creativity.
Our people broaden their horizons, which helps them feel they are contributing their unique gifts and finding their passions.
Our community cherishes inclusion, safety, and acceptance for all. Our Life Academy helps individuals learn life and social skills to make meaningful friendships in a supportive community.
“ASL has made me the man I am today.” Marc Belsey
“ASL has improved my life for the better.” Siobhan Phippen
“ASL has given me a brighter future.” Rebecca Francis
"ASL ensures everyone is included in their own way. My daughter has learnt new skills and grown in confidence. Just look at her now! She has changed so much, and she takes her job very seriously. She has a group of friends that she would never have met who are all very special, and they look out for each other. It is a very special place." Bobbie Phippin
SEN Academy
We have a structured programme offering life and work skills to students aged 16 and over with special educational needs (SEN), using our commercial kitchen, café and training academy.
“ASL is a wonderful workplace for young adults with additional needs. Their lives change forever. They grow and change into responsible adults. It's an amazing place. I wish all workplaces could take a leaf out of their book. It would be a much happier and grateful world to live in.” Yvonne Belsey
When families of people with Down syndrome or additional needs visit us, they see a different future for their children. We enrich their lives through experiences they may not have had, such as making friends, socialising, and supporting each other.
People with Down syndrome or additional needs often experience social isolation. Our inclusive community allows them to form meaningful relationships and fosters a sense of belonging.
Work Academy
Our Work Academy provides a pathway to employment for individuals with Down Syndrome or additional needs who long for independence but lack work skills and experience.
We offer personalised training.
Our pathway to employment starts with learning new life, social, and work skills that help individuals feel capable and competent.
We know ongoing support is essential.
People with Down Syndrome or additional needs are vulnerable, so we remain a safety net when they are in employment, making them feel supported and secure and ensuring their jobs are sustainable.
We are a safe and empowering academy.
Our training promotes resilience so people feel accepted and hopeful on their journey to independence.
We challenge assumptions about the potential of people with Down Syndrome or additional needs, making individuals feel valued.
We inspire hope and a sense of empowerment for individuals to make their own choices in life. We break down barriers by embracing differences so everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.
"My son's varied and unusual skills have been recognised, nurtured and trained, putting them to positive use and making others happy. Being supported to work in a café, encouraged to perform as well, and to be in direct contact with so many different people was a dream I never thought could be fulfilled." Theresa Beaumann
Performing Arts
Our performing arts sessions help to build confidence and support the making and maintaining friendships. The goal is to perform in a local theatre and at events like the Great Get Together.
"The first time I brought my parents to you for lunch, my dad welled up. A tough, stoic and often prickly man humbled to the core. He knew it was a place of love and compassion. He saw the care and support they were getting." Wendy Jayne
