This page has links to other organisations and websites that may be useful. These links are provided purely to assist you and in good faith – please see the Privacy and Data Protection Policy for NAS branch websites for further information. The links are grouped into the following categories; click on a category to jump directly to it:
- National Autistic Society links
- Other sources of support and information
- Activities for children and young people
- Activities for adults
- Activities for all ages
National Autistic Society links
National Autistic Society website – the national charity website has lots of useful information about autism and about specific support and services available
NAS Autism at Work Programme – support for job seekers and employers
NAS Community Online – for autistic people, their carers and relatives, and professionals
NAS Autism Services Directory – a UK-wide database designed to help you find out more about local and national services and events. You can find residential, supported living and respite services, employment support, diagnostic services, schools and nurseries, social groups and leisure activities, solicitors and advocacy organisations, conferences, accredited courses and short courses, and more
Autism Health Passport – ‘My Health Passport’ is a downloadable resource for people with autism to help communicate their needs to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals
NAS ‘I Am Autistic’ card – a card you can carry for use in difficult situations, that will let people know you have autism and give some basic information about the condition. Also available as a free printable download
Other sources of support and information
ABC Project at Dhiverse – provides Relationships & Sex Education to adults and young people with autism or a learning difficulty, and workshops for parents, carers and professionals
Access to Work – government funding to provide additional support for your disability at work
Ambitious About Autism – provide practical information and resources, including support for job seekers and host an online autism community Talk About Autism
Autism Anglia are an autism support charity operating throughout East Anglia; they also provide the Autism Anglia Alert Card – recognised by emergency services in East Anglia, so that an individual’s behaviour or the nature of their condition can be quickly explained when they find themselves in a difficult or emergency situation
Autism Bedfordshire are an independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and their families across Bedfordshire
Autism Central Hubs offer guidance to families, carers and personal assistants of autistic people through group and one-to-one sessions. Essex County Council are providing this service to the East of England area
Autism Education Trust – includes educational resources for parents/carers and professionals
Autism Forward fund mentoring services to aid access to employment and employability
Autism Research Centre (ARC) – read the findings from ARC’s research into autism; ARC welcomes contact from people with a diagnosis who would like to volunteer to take part in research
Benefits information for people with disabilities and their carers
Blue Badge Scheme – disability parking permits from Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council – information on Special Educational Needs and support for children & young people age 0-25 with disabilities including the Autism Local Offer
Cambridgeshire County Council Disability Social Care for children & young people aged 0-25
Cambridgeshire County Council Autism and Adult Support Service
Cambridgeshire County Council – adult care needs assessments
Caring Together offer face to face and online support to carers, and homecare for adults and children across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
ChatterPack – free SEND resources for families and schools including for Autism, ADHD, Speech and language, and Occupational Therapy
Childcare – information and a register of childcare providers held by Cambridgeshire County Council
Citizens Advice offer legally based information and support on a range of issues including finances, housing, family, the legal system and immigration
Contact are a national charity offering support and advice to families with disabled children including their comprehensive Helpful guide for families with disabled children
Continence Products Team – provide free nappies and continence products. Your health visitor, school nurse or other health professional may be able to refer you to this team if you are struggling to toilet train your child significantly past the usual age of toilet training
Disability Huntingdonshire – DISH provides benefits information, advice and support for people in Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Cambridge City.
Eddies – provide a range of services for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, and their families and carers
The Edmund Trust – offer supported living, respite services and community support
Ely Parent Support Groups (including a Dad’s group and Siblings group) for families with children with additional needs – for more information contact Jane Tuck, Family Worker for Highfield School on 07827 309394
Enna (employers network for neurodiversity action) offers a neurodiverse recruitment service
Equality Advisory & Support Service – advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights
Family Carers Prescription – support for carers accessed through your GP
Family Fund – offers grants to families on a low income and raising a disabled child with a high level of additional support needs
Free E-Learning Autism Training – an excellent resource taking around 40 minutes to complete, developed by Autism Hampshire
Fledglings sell practical products for everyday problems faced by children with disabilities including secure car seat harnesses and unflavoured toothpaste
Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support, helping families with children under five with practical and confidential support
IPSEA (Independent Parental Special Education Advice) offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities
Little Miracles is a parent-run organisation for families with children with additional needs, running drop-in centres and youth clubs in the East Cambs, Peterborough and Fenland areas including Peterborough, Ely, Ramsey and St Neots
MIND offer mental health support in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Money Helper – advice for disabled people including benefits, grants, accessing financial products and money saving tips
NESSIE – positively supporting parents of children with self-harming behaviours and other emotional and mental health needs
Neurodiverse Self Advocacy – an online forum and community of neurodivergent people
NHS Children’s Occupational Therapy advice line is available for children and families with a Cambridgeshire GP, helping with self-care, play and learning opportunities
