Home | Jigsaw Youth Club

Welcome to Jigsaw
Youth Club

Let me be me

A youth club for young people with Asperger’s syndrome, high functioning autism and their friends

What We Do

Jigsaw Youth Club works with young people on the Autistic Spectrum who would like to develop social and lifeskills. This is done in a variety of environments that are aimed to provide opportunities for lifelong learning.

Our approach is very practical, seeing a young person and their strengths and talents before any different abilities. We work with the young person to involve them in the planning of their journey to adulthood, helping them discover their future by taking control of the present.

We provide a youth club where young people can learn, in an informal environment, to interact and understand others.

Core Values

Change your life

A service that is based on the active and continuous involvement of young people in all aspects of Jigsaw
A facility which operates on a regular basis that is safe, welcoming, accessible, dynamic and contemporary;
A dedicated ‘chill-out’ space where young people can relax, meet their friends and enjoy their leisure time in comfortable surroundings;
A quiet space where young people can access computers and the internet, study or read;
Activity space(s) providing young people with a range of sports, arts and other opportunities;
An up-to-date range of information, advice and guidance for young people on personal, social, careers and health issues;
Opportunities for young people to volunteer in the community;
Membership of Jigsaw, that enables young people to take ownership;
Access to specialist services as required; and
A service that is sustainable but affordable to all young people

Activities and Trips

Jigsaw runs sessions throughout the week.

During these sessions we have various activities including

Games
Cricket
Snooker
Football
DIY Skills
Basketball
Woodwork
Gardening
Badminton
Crocheting
Team sports
Conversation
Music sessions
Baking sessions
Computer access
Pool Tournaments
Arts & Craft sessions
Lifeskills Training

We also provide residential experiences such as survival camps and narrowboat weekends

Skills for Success

Enterprise: I can undertake new ventures in a skilled and measured way

Self-regulation: I can understand how the expression of feelings impact on others and on myself. I can manage impulses and strong emotions through a range of strategies so as not to behave in ways which lead to negative consequences.

Social skills: I can achieve an appropriate level of independence from others, charting and following my own course while maintaining positive relationships with others

Motivation: I can identify barriers to goals and how to overcome them. I can view errors as part of the normal learning process and I can bounce back from disappointment or failure. I can look forward to long-term, and not short-term, benefits and I can break long-term plans into small achievable steps.

Empathy: I can see the world from other people’s points of view, taking into account their intentions, preferences and beliefs, and feeling with and for them.

Self-awareness: I know and can label my own feelings, understand the links between my feelings, thoughts and behaviour and I can recognise and manage conflicting emotions.

Trips

During school holidays we have a programme of trips and activities including picnics, seaside trips and cycling. Recent trips have included:

Cycling days
- Monsal
- Rutland Water
- Sherwood Pines
Picnics in the park
- Rushcliffe Country Park
- Wollaton Park
- Attenborough Nature Reserve
- Gedling Country Park
Golf
Tubing
Bowling
Cinema
Swimming
High Ropes
Pitch & Putt
Mablethorpe
Tobogganing
Snowboarding
Planet Bounce
Segway Riding
Mining Museum
Climbing course
Dovedale walking
Magna Science Centre
Coventry Motor Museum
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Amazon Warehouse Tour
Drayton Manor Park & Zoo
Shopping at McArthur Glen
Imperial War Museum London
Queen and Beatles Tribute Concert
Shopping at East Bridgford Garden Centre
Adventure days – Colwick Adventure Base

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try"
John F Kennedy