There are a number of local autism support groups available. Discover more details about time, venues and who to contact to attend by clicking on the name of the support group below
The Leicestershire Autistic Society (LAS), formed over 20 years ago, provides support, information and advice to families and professionals dealing with autism in Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland. We are a volunteer led organisation, where the vast majority of our volunteers are parents or carers of someone with autism.
One of our main aims is to continually strive to raise general awareness and acceptance of autism. We work to provide autism-friendly activities and support for families living with autism. Please be aware that some of the groups may change according to funding and volunteer availability, contact the service directly for information.
Who is it for?
The Leicestershire Autistic Society has no eligibility criteria and is for anyone living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland wanting information or advice about autism. We are open to autistic children, young people and adults, family members and professionals.
Cost?
Annual Membership Fee £5.00 – priority access given to members on leisure activities, conference and workshops.
Contact details
Please contact the The Leicestershire Autistic Society by emailing Leicestershireautisticsociety@gmail.com
Website and Social Media
Website: Leicestershire Autistic Society
Facebook: Leicester Autistic Society Facebook Group
(Request to join this private group by answering the 3 admin questions: Parent/Carer of person with autism? Personally diagnosed with autism? Reside in LLR?)
The Carers Centre runs self advocacy and support groups for parents/carers of children, young people and adults who live in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. In these groups, parents/carers can meet and share ideas with other parents in a similar situation.
They can find out information and develop skills to enable them to access services e.g. from Social Care, Health, Education to support them and their children. The groups also support parents/carers to look after their own well-being.
The Carers Centre offers a range of different activities and training sessions, which are advertised to carers who are registered with The Carers Centre.
Self-Advocacy and Support Groups
All sessions are currently run via the Zoom platform virtually.
The centre run several different sessions during the week, please look at the website and social media for the most up to date information on group days and times
Weekly sessions are run at the centre on the following days;
Tuesdays: 10:00 – 11:30 am
This session is for parents and carers of children under 25 years and runs during the school term
Tuesday: 7 – 8:30pm
A session specifically for working parents and carers who cannot attend sessions during the day
Friday: 11:00 – 12:30pm
A weekly session for parents and carers of adults
Who is it for?
Parents/carers of children and young people under 25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities living in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.
Carers of adults living in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.
Cost?
All activities provided by The Carers Centre are free.
Contact details
Parents/carers can self-refer by ringing The Carers Centre on 0116 251099 or emailing enquiries@thecarerscentre.org.uk
Website and social media
Website: The Carers Centre
Facebook: The Carers Centre Leicestershire and Rutland
Twitter: @CarersCentreLLR
Instagram: @carerscentrellr
The Monday Club is a social group for adults who have been diagnosed with autism or Asperger syndrome. We support our members by providing opportunities to socialise, build friendships, take part in social activities, access the wider community and develop individual potential.
We aim to create a supportive environment for our members to meet, either in a mainstream setting or in the community, with trained staff and volunteers available to offer support, where necessary.
The Monday Club also provides brief respite for parents and partners of individuals who have been diagnosed with autism or Asperger syndrome.
Who is it for?
The Monday Club is open to individuals aged 18 and over, living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, with a diagnosis of autism or Asperger syndrome.
Please note – we have a small staff team and are unable to provide one to one support for individuals with additional support needs.
Referral process
Anyone can make a referral to The Monday Club. Referrers must have permission from the person they are referring, if they are contacting us on their behalf. Contact can be made by email, or by telephone. Our preferred method of contact is email. We will aim to reply to enquires within a week.
We will invite individuals to the group for a meeting to discuss their membership and what the group can offer them. The individual will be given some membership forms to complete and once this is completed and the forms have been received, the individual will then be invited to officially join the group. Once the individual has joined, their membership will remain in place until they request that we remove it.
Activities
We provide a timetable every 10 weeks that is accessible via our website. This includes social skills workshops for our members every 10 weeks.
Cost?
The club costs £2.00 per session to attend and there can be some additional charges for activities.
Contact details
Phone Number- 07873 311610
Email- themondayclub@hotmail.co.uk
Website- The Monday Club
This group is a small friendly group who meet for tea and coffee, a chat and to hear various speakers.
Meetings are on the last Monday of the month at 7.30pm.
