Charity unveils education centre on 10th birthday

A Brighton charity which has supported young people with learning disabilities and autism into employment for a decade has unveiled a new education centre on its milestone birthday.

Team Domenica was founded in 2016 by Baroness Rosa Monckton, who created the charity in honour of her daughter, Domenica, who has Down's syndrome.

The new facility is above the North Star pub in the city centre, which has been operating as a hospitality training venue since being opened by patron Nigella Lawson late last year.

Baroness Rosa believes Team Domenica's success shows "what is possible when young people are given the right support and, most importantly, the opportunity to show what they can do".

Since launching 10 years ago, Team Domenica has helped over 125 young people, while the charity's Support Internship Programme has resulted in paid employment for 84% of those who have completed it.

According to figures from the Department for Health and Social Care published in 2025, the national employment rate for adults with a disability, known to their local authority, is fewer than 5%.

Baroness Rosa said Wednesday's event is a "wonderful opportunity to celebrate how far we have come, but there is still so much more to do".

Part of that challenge relates to the wider issue of youth employment.

According to figures released last month, just under one million young people in the UK people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training.

The founder believes that the conversations around this must include "young people with learning disabilities and autism" too.

Team Domenica patron, Lawson, said the opening of the new education centre feels like "the perfect celebration" of the charity's 10-year anniversary.

She says she believes the facility will help ensure these young people "are fully supported to feel confident in themselves, to be independent, and to thrive".

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