We are happy to announce the return of our Adults Social Club. It will be in a new venue at Chesterton Methodist Church and anyone aged 18+ on the autistic spectrum is welcome, along with a carer if you would like to bring one.
The first session is 7.30-9.30pm on Sunday 24th April, we look forward to seeing you there!
We are hosting an online pub style Quiz Night for the whole family at 7.30pm on Thursday 1st April.
Please join us for a fun evening and help raise funds for the branch. Tickets cost £2.75 and can be booked through eventbrite here:
We are holding our branch AGM at 7.30pm on Wednesday 7th April. It will be an online event and anyone from Cambridgeshire with an interest in autism is welcome to attend.
ACE was created by the charity the Autism Research Trust, and is home to Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre (ARC) and will also provide clinical, educational and life skills services across the lifespan, for autistic people and their families. The mission of ACE is to promote wellbeing for autistic people, and to promote autism research.
You can read more about ACE here.
They are now looking for members of the autism community to be involved in the shaping and direction of ACE. ACE is looking for people to join their Steering Group or to be a panel member.
Who can be involved?
For more information and how to apply see the online form
The National Autistic Society are updating their national website at www.autism.org.uk
It will be launched by the end of August and you can see a preview here. The website is a great resource with lots of information and a searchable directory of service providers.
Our website here at the Cambridge Branch will still be the same!
Is lockdown having a negative effect on your child? Or are you a young person struggling with high levels of anxiety and mental distress during lockdown?
Not sure how to access help? Two local sources of support are:
CHUMS Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service is for children & young people experiencing poor mental health. They are currently offering a phoneline service to replace their drop-ins.
KeepYourHead is Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’s Children & Young People’s mental health services site. It includes lots of information about mental health, things you can do to help yourself, and where to go to for more support.
The NAS Adult Autism Support Service will be moving to Cambridgeshire County Council from 1st June. Here is a message from Joseph Simon:
“We are writing to everyone who has used or worked with the Cambridgeshire Adult Autism Support Service to let you know that there will be a change from 1 June. The service we provide will not change, but the service is being taken in house by Cambridgeshire County Council, as the National Autistic Society has decided not to continue to manage the service when the current contract ends on 31 May.
We, Anna Thomas and Dr Joseph Simon, the current Autism Support Managers, will continue to provide the service as our posts are being transferred to the council. Once all the new arrangements are in place, the service will be reviewed to make sure it’s working as effectively as possible to support autistic adults, but the council do not expect there to be significant changes.
The details for contacting the service will change from 1 June. After that date, please check the following sources for the new details:
We are very pleased that we will continue to provide this essential service to autistic adults in the county. “
Everything you need to know during the coronavirus outbreak including resources & tips for families, benefits and employment, going out, health & wellbeing, social care, education, shopping and working from home:
We have a new public facebook page in addition to our existing facebook group. We will be posting useful information, fun things and when lockdown eases, notifications of our groups and activities.
You can like us on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/CambridgeNAS
If you also choose See first under Following or Follow settings this makes sure facebook will always show you our posts.
After questions were raised about the effect of the Coronavirus lockdown on people with autism the Government has issued some new guidance which will hopefully bring some reassurance to our members. For more details see the post on the National Autistic Society website: