Category Archives: Adults

Mental health support for children & young people

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.

Adult Autism Support Service change announcement

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. “

New Cambridge NAS facebook page

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.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Consultation

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are holding a consultation on their draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2024, which outlines the priority areas and how local councils, the NHS and community organisations would like to work together to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities that exist across the area.

If you would like to give your views on the strategy, use the link below to the online survey. There is an easy-read version of the survey available as well.

https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/health-and-wellbeing-strategy-consultation

Mental Health support during COVID-19 outbreak

Are you or your child feeling anxious about Covid-19 or struggling with all the changes to your usual routine?

We’ve found a few helpful websites with suggestions to reduce anxiety and support your mental health through the next few months:

Coronavirus and your wellbeing – advice from MIND the mental health charity

Managing your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak – from Rethink Mental Illness

How to help an autistic child during the coronavirus outbreak – advice from the Priory

Uncertainty, anxiety and the Coronavirus pandemic – Ambitious about Autism

Cambridge Science Festival

The Cambridge Science Festival runs from 09-22 March 2020.

Bookings for all pre-book events open on Monday 10 February.  When booking for events, you can state if you would like, for example, early entry for a public lecture, seating near the exit etc.

The Festival web address is: www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/

With hundreds of free events over two weeks on everything from Astronomy to Zoology, the 2020 Cambridge Science Festival welcomes adults, teenagers and families to explore science with researchers from across Cambridge. Join us for talks, hands-on activities, performances, exhibitions and films exploring the theme of ‘vision’; the Festival has something for everyone!

The festival has some events on the latest research into the autism spectrum, please see a list with links below:

• Genetics research in autism: ethical perspectives (Friday 13 March) https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/events/genetics-research-autism-ethical-perspectives

• Autism research in Cambridge (Sat 14 & Sun 15 March) https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/events/autism-research-cambridge

There is also the opportunity for adults and children who have an autism spectrum condition and their families to explore Cambridge science in a quieter and less-crowded space at:

• Hands-on at the Guildhall: autism-friendly hour (Sun 15 March), bookable from Monday 10 February https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/events/hands-guildhall-autism-friendly-hour

NAS New Year Tea Party



Come and join us for ‘New Year’ Afternoon Tea and Cake

Friday 10th January 2020, 2-5pm at The Exchange Tea Parlour, 1 Market Place, March PE15 9JF



Please confirm if you would like to come by 18th December – let us know at the Drop Ins or email our Branch;  nascambridge@nas.org.uk 

This will be a free event.   Let us know if you will need help to get there.

Google map for The Exchange Tea Parlour: https://goo.gl/maps/YnwCBiG8LQBPMZL26

Happy Christmas!

Terri   Alan   Anna

Cambridge NAS Annual General Meeting

January 8th 2020, 8.00-9.00pm

Chitra Sethia Autism Centre (Garden Room), Cambridge Road, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5EF.

You are warmly invited to our AGM Meeting. This is an open Meeting for anyone to attend.

We will report on Branch Activities for the past year and our proposed activities for the coming year.

We will vote on our nominations for Branch Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

Tea, Coffee, cake and biscuits will be freely available.