Advice and Support

National and local organisations that can offer advice, support, guidance, including money matters and more to individuals and families

Local Family Support Groups
1. Yorkshire Coast Families
2. S.E.N.S.E.S. (Special Educational Needs Social and Emotional Support)
3. The Parent Pod
4. Dads Behaving Madly

Local Advice and Support Organisations
5. Scarborough Disability Action Group (DAG)
6. Citizens Advice North Yorkshire
7. Advocacy Alliance
8. Carers Plus Yorkshire
9. Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire
10. North Yorkshire Council’s ‘Living Well in North Yorkshire’ Team – Individual Support
11. SENDIASS (The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service)
12. North Yorkshire Council – SEND Local Offer Information
13. NHS: Autism Liaison Service at Scarborough Hospital

Diagnosis
14. The Retreat Clinics: The Tuke Centre York, Manchester and Online
15. BeU North Yorkshire

National Organisations
16.The National Autistic Society
17. Autistica
18. Autistic UK CIC – Nothing about Autism without Autistics
19. The Art of Autism
20. Ambitious about Autism
21. Young Minds – Autism and Mental Health
22. Autistic Girls Network (Women, Girls, Non-Binary People)

Local Family Support Groups

1. Yorkshire Coast Families

Yorkshire Coast Families: This is a local, parent-led charity that supports families and young people who have additional needs. They organise social opportunities such as days out at Dalby Forest, picnics, beach chalet days and much more. These are great times to meet other families and build supportive relationships.
Website: http://www.yorkshirecoastfamilies.org/
Phone: 01723 282101 07517352636
Email: mark@yorkshirecoastfamilies.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yorkshirecoastfamilies/

2. S.E.N.S.E.S.(Special Educational Needs Social and Emotional Support)

S.E.N.S.E.S: This registered charity supports preschool children with additional needs and their families. All S.E.N.S.E.S sessions are free of charge. There is no need for a diagnosis or referral.
Parent and toddler group for children with additional needs including those who are on the autism spectrum. The group offers structured and free play including multi-sensory experiences, stories and singing. There is a communal drink and snack time. They meet on Tuesdays at Westway Open Arms, Eastfield, and on Fridays at Oasis Family Centre, Scarborough. Both sessions are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Coffee Mornings for any parent or carer of a child with additional needs: These are held a couple of times a month at Westway Open Arms, Eastfield, from 9.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Please see S.E.N.S.E.S Facebook page or website for this term’s dates. Children are welcome to attend.
Music Therapy: Welcoming, fun monthly music sessions at Westway Open Arms and Oasis Family Centre. These sessions are run by North Yorkshire Music Therapy Centre. Check S.E.N.S.E.S Facebook page for updates.
Walk and Talk Scheme This is a meeting between Corrie of S.E.N.S.E.S and one family at a time. This is an opportunity to chat generally or give specific support needed. This meeting can be on a shared walk or in a cafe
Contact: Corrie Connell Email: corrie@sensesinscarborough.co.uk
Website: http://www.sensesinscarborough.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SENSES-in-Scarborough-396966047023777/

3.The Parent Pod

The Parent Pod: This is a welcoming group for parents and carers of children with additional needs. The aim is to have a break together whilst sharing support and information. Meetings are held on Fridays (often the last Friday of the month) from 10.00 to 11.30a.m downstairs at the Roscoe Rooms on Roscoe Street, Scarborough. Contact Alice via Facebook to find out when the next meeting will be. The Parent Pod also arranges many activities for children and young people in association with other organisations. Examples of these include skateboarding, multi-sports, soft play and a youth club.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551858210555

4. Dads Behaving Madly

Dads Behaving Madly: This peer-to-peer support group is for dads/male carers of children with disabilities, health needs or SEND in Scarborough. See their Facebook page for information about activities and support available, including breakfast meet-ups, wellbeing events, dads & children activities, and walk and talk sessions. It is all about staying active, better mental health, stronger connections, a listening ear, and looking out for one another. Dads Behaving Madly have numerous volunteers, some carers themselves, others with lived experience of mental health or similar issues, that are there to help.
Phone: Graham 07984348527 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15CLVgUyFV/
Email: dadsbehavingmadly79@gmail.com

Local Advice Organisations

5. Scarborough Disability Action Group (DAG)

Scarborough Disability Action Group (DAG): This charity offers information and advice on key disability issues. These include welfare benefits, community care, transport and equipment. The group offers volunteering opportunities and disability awareness training and much more. Please see website to find out more about its services to local disabled people and their families.
Contact: 01723 480029 Email: scarboroughdagoffice@gmail.com
Website: https://www.scarboroughdag.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScarboroughDAG/

