Our Story
Our mission
Everyone navigating neurodivergence deserves the help they need, the moment they need it, not years later.
Almost 1 million people
people in the UK alone are waiting for assessments, 500,000 of them are children
Sylva changes that.
How it all began
In 2016, founder Ben Cosh discovered what happens when the system fails families navigating neurodivergence and mental health challenges.
He lived it. The unrelenting stress and exhaustion. Having to step back from full-time work. Watching friendships fade, and his social world shrink. Wrestling with NHS waiting lists that stretched for years. Battling school systems that couldn't listen.
And then there was the information overload - endless websites, contradictory books, social media groups filled with well-meaning misinformation. All whilst trying to support his family through a crisis.
Sylva is part of Ben's mission to help the thousands of individuals experiencing similar challenges. He believes no one should have to wait for support, feeling isolated and exhausted. It should be instant, personalised, and affordable for everyone.
The current situation
Over 700,000 people are waiting for an ADHD assessment, and over 250,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment.
The queue for an autism assessment has grown over 13-fold since 2019. Over 30% of adults and children have been waiting over 2 years for an ADHD assessment
Impossibly long waitlists
The government SEND spend every year is over £10.7 billion.
There is also an estimated loss in parental productivity of over £500 million.
Financially unsustainable
40% teachers feel like quitting. 90% of teachers admit to feeling stressed, with unmet SEND needs listed as the second biggest challenge after workload.
How are teachers coping?
95% of parents of autistic children are clinically stressed.
74% of all SEND parents are feeling forced to quit or reduce their working hours in order to cope.
What about parents?
Working towards B Corp certification
We are working towards B Corp certification and, as part of this process, have made legal commitments to our wider stakeholders that go beyond shareholders’ interests.
We are a company limited by shares: we have shareholders, but we are committed to social impact more than profit-making. Our mission is to create Tech for Good. We want to have a positive material impact on society and the environment as a whole, guiding our work beyond making a profit
Find out more
Meet the Team
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![Ben Cosh]()
Ben Cosh
Founder and CEO
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![George McCann]()
George McCann
Technical Lead with experience in Health Tech
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![Beth Shedden]()
Beth Shedden
Designated Safeguarding Lead. Former Youth Charity CEO, Director of Operations and qualified Social Worker
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![Dr Freddy Jackson Brown]()
Dr Freddy Jackson Brown
Independent Clinical Psychologist specialising in supporting autistic children and families
