A neurodivergent community group will be hosting a games-themed speed-dating event in Barnet, following the success of their first one.
Shynne, based in north west London, hosts community events for neurodiverse people and has an upcoming speed-dating event where attendees play a board game whilst getting to know each other.
After the success of their first dating event, they are hosting their next one at the Builders Arms in Barnet on 30 October.
Marlon Huggins, 41, founder of Shynne, told the Londoners: “Typical speed dating has a lot of pressure on it because it’s intense. You have five minutes and then ding, the next one. It’s very formal and very structured.
“We use board games as it’s something for the speed-daters to focus on rather than the intensity of making eye contact and having to talk to someone, who is essentially a stranger.”
Shynne was formed in April 2024 after Huggins found there was little available in terms of community activities or clubs for neurodivergent people to connect, after failing to find such a group for his sister with autism.
He said: “It was just impossible to find anything and I didn’t actually think it’d be that hard.
“I realised, wow, there’s nothing really for my sister.”
After securing funding from the National Lottery, Shynne started hosting regular gaming events in north west London, happening every Saturday at Finchley Church End library.
The community interest company then branched out to the dating space after being inspired by the Netflix TV show, Love on the Spectrum.
Mia Jenkins, 26, a public policy specialist and volunteer at Shynne, said: “Dating is an overlooked aspect of the neurodiverse experience.
“There’s no conversation in education for neurodiverse people about forming healthy relationships, learning boundaries and having balanced conversations.
“A lot of neurodiverse people resign themselves to the idea that a romantic relationship is not on the cards for them.”
Shynne hosted their first speed-dating event earlier this summer and saw the opportunity to help the neurodiverse community to connect with one another romantically.
Zara, 41, a neuroinclusive consultant and volunteer at Shynne, said: “I think finding spaces where you are accepted and understood is important because in those safe spaces you can take risks and open up to connecting with people.
“When you let the mask slip a bit and get yourself out there, that’s where the possibility to connect can happen.”
At the event, attendees will be put into pairs and engage in a board game for 10 minutes.
Games available to play include classics, such as Snakes and Ladders and Connect Four.
After the 10 minutes is up, each person will fill out a form, disclosing whether it’s a ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘let’s be friends’.
Huggins said: “Even if you don’t find a romantic connection, it’s important that you’re still making friends.”
Shynne needed a space that on a sensory level would be relaxing for attendees as conventional dating environments, such as busy bars or restaurants, can be overstimulating for some neurodivergent people.
Not only was the Builders Arms a suitable event space, Shynne found the venue understood their ambitions and aligned with their values.
Traditional dating environments and conventions can be difficult for some neurodivergent people to navigate.
The needs for neurodiverse people are broad-reaching, for example, autism is a spectrum, so the needs of one person with autism can be very different to the next.
Jenkins said: “When you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism. So, finding the right balance to meet everyone’s needs is complex.”
Mental health can be a barrier – 94% of autistic adults experience anxiety and 83% experience depression, according to a survey by the National Autistic Society.
Jenkins said: “I notice there is a lot of isolation amongst neurodiverse adults, especially once you leave education.”
Zara added that even getting yourself to a date can be a struggle as transport can be overwhelming.
“There’s just so many kinds of hurdles to jump over, just to even start building those kinds of friendships and connections,” she said.
Continuing to eliminate those hurdles for the neurodiverse community, Shynne has ambitions to branch out beyond north west London.
Huggins said: “The dream is to have different events all over London. We’re starting here, but we want to expand and take this further to do other things for the neurodiverse community.”
Shynne’s games themed neurodiverse speed dating event is taking place on 30 October, 7-9pm at the Builders Arms, Barnet.
Tickets and info can be found here.
Featured image credit: Marlon Huggins, Shynne
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