6. Citizens Advice North Yorkshire

Citizens Advice North Yorkshire : This charity provides free, confidential and impartial advice to anyone. Advice is offered about money, benefits, housing, employment and other queries. Contact can be made by phone, online and in person.
Information about many queries can also be found on their national website.
National website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Citizens Advice North Yorkshire website: https://www.cany.org.uk/
Advice line: 0808 278 7900

7. Advocacy Alliance

Advocacy Alliance: This charity helps those who are vulnerable, including those who are on the autism spectrum, to have their views and wishes heard when decisions are being made. They also help to defend and safeguard individual right
Contact: 01723 363910 Email: office@advocacyallianceyorkshire.org.uk
Website: https://www.advocacyallianceyorkshire.org.uk/service
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarboroughadvocacy/

8. Carers Plus Yorkshire

Carers Plus Yorkshire: This charity helps unpaid carers who look after someone, including those who are on the autism spectrum, with support, advice and information. They can help in many ways including listening to carers, signposting carers to appropriate services and helping carers to maximise their income. They also support young carers from 8 upwards, including those carers who are on the autism spectrum. They offer carers, families and the wider community information and support in many ways including through coffee clubs, walks, socials, breakfasts, mindful photography and more. See their events calendar: https://www.carersplus.net/news/events
SEND Market Places: These meetings offer SEND families and professionals a drop-in opportunity to meet providers of SEND provisions and opportunities in Scarborough and surrounds.
Contact: 01723 850 155/ 01609 780872 Email: admin@carersplus.net
Website: https://www.carersplus.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPYorks/

9. Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire

Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire: This charity supports families with children and young people (0-25 years old) with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). As the Parent Carer Forum for North Yorkshire, their remit is to inform, empower and represent the collective voice of families with SEND across the region. They offer their members information on all aspects of SEND through their Facebook page and website as well as in-person and online events, workshops and wellbeing sessions. Parent Carer Voice provide the platform for parents and carers’ voices to be heard and their experiences to be considered in strategy and consultation development meetings within North Yorkshire Council and the NHS’s two Integrated Care Boards serving the district. Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire is a member of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF).
Email: info@parentcarervoiceuk.org Website: https://www.parentcarervoiceuk.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParentCarerVoiceNorthYorks

10. North Yorkshire Council’s Living Well in North Yorkshire Team – Individual Support

North Yorkshire Council’s ‘Living Well in North Yorkshire’ Team – Individual Support: This is a personalised NYC service to help adults, including those who are on the autism spectrum, to improve their health, wellbeing and independence. This free service works with those over 18 who are currently not eligible for ongoing social care support. Initial support is over a set period of time. The support may be linked to one or more of the following: being lonely or socially isolated, having had a recent loss of a support network, including bereavement, having had a loss of confidence due to a recent change or event, requiring support with employment, and requiring face-to-face information, advice and guidance. The Living Well in North Yorkshire co-ordinators work with individuals to identify priorities, address barriers to improving well-being and independence, and to support the achievement of goals. The co-ordinators can signpost individuals to local services and provisions where required. Also, if you are part of a group and you believe that the members may benefit from hearing about this service, please make contact with the team and they will arrange to attend a meeting and talk about the ‘Living Well in North Yorkshire’ service. To self-refer or refer someone else, contact the council’s Customer Service Centre on the number below.
Phone: 03001312131 (Option 2, Social Care)
Website: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/adult-social-care/stay-independent-longer/living-well-north-yorkshire

11. SENDIASS North Yorkshire

SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service): This is an information, advice and support service offering free, confidential and impartial information and advice linked to special educational needs and disability. It is for young people 0-25 years and their parents and carers.
Phone: 01609 536923  Contact: info@sendiassnorthyorks.org
Website: https://sendiassnorthyorkshire.co.uk/

12. North Yorkshire Council – SEND Local Offer Information

SEND Local Offer: North Yorkshire Council provides information about Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) for parents, carers and professionals. This includes an introduction to SEND, information about SEND Early Years support, SEND education, SEND education health and care plans, SEND financial support, SEND health and care, preparing for adulthood and library resources.
NYC Website: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/children-and-families/send-local-offer

