Please note that meetings at the Bear pub are suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Members can take part in weekly online sessions on Wednesday evenings from 7pm and get advice and information by phone.

All members of the group are welcome to join in and will get updates about what activities are coming up in future sessions. To take part, they should email helen@autismberkshire.org.uk

Helen and Scott are also available to talk to members by telephone every Wednesday evening between 6.30pm and 7pm on the following numbers:

• Helen: 07923 910108
• Scott: 07923 910100

Group members can also get in touch with Helen by email at helen@autismberkshire.org.uk

– This group for autistic adults in Windsor and Maidenhead normally meets on Wednesday evenings at The Bear pub, 8-10 High Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1QJ. Helen Harris is the coordinator of this group.

All prospective members of this group must be referred by a professional support worker. Referrals can be made by downloading the Bear With Me registration form, which should be completed and returned to the Autism Berkshire office by email to admin@autismberkshire.org.uk or by post to 40 Caversham Road, Reading, RG1 7EB.

For more information about the group, call 01189 594 594 or email admin@autismberkshire.org.uk

• The group’s activities are supported by Berkshire Community Foundation, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and the Louis Baylis Trust, which makes grants to local good causes from the profits of the Maidenhead Advertiser and Windsor and Slough Express newspapers. Click here for more details of the trust’s work.

Group meet-ups are currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, but members can still get together at fortnightly online sessions taking place on Monday evenings from 7pm.

Forthcoming online meetings are as follows. The second session each month will include a quiz, as well as time to chat:

April 12, April 26 (quiz), May 10, May 24 (quiz), June 14

Members who want to take part in these sessions should email Kevin Jackson at 197club@autismberkshire.org.uk to request a log-in link.

This club for autistic adults and their parents/carers meets fortnightly in Reading, normally on Monday evenings. Every other meeting takes place at The Outlook pub, 76/78A Kings Road, Reading, RG1 3BJ from 6.30pm-9.30pm. Venues for the other meetings vary and can include bowling arcades, restaurants or walks. The club’s co-ordinator is Kevin Jackson.

Forthcoming meetings: To be advised.

For more information about the group, call 01189 594 594 or email 197club@autismberkshire.org.uk

The 197 Club is funded by Berkshire Community Foundation and the Earley Charity.

Autism Berkshire is now running additional trampolining sessions in Reading and Bracknell for older teenagers and young adults, aged 14 to 25, with autism spectrum conditions.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are not currently registering new young people and adults for these sessions.

As trampolining places are in high demand, we will give priority to families who use our family support services, including autism advice workshops.

If you have any questions about our trampolining sessions, please contact Sarah Brown at the Autism Berkshire office on 01189 594 594 or email admin@autismberkshire.org.uk

• Please note that a parent or carer of all 14 to 17-year-olds must stay throughout these classes, and that adults aged 18+ must also be accompanied by a parent or carer during classes in Bracknell.

Sessions in Reading are held at Crosfields School, Shinfield Road, RG2 9BL, from 12.55pm to 1.55pm.

Crosfields School Team B: To be advised.

Sessions in Bracknell are held at Bracknell Trampoline Centre, in Coningsby, Bracknell, RG12 7BA, from 5.15pm to 6.15pm or 6.15pm to 7.15pm on Sundays. The centre is in the grounds of Brakenhale School.

Forthcoming sessions: To be advised.

• These classes are supported by a grant from Sport England.

This club for children aged eight to 15 with an autism spectrum condition diagnosis, or on the CAMHS waiting list for an autism assessment who are educated in mainstream settings, meets twice a month in Reading.

It gives children the chance to make friends, play board games and video games and take part in other activities, including table football, art and crafts, or use the outdoor play equipment.

Meetings are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month (except for school holidays), between 2pm and 4pm, at Emmer Green Youth and Community Centre, Grove Road, Reading, RG4 8LN. There is a charge of £5 per child, per meeting.

Forthcoming sessions: To be advised.

For more information about the club, call 01189 594 594 or email contact@autismberkshire.org.uk

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are not currently registering new children for the Games Club waiting list.