Location: John Storer House, Wards End, Loughborough, Leics LE11 3HA
Contact: Evelyn Halsall on 01509 55 6376 or via email: charnwood.cas@gmail.com
Spectrum-MH is a support group for parents and carers of children and adults with ASD in South Leicestershire.
Meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month during term time at 7.30pm.
Location: Congregational Church, High St, Market Harborough
Contact: Helen Jordan on 07831 349574 or join their Facebook group.
Translate hold informal monthly meetings for adults with Aspergers and those who love them. They offer support, an information pool and signposting to relevant support services.
Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month
Location: Moira Centre, Moira Street, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 3AX
Contact: Paul and Jo Sandford by phone on 01509 554797 or via email: translate_as1@ntlworld.com
The group aim to share information and arrange events for families with children on the Autistic spectrum.
Meetings are monthly on the first and third Saturday of the month from 10am until 12 noon.
Location: Community Lounge, Castle Donnington Community College, DE74 2LN
Contact: Julie Truman on 07988934446 or Sara Goodwin on 01530 461660
Jigsaw provides activities, support, information and advice for families with autistic children from 0-19 yrs. The group is run by parents.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month between 7pm-9pm.
Location: Cafe, Salvation Army, Ladysmith Road, South Wigston, Leics LE18 4UZ.
Contact: Dave Nutting on 07582 197173 or via email on: sumkindasyndrome@hotmail.co.uk
Reality aims to support the whole family unit affected by ASD/Asperger Syndrome. No formal diagnosis is required. The group organises activities, trips and outings for the whole family.
Meetings are held at Braunstone Sure Start, Gallards Hill, Braunstone, Leicester LE3 1QR.
Contact: Leisa Smith on 0791 285 0517 or via email on: leisa_smith3@hotmail.com
A group to offer support to parents and carers of people with Autism.
When: 3rd Tuesday of the month
Location: Royal British Legion (skittle alley), 12-14 Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1RB
Contact via email: meltonspectrumgroup@gmail.com or Facebook: Melton Mowbray Spectrum Support
For young people aged 5+ years with ASD diagnosis or on the pathway for diagnosis. This is run by volunteers so parent/carer supervision is required.
When: 2nd Saturday of each month, 11am to 12.30pm.
Location: Blaby Methodist Church, Winchester Road, Blaby, LE8 4HL
Cost: £2 per participant
Contact: Donna Johnson via email at leicestershireautisticsociety@gmail.com
For people with ASD diagnosis or on the pathway for a diagnosis. A great opportunity for families to get together and have a fun time during the school holidays. The holiday club welcomes siblings and parent/carer supervision is required as this club is run by volunteers.
When: Tuesday and Thursdays during the school holidays (except Christmas)
Location: Tuesdays see Link Up or LAS Facebook Page for details. Thursdays: Party Hire Centre, Unit 7 St Mary’s Business Park, Market Harborough, LE16 7QJ
Contact: Donna Johnson via email at leicestershireautisticsociety@gmail.com
The charity, Out of Hours Club Rutland, also known as OHCR, is a group for young adults with additional needs such as Autism and Learning Disability who are isolated or at risk of becoming so.
OHCR gives members the opportunity to get together and go out ‘independently’ carrying out a range of different fun activities; from going to the cinema, theatre, bowling, for meals and having days out whilst encouraged to socialize and to be independent.
These young adults are supervised by age appropriate leaders and a back up team comprising of at least one committee member who will be nearby to help with emergencies.
Who is it for?
Anyone with additional needs such as Autism and Learning Disability can access the group if they are over the age of 18.
They are based in Oakham, Rutland, but if you can get to them you are more than welcome.
Members pay £2 subs each week and for their meals and the activity they participate in.
Website: Out of Hours Club Rutland
Telephone number: 07749 222 101
Sports and leisure clubs and activities
There are also a number of sports and leisure clubs offering accessible sessions, so click on the name of the club or activity below to find out more.
Offering children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to train and play football, feel part of a team and make new friends.
When: Friday evenings
Contact: Andrew Lennon on 07368210471
Run an inclusive team up to the age of 11 years old.
When: Saturdays, 11am to 12 noon.
Where: Meadow Lane, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4EU
Cost: £2.50 per session
Contact: Stephen Carr on 07768111780
Part of Leicestershire & Rutland Inclusive League and play in their monthly tournaments.
