Type of service: Play and leisure, Local groups

The aims of the group are to: provide opportunities for children with autism and their friends to socialise and interact by integrating them at least once a month and more during the school holidays; provide opportunities for parents/carers to share experiences enabling them to support each other by listening to each other's concerns and giving advice; provide relevant contacts that parents/carers may be unaware of who can provide help, advice and/or support, e.g. Parent Partnership, Carers Gateway, Autism outreach etc; ensure that all members are aware that their ideas and/or suggestions for activities are welcomed by the committee by encouraging communication both verbal and written; keep parents/carers informed of activities in writing by providing a quarterly newsletter. The group organises activities including weekly fitness sessions, monthly play gym, monthly swimming, 3 monthly ten-pin bowling, 3 monthly ice skating, summer holiday activities such as sledging on grass and rock climbing, Christmas party, Christmas lunch for parents and carers, pantomime visit. The children vote every year to decide where to go for a special day out in the summer (e.g. Flamingo Land, Lightwater Valley).

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child , Child/adolescent sibling, Parent/carer of a child

Specialisms: Exclusively autism specific