Anyone who has been involved in Beyond the Spectrum knows how powerful it is to write, share, and develop your voice alongside likeminded, neurodivergent people.  

As the programme evolves – into its 5th year – we want to make sure that there is a way to stay involved, that it doesn’t all end after a year of writing together. This is where our Apprentice Groups come in: these are a new kind of Beyond the Spectrum group, designed to help you keep going, keep writing, and take your creativity further.  

What is an Apprentice Group?  

It’s a writing group for neurodivergent adults (18+) who have already taken part in Beyond the Spectrum, or just feel like this model would work best for them. The groups are a mix of sessions facilitate by a lead and shadow writer and participant-led sessions which give you a chance to continue developing your writing, whilst exploring what it’s like to run – and participate in – a more independent writing group.  

Apprentice Groups are a bridge, keeping you connected to the BTS community whilst helping you gain skills and confidence to keep writing independently.  

What can you expect if you join an Apprentice Group?  

• Half of the sessions led by a professional writer, just like in your first phase of BTS 

• Participant-led sessions where you and your group take the lead, sharing prompts, writing together, or just creating space to talk about your writing 

• A free training session with author Emma Pass on how to run your own creative writing group 

• Access to special resources, session plans, and tips via our website 

• Full involvement in the wider Beyond the Spectrum community, including the chance to submit to our online magazine, places at our online masterclasses, and more.  

As always, the groups are relaxed, flexible, and built around the participants. There’s no set of rules: we’ll help you find the right format that works for your group.  

Why are we doing this?  

Beyond the Spectrum currently has full funding until 2027, but we know our capacity is limited. We want to make sure everyone who wants to join us has the chance to but, at the same time, we don’t want existing participants to feel like their journey ends after a year.  

Apprentice Groups help us hold places for new participants, whilst supporting returning writers to grow more independent and confident, and stay connected with us.  This is also part of the legacy we want to build for BTS: where Autistic writers keep supporting each other, sharing their work, and forming creative communities, with our without our direct support and funding.  

Who are Apprentice Groups for? 

Autistic and neurodivergent adults who: 

• Have written with us for a full phase of Beyond the Spectrum workshops 

• New BTS participants who feel this kind of group would be a good fit for them 

Whether you’re keen to try out leading a session, or just want to keep writing with a group of people who understand you, Apprentice Groups are a good fit for you.  

We currently offer the following Apprentice Groups: 

• Online with lead writer Aoife Mannix (open to all, priority to people with Lincolnshire postcodes) 

• Online with lead writer Nell Osborne (open to all) 

• Online with lead writer K Angel (for LGBTQIA+ participants) 

• In person, in Mablethorpe with lead writer Fee Griffin (in partnership with Diverse Connections at the Campus for Future Living) 

You can sign up to the first three groups via our website. If you are interested in the Mablethorpe group, please email info@beyondthespectrum.uk for more information about how to join.  

How do we support these groups?  

We don’t just start you off and walk away! Alongside the professional support of a lead and shadow writer, you’ll also have: 

• Admin and tech support from the BTS team 

• A free training workshop on how to run your own creative writing group – either live online, or recorded, depending on when you join.  

• Access to a growing library of resources, including session ideas, prompts and safeguarding guidance.  

• Ongoing opportunities to contribute to our magazine, festival, and community events.  

We want our BTS writers to continue writing together long after this phase of our funding ends. Now is the time we can support you to make that happen.  

What if this isn’t for you?  

We totally understand that not everyone wants to, or feels able to, lead a writing group, or even participate in a less structured session. That’s okay. If you’re written with us before and want to stay in a fully-led group, we may have spaces, depending on availability: please drop us a line and let us know, we’ll do our best to accommodate you. We will also keep sharing alternative creative opportunities through our social media, website and newsletter.  

You might decide to move on from being in a BTS group, but we hope you’ll stay in touch and part of our community, including submitting to our magazine and blog, and attending events.  

How do you join?  

You can find out more, and sign up, here: Apprentice Groups for Adults – Beyond The Spectrum 

And don’t worry, you’re never on your own with BTS: we want to help shape Apprentice Groups into something that works for our community, and we really look forward to you writing with us.