Super Squad

Where young voices shape the way we work

Our
Story

The Super Squad is our Youth Ambassador - a group of children,

many of whom are neurodivergent, who help shape the work we do at Buzzing Roots. They’re not just participants in our programmes.

They’re creators, decision-makers, and leaders.

Through creativity, collaboration, and play, the Squad explores ideas, gives feedback, and co-designs our projects. Their insights and energy guide how we work with communities and ensure young people’s voices are heard at every level.

The Super Squad sessions take place at Queensmead Primary Academy during school term time.

Our Youth Ambassador group, Super Squad — formed as a legacy initiative following our Trailblazer project "Sign What You Mean, Mean What You Play" — is evolving into an advisory board to help steer our organisational direction and support more inclusive practice across all projects and artistic delivery.

Growing Confidence and Creativity

Over the course of our sessions, we’ve seen incredible growth in the Squad’s confidence and connection.

One member, A, joined the Youth Ambassador quietly, rarely speaking during group discussions. Over time, she built trust through small roles like helping tidy up. Towards the summer, she was standing up to tell a joke to the whole group, a huge moment of personal achievement.

At the start, playing structured group games was a real challenge. Focus was difficult, and engagement was low. But that’s changed dramatically - now the Squad regularly asks to play games like Zip Zap Boing and Splat, and leads them with enthusiasm.

In a memorable session, children used natural materials like wood slices and sticks to create everything from theatres to picnic tables. One child, K, who often struggles to focus, spent over 20 minutes engineering a seesaw from sticks, persisting through trial and error until he made it work.

Every session has sparked new ideas. Whether they’re drawing, building, inventing games, or simply sharing space, the Super Squad responds with creativity and care.

Inclusion by Design

Our sessions are designed with neurodiversity at the core.

We don’t adapt at the edges - we build accessibility into the foundation.

Each session begins with a soft start: time to doodle, decompress, and settle in. We use a consistent weekly agenda, activities change, but the structure stays the same, helping children anticipate what’s coming and feel safe.

We create space for choice. Children decide how they engage, whether by drawing, building, sharing, or just being present. Expectations are flexible: they can listen while doodling or fidgeting, participate in their own way, and skip activities if needed.

What we offer is a space where they can be themselves. Where mistakes are welcome. Where eye contact isn’t required, and sitting under a table might be the best way to feel part of the group.

Louise Jaggard from Buzzing Roots CIC shares her experience working with Super Squad members.

Super Squad in Brite Centre Library

Introducing the Super Squad and our journey at Brite Centre Library

Super Squad

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Rhythms and experimental creation by Super Squad. Press Play and listen!

Reflections

From practise:

Working with the Super Squad has shaped our wider artistic and facilitation practices.

The structure we created with a flexible agenda, sensory-friendly options, and multiple pathways into creativity, has proven so effective that we’re now integrating these methods across other Buzzing Roots projects.

Most importantly, this work has reaffirmed something we already believed:

when neurodivergent children are given safe, creative spaces, they flourish - and they lead.