ASD Family Help: support, advice and activities for people with autism and learning disabilities

ASD Family Help

ASD Family Help is user led charity (non-profit).  We offer support, advice & activities for autistic individuals or those with other learning disabilities; their parents, carers or professionals within Wokingham, West Berkshire & Pembrokeshire.

We have family liaison workers who can offer free advice, support and help with DLA/PIP/ESA forms.

We started life as a small support group in 2005, before becoming a charity in 2009 and now cover Wokingham, West Berkshire & Pembrokeshire!

We aim to help improve services for autistic children, young people and adults; their parents, carers & professionals, by raising awareness and acceptance of autism by providing:

  • Support to parents/carers through regular drop in sessions
  • Free advice and information through email, face-to-face or phone calls
  • Social activities for children, young people & families (to include siblings & young carers where possible)
  • Social activities for adults 
  • Training & workshops for parents/carers and professionals
  • Life and relationships skills for teens

Some events are age specific and some must be booked in advance.  Please see individual events for full details.

NB: For most child sessions we are unable to book new children onto a session, without them first attending a sign up session with a parent.  This allows the child to meet some of our staff, see one of our venues and assess whether we are able to meet your child's needs. 

For family or child/teen sessions, please contact Rachael@asdfamilyhelp.org

For adult support or parent/carer workshops, please contact Jayne@asdfamilyhelp.org

For DLA/PIP support appointments, please contact Naomi@asdfamilyhelp.org 

Contact information

Website
ASD Family Help
Scan to visit this website
Contact Name
Rachael Chandler or Jayne McGovern
Contact Position
Children & Families Manager and Adult Support Manager
Telephone
07733 601755 07733 601755
E-mail
jayne@asdfamilyhelp.org
rachael@asdfamilyhelp.org
Contact Us
Contact Us Form
Social Media

When is it On/Open ?

Date & Time Information

We run a variety of activities, sessions, training and one to one support for adults (where funding allows)

Please refer to our individual event listings for details or contact our staff for enquiries.

Costs and Fee Information

Cost details

Activities are on average £4 per child per session Training, workshops and parent support groups are FREE to attend

Does not accept childcare vouchers
No help with funding is available
Funding Notes

This year we are grateful to receive funding from:

  • Wokingham Borough Council
  • Berkshire Community Foundation
  • The Blagrave Trust
  • West Berkshire Council
  • Greenham Trust

This funding allows us to make every activity affordable or in some cases free to our families.

How is the service funded
Local Authority
Voluntary/Charitable

Facilities and Accessibility

Facilities
Wheelchair access
FREE Activities
FREE Service
Autism friendly

Complaints Procedure

Contact Name
Cathy Roberts
Position
Manager
Complaints procedure notes

If your complaint is regarding any children's activity or parent workshops/training please email Rachael@asdfamilyhelp.org

If your complaint is regarding any adult activity or adult support, please email Jayne@asdfamilyhelp.org 

You may also email Contact@asdfamilyhelp.org.uk or complete our online complaint form.

Complaints link
Complaints form

Accessing this service

Age Ranges
All ages
Eligibility Criteria

We do NOT require you to have a formal diagnosis or a referral to access our services/activities.

Our events are open to all autistic individuals or those with associated conditions (eg. Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, OCD, Anxiety, PDA, ADHD etc)

Booking / Registration Required
Yes
Booking and Registration Notes

Booking required for child sessions via Rachael@asdfamilyhelp.org

Booking required for adult sessions via Jayne@asdfamilyhelp.org

Booking required for DLA/PIP support appointments via Naomi@asdfamilyhelp.org 

We also run drop-in sessions that do not require booking - please look at our other activity listings for full details.

 

Referral

Referral not required

Provision For

Supporting people with
Children with Additional Needs
Behavioural
Autism Spectrum Conditions
Social Needs

Quality Assurance

Registered Charity No.
1135718
Accreditation

All staff and volunteers at sessions receive in-house training from ASD Family Help regarding autism awareness and safeguarding (for children & vulnerable adults). Additionally all staff/volunteers are trained in safeguarding via the NSPCC online training portal or Wokingham Borough Council training portal and Prevent Training via the Home Office online.

All staff and volunteers at sessions have enhanced DBS checks.

ASD Family Help holds its own public liability insurance.

Trainers are qualified in or obtaining their qualification in Level 3 Award in Education and Training (PTLLS)

At activities where staff are solely responsible for children, at least one member of staff will hold a paediatric first aid certificate.

Local Offer

Local Offer - Support available for children and young people with additional needs

Description

We provide a variety of activities for children and young people with additional needs, their parents/carers and professionals.

Currently we provide the following:

  • Teen Club for young people aged 12 - 18 years (monthly)
  • Multi Sports (fortnightly)
  • Teen Life courses for young people (usually once per year)
  • Adult Social Group for over 18 years old (once per month)
  • Parent/Carer Support Group (weekly)
  • Parent/Carer Workshops

 

No diagnosis required, all welcome.

For child activities, children must be able to access this activity on an adult to child ratio of 1:8. (We are unable to offer one to one support). 

All staff and volunteers at sessions receive in-house training from ASD Family Help regarding awareness for children & young people with additional needs and safeguarding. Additionally all staff/volunteers are trained in Safeguarding via the NSPCC online training portal or Wokingham Borough Council training portal and Prevent Training via the Home Office online.

All staff and volunteers at sessions have enhanced DBS checks.

At activities where staff are solely responsible for children, at least one member of staff will hold a paediatric first aid certificate.

The majority of our staff/volunteers have additional needs themselves or family members/children with additional needs. 

Contact Name
Rachael Chandler
Contact Telephone
07733 601755
Contact Email
rachael@asdfamilyhelp.org

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