Papworth Trust offer a range of services to disabled people including care, supported living and employment support
Peace Pathway – support and information for people with eating disorders and autism
Pegasus is a national scheme used by Cambridgeshire Police to help people who have difficulty communicating when they come into contact with emergency services
Peterborough City Council – information and support available for adults and children
Pinpoint is an independent information, support and involvement network for parents/carers of children with additional needs, running workshops and events across Cambridgeshire, including ADHD/ASD support groups
POhWER provide advocacy services for autistic people
Relate Autism Relationship Counselling
Richmond Fellowship offer a specialist employment service providing support for autistic people experiencing poor mental health to find paid employment, voluntary work, education and training or to retain their current employment
Scope Navigate is a national mentoring service, that provides online emotional support for parents and carers of disabled children who are finding out about their child’s additional needs
SENDIASS Cambridgeshire’s Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice and Support Service offers impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents and carers who have a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability or have concerns that their child has special educational needs
Sibs offer support to children and adults with disabled siblings
Special needs Community Information Point (SCIP) – an information and advice service for families with 0-25 year olds with a disability or additional needs. Includes information about local groups and activities in the Cambridge, Huntingdon & Fenland areas
VoiceAbility work with people who are vulnerable or marginalised to raise their voices and have their rights respected
Working Families provide information and resources for parents and carers of disabled children and adults, including information on employment rights, benefits and childcare
Activities for children and young people
Ambitious Youth Network is an online space for autistic young people, between the ages of 16-25 to meet other autistic young people, take on new paid opportunities, and join group panels
ASD Youth Club in St Neots for 10-18 year olds – for more information email: the.asd.club@gmail.com or call or text: 07706 098 315
Cambridge Disabled Kids Swimming Club
Cambridge Kung Fu: Snow Leopards – a mixed-age & ability class for children with disabilities
Community Support Service – funded through Cambridgeshire County Council, offers a range of services including Saturday & Holiday clubs, short breaks and family support
Eddies – provide a range of activities for children & young people with learning disabilities, including swimming, music therapy, a performing arts group, vocational training and a befriending scheme
Fusion Family and Youth Projects run a weekly club in Huntingdon for young people aged 12 to 25 with Additional Needs
Little Miracles run family activities and youth clubs in various north Cambridgeshire locations
March Pegs supports children with unique personalities or diagnosed with a different way of thinking, and hold monthly sessions at Burrowmoor Primary School, March. Contact Sharon on: 07989 685796 or email: marchpegs@gmail.com
Motiv8 – a drop-in for young people with disabilities at Stretham Youth Centre
Opportunity Playgroup – a weekly group in Histon providing play for preschool children with additional needs and disabilities, and their siblings
Romsey Mill Aspire Programme runs youth clubs for young people (9-18 years) on the autistic spectrum in mainstream schools
Spectrum provide activities and support for families of children with Autism, additional needs, learning difficulties, and disabilities
Spectrum Gaming – an online community for autistic gamers aged under 18
Sports Works run disability sports clubs for children and young people at several locations across Cambridgeshire
Vivacity Short Breaks activities and holiday club provides opportunities for children and young people aged 7-19 with SEND
Young People March run a group in March for independent young people with additional needs aged 11 and over
Activities for adults
Arthur’s Shed – offers a range of drop-in activity sessions at a community hub in the gardens of the Arthur Rank Hospice
Autistic Empire – an online social organisation built by and for autistic adults
Autscape – an annual conference with a difference specifically by and for autistic people
Burwell Print Centre – a social enterprise, training and supporting adults with learning disabilities, providing quality design and print
Camtrust – a charity specialising in life skills for adults with physical disabilities and learning difficulties
Eddies – provide a range of activities for adults with learning disabilities, including art and gardening groups, a befriending scheme and volunteering opportunities
For Men to Talk support men’s mental health and have a regular online group for autistic men
Nutley Edge run supported holidays for people with learning disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorders
Phoenix Trust offers meaningful experience of work and the development of social and life skills in their factory, woodshed & kitchen, producing handmade paving and garden accessories
Red2Green provide learning, leisure and work opportunities for people with disabilities including the Aspirations programme and holiday clubs for people aged 16+ with an Autistic Spectrum Condition
Safe Soulmates offer a friendship and dating service for adults with disabilities
Activities for all ages
Accessible sports activities – Cambridge City Council
Disability Sport – Huntingdonshire District Council
Aspire Badminton Club – badminton coaching for juniors & adults with disabilities
Cambridge Model Engineering Society maintain a minature railway on the edge of Cambridge City and offer rides on steam and electric trains
Cambridge Museum of Technology – for fans of old-school engineering with regular events and steaming days
Cambridge United Foundation – football sessions for Juniors & adults with autism/learning disabilities, and sessions for women & girls with any disability
The Centre for Computing History – has a collection of vintage video games and computers
Autism Friendly Cinema Screenings – includes a downloadable social story template, and listings for Cineworld, Odeon, Picturehouse, Showcase & Vue cinemas. Cambridge Light also offers autism friendly screenings.
The CEA Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema
The Military Intelligence Museum – members of the branch were invited to the museum to give advice on being autism-friendly and really enjoyed their visit
Nene Valley Railway – heritage railway with steam locomotives including Thomas the Tank Engine