When: Saturdays, 10am to 11am for ages 6 to 15 yrs, and 10.30 to 12 noon for over 16’s
Where: The Meadows Sports Ground, Leicester Road, Countesthorpe, LE8 5QW
Cost: £7.50 per month
Contact: Beth Russell on 07896 345 409
Offering both children’s and adult services, as well as dance, drama and music and creative therapies and summer play schemes.
Contact: 07543 068872 or email: ftmdance@gmail.com
Offering an ‘access cinema’ service. Part of this offering is autism friendly screenings in a supportive environment with reduced sound levels, partially raised lighting, no trailers and freedom to move around. They also look to provide a separate space to relax in.
Find out more about the ‘Access Cinema Programme’ on their website.
The CEA Card is a national card scheme developed for UK cinemas by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA). The Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema.
The Card is also one way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests. If you require an adjustment to visit a cinema because of your disability, cinema staff should make them for you whether you have a CEA Card or not.
Eligibility: To apply, the person requiring assistance must be 5 years of age or older and be in receipt of one of the following:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance (AA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Adult / Child Disability Payment (ADP / CDP in Scotland)
Click here to visit the CEA Card website for more information.
Local participating cinemas:
Phoenix Cinema, 4 Midland Street Leicester. LE1- 1TG
The cinema hosts ‘Autism Friendly Screenings’ ticket price £4.00 (+1 FREE carer ticket for CEA cardholders)
Have a fleet of adapted bikes that allow people to experience the fun of cycling in a supported venue. They have a fantastic team of volunteers and session leaders who are trained to enable you to get the most from your cycling with us at our events.
When: 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month, 1pm to 3pm
Where: Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium, Saffron Lane, Leicester, LE2 7NQ
Cost: £5 per individual, £10 per family, £30 per group (up to 8). Carers and Supporters are free
Find out more and view upcoming events on the Leicester Wheels for All website.
Free swimming sessions for families with a child/young person with ASD. Sessions paid for by LAS/Miracles to Believe In.
When: Every Saturday of the year apart from Bank Holiday Weekends, 2pm to 4pm.
Where: Bosworth Community Sports College, Desford, LE9 9JL
Contact: John Brotherhood 01455 286167 or 07896519816
Are you a parent, grandparent, carer or family friend of someone with autism? If so…why not come and join us for a cuppa and a chat? Everyone welcome!
When: Last Friday of the month (term time only) 10am to 12 noon
Where: Kirby Muxloe Free Church, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe, LE9 2AN
Contact: Rox on 0116 2874517
Run by Melton Mencap and aponsored by Miracles to Believe In, this group is for children and young people aged from 9 to 19 years old who have autism. The group will provide a range of activities and games to support all ranges of ability. Young people will have space to play, access to specialist areas like soft play and multi-sensory rooms plus the freedom of the large play area outside, with outdoor play equipment, grassed areas and lots of fresh air.
When: Every 3rd Saturday of the month, 10am to 1pm
Where: Birchwood School, Grange Drive, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1HA
Cost: £10 per session
Contact: Sue Milligan/Simon Bailey on 01664 564237
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For children between 5 and 19 years old and on the Autism Spectrum. Run by ASPIRE:Lifeskills and sponsored by Miracles To Believe In
When: Saturday, once a month, 10am to 1pm
Where: Loughborough Town Centre
Cost: £15 per session
Contact: Viv Boulton or Steve Parkinson via email: aspirelifeskills@hotmail.co.uk
360 Play have set up a SEN session once a month and the LPCF have been able to set up a little hub at the venue enabling parents to get together. Katie and Diane chair the meetings that last for about 20 minutes, the purpose being to pass on information relating to the LPCF, gain views and feedback on issues, sometimes on behalf of LCC, listen to points of concern that parents may be experiencing and to offer support. We are a small group that is growing, and we welcome new members.
When: Last Friday of the month, 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Where: 360 Play, Meridian Leisure Park, Lubbesthorpe Way, Leicester, LE19 1JZ
Cost: £6 per participant, Parents/Carers are free
This is a non-horse-riding centre which focuses on helping children interact with six horses on the ground. It is for people of all abilities from those who have never been near a horse before to those who have ridden and been around horses. Our latest project called Families United is designed for children with additional needs and their siblings.
Where: Spirit at Play Horse Centre, Illston On the Hill, LE8 8BJ
Contact: 07557819483