Team Domenica is a UK charity organisation and accredited Specialist Further Education (FE) provider supporting young people aged 19-25 with learning disabilities to gain employment, build independence, and participate fully in their communities. Based in Brighton & Hove and operating across Sussex, the organisation offers highly personalised education and supported-employment programmes, working in partnership with an extensive network of local employers to create meaningful job opportunities across 12 industry sectors.

Founded in 2016 by Rosa Monckton MBE, Team Domenica was established in response to the limited post-school pathways available to her daughter, Domenica, who has Down’s syndrome. What began as a small initiative serving 20 young people has since evolved into a leading, community-embedded organisation with national recognition. As of 2025, Team Domenica supports more than 130 candidates each year. In 2024, the organisation achieved accreditation as a Specialist FE College and received positive evaluations from both OFSTED and the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE), with reviewers highlighting the organisation’s strong curriculum, high-quality delivery, and culture of respect that underpins its educational and employment-focused approach.

In the UK, only 4.7% of adults with a learning disability are in paid employment, despite an estimated 1.5 million people living with such conditions. Young people with learning disabilities continue to encounter systemic barriers to education, specialist support, and meaningful workforce participation. Supported employment is widely recognised, including by UK government policy and international research, as the most effective pathway to long-term independence, wellbeing, and social inclusion.

Since 2016, Team Domenica has sought to address this gap through its personalised Supported Internship Programme, enabling 80% of participants to progress into paid employment. However, the organisation’s rapid growth has exceeded the capacity of its current infrastructure: programmes are delivered across six separate sites in Brighton, limiting accessibility, operational coherence, and the consistent delivery of personalised support.

To overcome these constraints, Team Domenica has acquired Pavilion Buildings: a permanent, fully accessible central hub that will consolidate all operations under one roof. The new site will include a hospitality training café, bar and restaurant, specialist classrooms, and dedicated therapeutic and mentoring spaces. This investment will enhance inclusion, strengthen visibility, improve programme quality, and help shift public perceptions, while ensuring the organisation’s long-term sustainability.

The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF), in line with its longstanding commitment to enabling young people with learning disabilities to access meaningful training and employment, is supporting Team Domenica’s “Flagship for Futures: a place for young people with learning disabilities to learn, work and thrive” project by funding essential accessibility improvements at Pavilion Buildings. The redevelopment includes major accessibility upgrades, such as lift replacement, alongside a comprehensive interior fit-out and a phased launch strategy. A detailed transition plan is in place to ensure a smooth, well-supported move into the new facility. Once operational, the hub will increase capacity, enhance public visibility, and provide a more inclusive environment where candidates, employers, and the wider community can engage meaningfully. Completion is scheduled for early 2026.

This central, fully accessible hub will provide an inclusive and vibrant space for learning, training, and community collaboration. It will enable more young people with learning disabilities to thrive, support employers to engage with confidence, and help the wider community embrace a more inclusive and equitable vision of work.