Specialist Childcare Service celebrate NAVT fund boost
A GROUP which helps children and young people with a wide range of neurodiverse conditions has received a welcome funding boost.
KO-NEKT’s head office is based in Saltcoats and Skills & Play Centre is based in Ardrossan where they provide tailored, quality support services primarily for those children and young people – aged 5-25 - with neurodiverse conditions. Their goal is to foster personal growth, confidence, and resilience, while enhancing mental health, physical, and social development.
And the group will be helped significantly after recently learning it will receive £30,000 over three years from North Ayrshire Ventures Trust (NAVT).
This grant programme was developed to enable voluntary, community and social enterprises in North Ayrshire to explore new opportunities to help them grow in size and improve long-term sustainability.
The funding from NAVT will be used to fund two new two members of staff - a training officer and administrator – to help them support the delivery of the Lead Adult Achievement Awards. These national awards are aimed at NEET adults (not in employment, education or training) and adults with ASN (with or without diagnosis).
Through this initiative young people will be supported to develop new skills and explore opportunities to help them become more confident and Independent.
Quote: “This is a fantastic organisation and this funding will go a long way to helping young adults with a range of neurodiverse conditions to gain qualifications that they might have not known were available to them. These awards offer the possibility of gaining accreditation from informal and non formal learning, creating a bridge to onward progression. The staff will provide invaluable support and knowledge and help them through the process. It is very exciting to see what progress the participants will make.”
Quote from: Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and the Islands
KO-NEKT support over 300 children and young people across North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire. This project will specifically support young people in North Ayrshire. There are currently 20 young people awaiting to undertake the programme.
Clare Chambers, Chairperson of KO-NEKT said: “Many thanks to the board of the NAVT for awarding this funding. It will help provide so many opportunities to the young people,
“We really appreciate the support and are excited about being able to help these wonderful young adults gain qualifications and reach their full potential.”
If you would like to apply for NAVT funding, please email infonavt@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Published: 12 May 2025