Autism Berkshire is pleased to announce the launch of two new groups for autistic adults who live in Slough to make connections and get advice.
One is for young autistic adults, aged 18 to 25, while the other is for autistic women.
They will hold their first sessions on Thursday, September 4, at Chalvey Community Hub, in Ladbrooke Road. Future meetings will normally take place twice a month.
Both groups will provide safe spaces where the autistic adults attending set the agenda for discussions and activities and give them opportunities to develop friendships and a form a peer support network to improve their wellbeing and self-confidence.
Sessions will be attended by Autism Berkshire adult autism support mentor Eleri Booth and an autistic volunteer, to provide advice and information about other services that can help participants.
Research has shown that autistic people are much more likely to be affected by loneliness and isolation than other people and are often affected by anxiety and depression as a result, so the new groups aim to address these issues.
The groups will meet on the following Thursdays this autumn, with sessions for autistic women running from 10.30am to noon and those for young adults from 12.30pm to 2pm:
- September 4 and 18
- October 16
- November 6 and 20
- December 4 and 18
Click here for more details about the group for young autistic adults.
Click here for more details about the group for autistic women.
Anyone who has questions about the new groups or would like to register to attend, should email Autism Berkshire at adult.support@autismberkshire.org.uk or call 01189 594 594 (option 2) and leave a voicemail message.
The groups are funded by the #OneSlough community grants scheme, managed by Slough Council for Voluntary Service and Slough Borough Council.
Autism Berkshire’s CEO Jane Stanford-Beale said: “We are grateful to Slough CVS and the council for this funding, which will allow us to help autistic adults in the town in new ways, after we received many requests for extra support services locally.
“Autistic young people can struggle with the big changes in their lives during the transition to adulthood, while an increasing number of women are being diagnosed as autistic, which is why we are focusing on supporting them through these groups.”
She added: “Studies indicate that more than 70 per cent of autistic people experience mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, during their lives.
“Social and advice activities like the new groups can play a vital role in improving their wellbeing and reducing the risk of them struggling with their mental health.”
