An important part of what we do, is to provide advice and support to the families and carers of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In Lincolnshire, there are many other groups who do fantastic work helping families as well and we work with them whenever we can.
We work in partnership with a range of support groups who help people with autism and their parents and carers in lots of different ways. Some of the main ones are listed below, but there are lots more who are maybe smaller and more local. For information about these contact Lincs2Advice who might be able to help.
Local Support Groups
PAACT (Parents and Autistic Children Together)
PAACT is a Lincoln-based support group for families with children and young people who have an Autistic Spectrum Condition. We are a friendly, informal, non-judgemental group. We aim to help family and friends to access advice, support and activities in the local area.
What we offer parents
- Twice monthly support meetings
- Facebook for you to seek advice
- Regular newsletters to keep you informed
- Library of books and materials for our members to borrow
- Talks by professionals and organisations
- Games Club 2nd Saturday of the month
- Weekly Youth Club for 11-25 year olds during term time only.
- Annual family membership £7.50. Events £3.00 per child.
We do not have a website as we are all busy parents with children all on the Autistic Spectrum and we were unable to keep the website up to date.
For more information, contact us on paactsupport@hotmail.co.uk
Chair of PAACT – Gordon Forsyth
Secretary – Charlotte Owen
CANadda
CANadda is a Community Adult Network support group for adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
We are a friendly neurodiversity support group, based in Lincoln, for people on the autistic spectrum. Newcomers are warmly welcomed and membership is free.
Our services include:
- Raising awareness of the different neuro conditions
- Provide training and support for professionals
- Social events
- Information to help with employment and further education
- A lending library of books and information
- Neurodiversity ID Alert Card/Wristband scheme
- Provision of Personal Safety Alarms
- Open door service
Sharing Minds
Support group for parents of children with additional, special and complex needs including learning difficulties. The group meets on the last Wednesday of each month, term time only – 10.30am – 12.30pm. Occasional guest speakers or meet for support.
Contact Emma: 01754 820821 for address details.
Sunset House, Main Road, Friskney, Boston, PE22 8QS
Contact: Emma Slack
Email: emmaslack22@yahoo.co.uk
LAAFS
LAAFS is a support group dedicated to offering help, information, care and support to parents and carers of children and young people who have been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Formed by parents, LAAFS also welcomes professional contributions and pre-diagnosed families
Gain
Tel: 01476 855070
Address: Belton Lane Children & Community Centre, Off Princess Drive, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 9PP
Grantham Autistic Information Network (GAIN) supports families with children on the autistic spectrum in Grantham and beyond.
Family Services Directory and SEND Local Offer website
The Family Services Directory (FSD) is a site for all families and contains a wide range of information including childcare, local and national support groups, schools, Children’s Centres, activities and Children’s Services teams. The Local Offer for families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25 sits on the FSD site and includes additional information for young people and families about the services available in Lincolnshire.
The Family Services Directory is on-line at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fsd and although the SEND Local Offer is on this site, users can navigate directly to the Local Offer area via www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/sendlocaloffer
If you need help with finding services, call the Family Information Service on 0800 195 1635 Monday to Friday 8am-6pm or email fis@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Moving On and Preparing for adulthood guide for parents
Leaving full time education can be worrying for most young people, but for young people who have special educational needs and or disabilities it can be a very difficult time. Parents and carers can also find this to be a difficult time. There are many uncertainties about where to go for support and information in order to make informed decisions to help secure a bright and happy future.
Other groups offering specific support
The Lincolnshire Carers Service
Carers are entitled to get help to support them with their caring role and they can access this through the Lincolnshire Carers Service which is delivered in partnership by charity Carers FIRST and Lincolnshire County Council’s Customer Service Centre (CSC). Professionals, as well as carers themselves, can refer into the service, where someone will talk to the carer about their caring role and find out what support there is for them, including advice around any additional financial help they may be able to access, providing information which will help them to manage their caring role or just a friendly listening ear to offer emotional support.
Carers FIRST provides a community based service offering a wide variety of information, face to face carers assessments, help with accessing benefits and 1-1 support. The charity also offers practical and emotional support including social and support groups which run throughout the county each month.
To find out more about the support available to carers in Lincolnshire or to refer a carer to the Lincolnshire Carers Service, please phone the Lincolnshire Customer Service Centre on 01522 782224. To find out about support available for young carers or to refer a young carer, you can talk to someone at Lincolnshire Young Carers by phoning 01522 553275.
For more information about Carers FIRST, please visit www.carersfirst.org.uk
Resources
Lincs2Advice
Lincs2Advice is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation firmly focused on enabling people in Lincolnshire to be able to access quality support and information when they most need it. Through building a network of members we are able to signpost people to localised specific support.
Access to quality support and information when you need it most. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am-2:30pm
Lincs2Advice 0300 303 8789
Email infohub@lincs2advice.org.uk
Resources
Shine
Shine is an award winning network of people and organisations involved in or with experience of mental health and mental ill health and distress. We think we can do a lot to put people in touch with each other, and to help them work more closely and effectively together.
This site is designed to help make that happen providing a place where people can exchange information about themselves and what they do.