Who our trips are designed for and how eligibility is assessed

The Neurodivergence Project exists to create safe, inclusive outdoor experiences that support neurodivergent people to build confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging. Our work is shaped by lived experience and designed around predictability, psychological safety, and meaningful achievement.

We recognise that many neurodivergent people fall between systems – waiting for assessment, lacking formal support, or feeling excluded from traditional provision. These criteria reflect that reality, while ensuring our trips remain safe, supportive, and achievable as the charity grows.

Who Our Trips Are For

Age

• Trips are open from age 12
• Adult trips are for individuals aged 18+
• A waiting list will be used so trips can run when funding allows and participants can be grouped in ways that support comfort, connection, and appropriate pacing

Location

• Participants must live in the UK and be eligible for free NHS treatment

Neurodivergence and Supporting Information

A formal diagnosis is not required to apply. We welcome enquiries from people who are self-identified, undiagnosed, or awaiting assessment, and we recognise the significant delays many people face.

To help us plan safely and thoughtfully, supporting information is strongly encouraged. This may include an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and/or a supporting letter. This information helps us understand how someone experiences the world, what support is helpful, and whether a trip is likely to be a good fit.

Neurodivergence may include ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, acquired brain injury (such as a brain tumour), dyspraxia, dyslexia, or other specific learning differences that form part of a neurodivergent profile.

Supporting letters may come from a GP, social worker, school representative (such as a head teacher or classroom teacher), university lecturer, trained BACP counsellor, educational or neuropsychologist, or an appropriate medical professional such as a nurse specialist.

Funding, Waiting Lists, and Planning Meetings

Trips will be free initially and will only run when funding is available. This means there may be a period of waiting between an initial enquiry and a trip being offered.

When funding allows, we will arrange a meeting following the first enquiry. This may take some time depending on funding and capacity, and we ask applicants and families to stay in contact with us during this period.

The purpose of this meeting is to build a shared understanding of strengths, routines, sensory preferences, and any areas where reassurance or prompting is helpful. This helps us plan and reduces uncertainty before a trip takes place.

Access, Funding Priorities, and Fairness

Where funding criteria apply, we will prioritise individuals who are not currently in education, employment, or training (NEET), those who have a formal diagnosis and those from low-income backgrounds. This reflects both funder requirements and our commitment to reaching people who may have fewer opportunities to access experiences like this.

Prioritisation does not mean exclusion. Decisions are shaped by funding, capacity, and the need to create safe and supportive experiences.

Support and Practical Boundaries

Our trips are supportive and flexible, with experienced staff and volunteers who understand that people may need reassurance, prompting, or time to settle.

Participants should be able to manage everyday personal tasks with encouragement where needed. Verbal prompts and gentle reminders are part of how we work, provided tasks can be completed without hands-on personal care.

Participants need to be able to communicate their needs in a way that works for them, including through assistive technology if required.

Participants should be able to move safely around the boat and activity spaces. We welcome people with balance challenges or certain mobility needs, including part-time wheelchair use or prosthetic limbs. Due to the nature of sailing activities, we are not currently able to support full-time wheelchair use on board.

While we provide a supportive environment, we are not able to offer continuous one-to-one or two-to-one care.

Looking Ahead and Ongoing Review

At present, our focus is on delivering safe, well-planned first trips. If funding becomes available in the future, we would like to introduce opportunities for people to return and continue developing confidence and skills, but this will depend on resources and capacity at the time.

These eligibility criteria are not fixed. As a developing charity, we expect them to evolve as we learn, grow, and gather impact feedback from participants, families, volunteers, and partners.

Any changes will be made carefully, with the aim of improving inclusion, safety, and accessibility.

If you are unsure whether a trip feels right, or would like to talk something through before applying, we encourage you to get in touch. These conversations are part of how we work – steadily, openly, and with people at the centre.