Welcome to Independent Youth Volunteer Support (IYVS) — and thank you for taking the time to visit.

IYVS grew from a simple truth: mainstream youth volunteering often fails neurodivergent young people, and the volunteers who try to support them are left without adequate training, resources, or frameworks.

We started Zanshin Archery to prove that alternative provision works. Now, we're fixing the systems that created this gap in the first place.

We work across four complementary areas:

• Direct provision — alternative programmes where mainstream fails (like Zanshin)
• Capability building — training and grants for volunteers and organisations to support SEN young people better
• Navigation support — helping volunteers find funding, resources, and guidance
• Sector accountability — naming systemic failures and advocating for change

This isn't about fixing individual volunteers or patching broken systems. It's about building what should exist from the start.

If you're a volunteer supporting neurodivergent young people, an organisation seeking to improve your SEN provision, or an ally who believes the sector needs to change, we're glad you're here.

Explore Our Work

• Zanshin Archery — our flagship direct provision programme for neurodivergent young people
• Capability Building — grants and training for volunteers and organisations
• Resources & Navigation — guides, funding, and practical support
• Our Full Story — why we exist and what we're working to change

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