Our ethos is "A Friend Here is a Friend for Life". Developing healthy friendships also involves mutual support, at Shaypes we encourage and support friendship and team building. 
Friendships provide emotional support, help with loneliness and social isolation. Friendships reduce stress and offer a sense of belonging and well being. The bottom line is that good friends are important at every stage in life and we actively encourage friendships within our family.  
 
At Shaypes we organise get-togethers, where we have fun, laugh and enjoy life to the full. This is where friendships begin and florish. 

Who We Are  

Shaypes are a small, dedicated team of professionals providing support for young people and adults in the local community. Everyone in the Shaypes family has full care insurance, enhanced DBS and necessary travel cover, so you know you are in safe hands. We create small groups for youngsters in our care based on personalities and abilities, encouraging them to forge friendships and stay active. 
 

About Shaypes  

Shaypes was founded by our Director, Davinder Singh, whose passion for supporting young people with learning disabilities was shaped by his personal journey caring for a close family member diagnosed with Autism and Epilepsy at just two years old. Throughout this experience, Davinder saw how isolating life can be for those with learning disabilities, as well as the lack of understanding and support from schools and medical professionals. 
 
He witnessed the deep struggles his family member faced, yearning for friendships but constantly finding it difficult to build and maintain connections. Without proper support, even something as vital as finding a job became a daunting challenge, impacting the entire family. 
Driven by these challenges, Davinder became determined to create a safe, welcoming environment where young people with learning disabilities could form genuine friendships, participate in fun activities, and feel part of a community that understands them. Over the years, his dedication and compassion led to the creation of Shaypes, a place where individuals are empowered to live more fulfilling lives. 
 
Today, Shaypes is a vibrant support network that helps many young people stay active, healthy, and socially connected. The same support that transformed the life of Davinder’s family member, who now enjoys a happy, full social life drives Shaypes to bring joy and freedom to everyone they serve. 

Our Areas:  

We cover various council areas in Kent, including: 
 
Gravesham Borough Council 
Sevenoaks District Council 
Maidstone 
Dartford 
Canterbury City 
Medway Council 

Who Shaypes Is For? 

Shaypes is here to support young people and adults with learning disabilities. For our regular activities and events, we welcome anyone over the age of 16, but if you are interested in activities for younger children, speak with our team. We work with young people with a huge range of disabilities, including: Asperger’s, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy and more. Please bear in mind, Shaypes are unable to provide support with personal hygiene and all of our groups operate with three participants per staff member. 

Who we work with: 

Gravesham BC 
Sevenoaks DC 
Maidstone 
Dartford 
Canterbury City