There are a variety of services and groups that offer support to those living with autism, or who are awaiting a formal diagnosis for autism. Support includes services focusing on areas such as employment, relationships, or housing, and more.
Hear more about some of the services:
NHS CPFT Cambridgeshire Lifespan Autism Spectrum Service (CLASS) clinic
CPFT's CLASS Clinic offers a specialist diagnostic assessment for adults who may have Autism Spectrum Disorder without intellectual disability or language delay. This service requires a referral from a GP or the Primary Care Mental Health Team. For more information, click here.
Cambridgeshire Retain Regain Employment Service - Waythrough
Waythrough provide one to one employment support for people living with, or recovering from, mental ill health, and/or living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They support people to find paid employment, voluntary work, education and training, or to retain their current employment. You can self refer by calling 01480 456 257 or emailing cambsbeds.referrals@waythrough.org.uk For more information click here.
Romsey Mill Aspire programme
Romsey Mill is a local charity for families, children & young people. It runs the Aspire programme which delivers youth clubs and support for autistic children and young people living in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. The clubs provide an opportunity to have fun, try new things and socialise with people who may experience similar challenges. To access the Aspire programme a child needs to have an autism diagnosis and be in mainstream school, in Year 5 or above (up to age 18). You can contact the Aspire Coordinator on admin@romseymill.org or call the Romsey Mill office on 01223 213162. For more information click here.
Papworth Trust
Papworth Trust Deliver a range of services for disabled people delivering support through housing care, employment and leisure. This includes supported housing, day services and care services. Find out more on their webpage.
Opportunity without limits (OWLs) day service- this service, run by Papworth Trust, exists to ensure that disabled people can acquire independent living skills, live healthy lives, and have reduced social isolation. Their service is delivered in five centres: Great Abington, Basildon, Cambridge, Huntingdon & Ipswich, with people being able to access sessions in the community as well as the centres. For more information visit their website, call 01480 357 200 or email Contact.Centre@papworthtrust.org.uk
Learn more about Autism and ASD with the RCE Wellbeing Hub
The RCE Wellbeing Hub is part of CPFT NHS. It delivers free, fully co-produced bite-sized courses to support health and wellbeing. These courses run online and from their hubs in Peterborough & Cambridge. They run a couple of classes to learn some basics about autism and to tips to live well with autism. You can contact the RCE Wellbeing Hub by phone on 01733 963 219 or emailing RCEWellbeingHub@cpft.nhs.uk. For more information click here.
Safe Soulmates
Safe Soulmates is a safe community, bringing together adults with additional needs (learning disabilities, autism, anxiety, and other things that have made socialising challenging) together, giving you a space to build trusting friendships, socialise in a positive space, find others that you can connect with, and embrace being yourself. You can contact Safe Soul Mates on 07935 866 219 or 07493 542 963. For more information click here.
National Autistic Society – Cambridge Branch
The Cambridge branch of the National Autistic Society (NAS) provides support, information and signposting to autistic people of all ages and their families and carers in the Cambridgeshire area. They run a social club for autistic adults and a support group for carers. You can contact them on cambridge.branch@nas.org.uk. For more information click here.
POhWER
POhWER is a charity that provides information, advice, support and advocacy to people in Cambridgeshire who experience disability, vulnerability, distress or social exclusion. They can support you to have your say and know your rights when it comes to decisions about your health, care and wellbeing. To speak to someone you can call 03004 562 370 or email pohwer@pohwer.net. For more information click here.
Speak Out Cambridgeshire - VoiceAbility
This service acts as a voice for people with a learning disability and autistic people aged 14 or above. They run consultations and drop-ins to give people a say on all sorts of issues, and influence decisions; they also talk to professionals and organisations who can make a difference to these issues. Find out more emailing speakoutcouncil@voiceability.org or visit their webpage here.
Couples' relationship counselling from Relate
Relate provide counselling support for individuals, couples, families, children and young people. They also provide sex therapy. It doesn't matter if you’re married, living together, single, gay, bisexual, straight or transgender - they’re here to help you. Relate Cambridgeshire understand how complex relationships are and how difficult it can be communicating with a partner. This can be especially difficult for people affected by autism who experience differences in social communication and interaction, which can impact their relationships with others. The counsellors who deliver this service have received additional awareness and skills training that enables them to work effectively with clients affected by autism. You can self refer to this service on their website or by calling 01302 347 866 or emailing couselling@relatecambridge.org.uk. These services have a cost for patients, but they have links for free counselling. For more information click here.