The Reading Games Club is supported by Reading Lions Club and the Barbara Ward Children’s Foundation

.

Autism Berkshire runs trampolining sessions for children and young people aged five to 17 with autism spectrum conditions at venues in Reading and Bracknell, funded by the BBC Children in Need appeal.

Classes are currently fully subscribed, but we are operating a waiting list.

Please note that due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are not currently registering new children for the waiting list.

As places are in high demand, we will give priority to families who use our family support services, including autism advice workshops.

If you have any questions about our trampolining classes, please contact Sarah Brown at the Autism Berkshire office on 01189 594 594 or email admin@autismberkshire.org.uk

Sessions in Reading are held on Saturdays at Crosfields School, Shinfield Road, RG2 9BL, and Meadway Sports Centre, Conwy Close, RG30 4BZ.

Crosfields School Team A:To be advised.

Crosfields School Team C:To be advised.

Crosfields School Team D:To be advised.

Meadway Sports Centre: To be advised.

Sessions in Bracknell are held on Sundays at Bracknell Trampoline Centre, Coningsby, Bracknell, RG12 7BA. The centre is in the grounds of Brakenhale School.

Forthcoming sessions: To be advised.

Our trampolining sessions for children are funded by a grant from BBC Children in Need.

We recently asked parents if their children would be continuing to attend trampolining sessions and were delighted to get lots of complimentary comments about the classes, along with their responses. Here is a selection.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Autism Berkshire and Children in Need for the years that both my boys have benefited from trampolining. Rebound therapy has had enormously positive effects on both the boys and we count ourselves as very fortunate to have had access to these fantastic sessions.”

“This is just to confirm that G is loving the trampolining sessions, and that he would most definitely like to keep his spot. Many thanks for this, it’s made a real difference in his Saturdays!”

“Fantastic club and coaching. Thanks for getting us a place.”

“Yes, both C and D would like to continue with the trampolining – they both enjoy it a lot!”

“We would love to keep our place please. K still enjoys the club very much.”

“My son would like to continue attending the trampolining sessions at Crosfields. He really enjoys this activity and the tutoring he receives from Dugald.”

“R is enjoying trampolining and really keen to continue.”

The club is for children aged six to 15 with an autism spectrum condition and meets at Woolhampton, in West Berkshire.

Sessions take place on Saturdays from 9.30am to 11.30am at Woolhampton Village Hall, in Bath Road, RG7 5RE. There is a charge of £5 per child, per session.

Forthcoming sessions:

2020: To be advised.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are not currently registering new children for the Games Club waiting list.

The club’s co-ordinator is Lisa Greetham, an experienced early years professional. For more information about Lego Club, please contact the office on 01189 594 594 or email contact@autismberkshire.org.uk

The Lego Club is funded by the Peter Baker Foundation (which is administered by the Greenham Trust), Berkshire Community Foundation and the Newbury Building Society community support scheme.

Autism Berkshire arranges fun days for its members and their families in alternate months. These are usually held at the Thames Valley Adventure Playground, in Taplow, near Maidenhead, SL6 0PR. What some of our members say about Family Fun Days The fun days give families the chance to relax and have fun in a safe, stimulating environment, specially designed for adults and children with special needs. The events are also a good opportunity to meet other parents and siblings of people living with autism.

There is lots to do indoors and outdoors, whatever the weather, with the facilities including a sandpit and other outdoor play equipment, bikes, a soft playroom, sensory room and art and craft activities. TVAP fun days run on Sundays from noon to 4pm. Families are invited to bring their own lunch and we provide drinks.

Please note that fun days are only open to Autism Berkshire members and their families, unless we have spare tickets available close to the date of the event.

If you are not a member, please join us to be able to book tickets. Click here for details of membership.

2020 Fun Days: To be advised.

We will notify members online and in our email newsletter when we open bookings for tickets.

We always need volunteers to help set up before and clear up after the fun days. If you are able to help, please contact the office.

• For more information about the facilities at the Thames Valley Adventure Playground, see www.tvap.co.uk