Who We Are?
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to enable people with additional needs to achieve “Independence”.
Independence Project is on a mission to highlight the difficulties that young adults face and strives to make a difference to the lives of people and their families across Essex. We are passionate about helping young people transitioning into adulthood life and further beyond. We feel that there is currently a huge crisis in this area and many young people are being overlooked or left behind needlessly.
How do we do this?
We take a modern forward thinking approach by reaching out to communities offering support and advice at many different levels. We are very active on social media and this helps us bring awareness of our services and the difference that we make, whilst also highlighting the bigger issues in society.
We also believe that the only way we can tackle this crisis is by working in partnership with other organisations and sharing information. We achieve this in many ways by attending community events and through our online community. We are always at the end of a phone to help offer guidance and support or to signpost to other organisations that can help.
We offer a full personalised programme of activities to engage young people within a fun safe and nurturing environment whilst achieving goals. Our training programs are carried out with a person centred fully holistic approach to meet the needs of each individual.
Many young people who have additional needs require training programs that are specifically targeted and tailored to the way that they learn and retain information to help them achieve the best outcomes.
We provide a consistent approach which in turn provides for optimum development and offers a huge amount of confidence building. We take time to get to know the people we work with and build relationships with the individual and their family/carers. Our staff have worked with many young people across Essex who have a wide variety of needs and have built up extensive experience within this field and know how to get the best results from the individual.
Our training programs can become integrated alongside more traditional methods to provide the individual with a balanced learning experience, or work equally as effective on their own. Independence always runs through the core of our programs and we always aim to get the individual to a place where they can live as a fulfilled, independent and happy adult.
Meet the Team
Andrew Denny
Founder
“Having worked with young adults with additional needs for a number of years I could see the areas where society is failing in supporting these individuals. I am a strong believer in empowering people and pushing them to achieve in life, whilst fighting and advocating for their rights. I am extremely passionate about making a change within society and not allowing people to be left behind. We give people Independence and support individuals to build a social network around them, provide them with the choice to live their lives how they want to whilst also learning valuable skills along the way. I am very proud and excited to be involved in this journey.”
Tracy Frost
Director
“When my girls were young I decided to complete a degree in Health and Social Care. At the time I was unsure of the career I wanted to pursue, but this opened my eyes to wanting to care for people! I began my career working in a school for children with additional needs, I spent 5 years there which then led me into working with young adults. I have been working at the Independence Project since 2020. The biggest thing that I love about working here is helping the members to be able to achieve their goals. I have had many proud moments from seeing a member make a sandwich, to another being able to travel independently. Each milestone brings a massive smile to my face and I look forward to seeing more members being able to achieve as much independence as possible. Away from work I enjoy spending time with my family, friends and newly adopted kittens.”
Olivia Moss
Director
“I have worked with children and young adults with additional needs since completing my A level studies at college. Initially I undertook an apprenticeship whilst working for a charity which supported 12-18 year olds, then worked at a school for students with severe and complex learning difficulties before starting work at the Independence Project. I thoroughly enjoy my work and am strongly committed to enabling everyone to experience a full range of life experiences and reach their full potential.”
Emma Coates
Senior Support Worker
“After completing my degree in Sociology and Criminology I decided to pursue a career in teaching. After gaining experience as a mentor for teenagers who had been excluded from school, I decided to continue in education to gain my QTS and PGCE. Whilst studying I worked in the evenings and during the school holidays at a charity that supported young people with additional needs to access activites in the community. After qualifying I taught in a mainstream school for three years which I thoroughly enjoyed, however, my passion has always been to work with people with additional needs. I decided to change career paths to work at Independence Project so that I can use my skills and abilities to help young adults to develop their independence and learn skills that are needed in life.“
Karen Coupland
Childrens Service Manager
“For the past 15 years I have worked alongside and supported children with SEN and helped empower their families to develop their independence skills and confidence. I have worked for Independence Project since September 2023 and I am really proud to be a part of this team and support such amazing young people in their development and their journeys towards independence.”
Sean Casey
Deputy Hive Manager
“I joined the Independence Project in September 2023 after over 28 years in special education settings and supporting young adults in the community. In that time I have worked with a wide range of young adults with a huge variation of additional learning requirements and more latterly with those who have complex health and high medical needs.
I love and share the ethos and commitment of IP to support adults to achieve their full potential both as individuals and as members of the wider community”
Kerry Edwards
Marketing and Communications Manager
“With over 20 years of working in Marketing, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to move into a role where I can use my skills and experience within such a fantastic team. I absolutely love getting to see the young adults arrive every day and hearing all about the wonderful activities and experiences they enjoy. I am completely committed and determined to do all that I can, to play my part in enabling children and adults with additional needs to achieve independence.“
Claire Court
Office Manager
“I started working at the Independence Project in September 2023, after having a career break from insurance to have my two children. My eldest was diagnosed with autism at 3.5 years old, and we were thrown into the world of special needs. It’s been a long journey but I’m committed to educating myself and others on neurodiversity, which led me to working with Andrew and the fabulous team at the Independence Project. I love seeing all the members come through the doors in the morning with a smile on their face!”
Beccy Mabey
Hive Manager
“With over a decade of experience in teaching, therapy, and creative exploration, I’m passionate about helping young people grow, connect, and thrive. My journey started with a degree in International Wildlife Biology, which led me to teaching and specializing in PMLD, yoga, and Rebound Therapy. I love finding innovative ways to support development – whether through sensory storytelling, yoga-infused hydrotherapy, or technology-assisted engagement.
At the Hive, my goal is to create a fun, inclusive space where friendships flourish, communication grows, and every young person gets to experience the joy of adventure. Whether it’s music, movement, or exploring the world around us, I’m here to make sure everyone feels supported, empowered, and ready to shine!”
Sophie Byford
Senior Support Worker
“I have had the privilege of working with individuals with special needs for the past 13 years, which has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. Over the years, I’ve developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the unique challenges and strengths that each person brings. In addition to my hands-on experience, I have also pursued training to become a manual handling trainer, further enhancing my ability to support and empower individuals in a safe and effective manner. This combination of experience and training has enriched my passion for providing quality care and ensuring the well-being of those I work with.“
Claire Kelly
Support Worker
“Having grown up with health struggles and feeling different from those my age, I have become quite passionate about making sure everyone, regarding of their difficulties, feels comfortable and able to have fun just being themselves. I began working for the Independence Project in 2024 after volunteering with them. I became very fond of the members and have built up to working with them as often as possible. They’ve made a huge difference to the quality of my life and I hope to make a difference to theirs.”
What our members have to say
