For Parents or Carers, bringing up our wonderful neurodivergent children and young adults is mostly a joy, but sometimes brings challenges. Mostly, that challenge is figuring out how to help them, and us, to thrive in a society that often doesn’t understand that its “standard” approach doesn’t work for Autistic or socially anxious people. The ASCape community gets it. We really get it. Most of us have been there and got the t-shirt.
Alongside supporting families with fun and accessible activities for everyone, we provide friendly, inclusive and non-judgemental peer support for Parents and Carers. Come to any ASCape event and you’ll meet people who understand and celebrate differences. Our community on Facebook and WhatsApp is an incredibly welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable place. As well as Parents and Carers, you’ll find allies and professional experts and, together, we navigate our way through to the best outcomes for our children, young people and young adults. Our twice monthly support group (running alongside the Teens Youth Club) is a chance to meet face to face with fellow Parents and Carers to give and receive support, advice and time to talk.
We believe that it’s important that Parents and Carers take time for themselves and not just because their health is vital for the wellbeing of their family. Parents and Carers are important as people in their own right. Our monthly Wellbeing Afternoons offer a mix of relaxing, revitalising and interesting activities. With chat. And cake.
Joining a new group or taking part in an activity for the first time can be daunting. If you’d like to meet a friendly ASCape face first or have any questions, come along to one of our ASCape coffee drop ins.
Email info@ascapegroup.org for more details of the drop ins.
“The support group has been a lifeline for me. Before I started going, I was really struggling with my sons and I felt so alone. I didn’t have any support and didn’t know where to go to get any. ASCape has helped me many times. It’s great to be around people who understand and often give me advice or point me to other organisations which may help us. I would never usually go to any group-type thing but you can share as little or as much as you like and it’s a safe space where I don’t feel judged. I can be honest and be myself around people who completely understand and support each other.” Jade, mum to two neurodivergent boys
“ I went to the last Wellbeing Afternoon. It was just so lovely to relax and do an activity that I would never normally do – blind art for one! Such lovely people.” Hayley
If you have an idea about an activity that could work for Parents & Carers please email clare@ascapegroup.org
