Category Archives: Families

Autism Centre of Excellence (ACE) Advisory Panel and Steering Group: Call For Members

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?           

  • autistic adults
  • parents and/or carers of autistic people
  • people with an autistic family member
  • clinicians, educators, social care workers, and other relevant professionals
  • employers
  • researchers

For more information and how to apply see the online form

Cavendish School online launch event

The Cavendish School, the world’s first International Baccalaureate (IB) special autism school is officially set to open on the outskirts of Cambridge in Autumn 2021.

Based in Impington, The Cavendish School will also be Cambridgeshire’s first state maintained special free school provision for young people with autism.

Join the virtual launch taking place via Zoom on Wednesday 21 October at 6pm, to meet the school team, hear about the school’s journey to date, key updates on plans for the school, what lies ahead of the opening next year and, most importantly, get answers to any questions you may have.

For more information, including how to book a place and ask questions visit: http://www.thecavendishschool.org.uk/

Visits to the Cavendish School

The Cavendish School is Cambridgeshire’s new special free school for young people with autism, scheduled to open in September 2021.

If you are interested in finding out more about The Cavendish School, and would like to attend a socially distanced group visit at one of the following times, please email
jbickley@TMET.org.uk to book your place:

  • 10am on Monday 14 September
  • 5pm on Monday 21 or Wednesday 30 September

New National Autistic Society website

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!

Education Advice Service in Fenland & East Cambs

The SEND Information Advice Support Service (SENDIASS) is expanding its service in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire. This service is available to provide support to parents/carers of young people with special education needs and disabilities. This support is currently available via telephone or Skype drop ins.

For more information and to contact the team see the Fenland & East Cambs Opportunity Area website

Caring Together free online course for parents & carers

Caring Together, a charity supporting carers, are offering a free online course for parents and carers of children with autism – the Hope programme.

The Hope Programme is a six-week online group peer-support course based on positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy originally developed by Coventry University. It covers topics such as mindfulness, goal setting, anxiety, fatigue and stress management, healthy eating, physical activity and working with health care teams.

For more information on the Hope programme and how to book see the Caring Together website

British Indian parents needed for ASC research

Fathima Kodakkadan at Anglia Ruskin University is carrying out a study comparing the factors influencing the stress and resilience among the British Indian parents of children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC).

If you are interested in taking part there is more information and contact details here. There is a chance for you to WIN £50 for participating in this survey.

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.