13. NHS: Autism Liaison Service at Scarborough Hospital

NHS: Autism Liaison Service at Scarborough Hospital: This new service, within the York & Scarborough NHS Trust, aims to help neurodivergent individuals, including those who are on the autism spectrum, when accessing services within the Trust. There is an Autism Liaison Practitioner covering Scarborough and the East Coast and another practitioner covers the York and Selby areas. They are setting up hospital passports and system-wide alerts to aid with equitable access to healthcare. They can support with reasonable adjustments for both inpatient stays and outpatient appointments, and regularly liaise with patients and staff to achieve this. People do not require a formal diagnosis to access the services and as such these are accessible to those who self-identify as being autistic/neurodivergent. The practitioners are also responsible for training all patient-facing staff within the Trust on autism and learning disabilities via Tier 2 Oliver McGowan mandatory training.
Phone: 07823548343
Autism Liaison Practitioner for Scarborough and East Coast email: david.burton24@nhs.net
York & Scarborough NHS Trust Autism Practitioners Team email: yhs-tr.AutismLiaisonService@nhs.net

Diagnosis

14. The Retreat Clinics: The Tuke Centre York, Manchester and Online

The Retreat Clinics: This is a not for profit charitable organisation. They provide personalised therapy, assessment and support for mental health and wellbeing. They offer specialist support for Autism and ADHD – this includes assessment, diagnosis and specialist therapy services for adults.
Diagnosis: An NHS funded Autism diagnosis at The Retreat Clinics is free of charge for adults who live in many parts of North Yorkshire, including Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale. They offer diagnostic assessment as well as NHS funded post-diagnostic support and therapy.
The Retreat Clinics Assessment Process Guide: https://theretreatclinics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Overview-of-Autism-Diagnostic-Pathway-1.pdf
The Retreat Clinics Post-Diagnostic Support Information:https://theretreatclinics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Autism-Service-Post-Diagnostic-Support.pdf
The Retreat Clinics Post Diagnostic Support Information and Signposting Pack: https://theretreatclinics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Autism-Post-Diagnostic-Resources-Pack-2024.pdf
Website: https://theretreatclinics.org.uk/ Email: york@theretreatclinics.org.uk
Phone: 01904 412 551

15. BeU North Yorkshire

BeU North Yorkshire: This organisation’s assessment service is currently available to children and young people 4-18 years of age, who are registered with an NHS GP in the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale areas. They can only accept professional referrals such as healthcare, education and other support services. Their website includes supportive autism advice and resources including for those waiting for an assessment.
Phone: 01723 480480 Email: beu.northyorkshire@nhs.net
Website: https://beunorthyorkshire.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beunorthyorkshire/

National Organisations (Autism)

16. The National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society: NAS offers support and advice about all things relating to autism for autistic people and their families. Their online shop sells guide books about autism, NAS clothing and badges. Some leaflets in the shop are free including a guide about autism for police-officers and staff, and a leaflet called ‘I am autistic’.
Website: https://www.autism.org.uk/

17. Autistica

Autistica: Autistica is a research charity who work to improve the lives of all those affected by autism.
Website: https://www.autistica.org.uk/

18. Autistic UK CIC – Nothing about Autism without Autistics

Autistic UK CIC – Nothing about Autism without Autistics: Autistic UK is an online network which shares support, thinking, resources and research about autism-linked areas.
Website: https://autisticuk.org/

19. The Art of Autism

The Art of Autism: The Art of Autism website has a wide range of creative and thought-provoking work by autistic people.
Website: https://the-art-of-autism.com/

20. Ambitious about Autism

Ambitious about Autism: Ambitious about Autism offers a variety of services to support children and young people who are on the autism spectrum, and their families. This includes special education, employment services, youth participation, training and consultancy, policies and campaigns and awareness.
Website: https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/

21. Young Minds – Autism and Mental Health

Young Minds: This mental health charity provides help to young people who are struggling with their mental health. They provide young people with the tools to look after their mental health. They empower adults to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives. Their aim is to have a world where no young person is alone with their mental health. See their information on Autism and Mental Health.
Young Minds – Autism and Mental Health information: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/mental-health-conditions/autism-and-mental-health/
Young Minds Website: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Phone – general enquiries: 02070895050
Parent Helpline offering signposting and support, 9.30 – 4.00 Mon – Fri: 08088025544
Are you a young person in need of support? Use Shout Textline for free, 24 hour mental healthsupport. Text the word SHOUT to 85258. https://giveusashout.org/

22. Autistic Girls Network (Women, Girls and Non-Binary People)

Autistic Girls Network: This charity is autistic and neurodivergent-led. They work to support, educate, bring change, empower and provide community for autistic women, girls, non-binary people, and their families, to help build a world where everyone can flourish on their own terms. Their website has a range of informative resources to help and support autistic women, girls, non-binary people, parents, friends and family, teachers and other professionals, and employers. Autistic Girls Network offers mentoring, face-to-face groups, adult peer-support, family workshops, online support as well as training for educational settings and health and social care professionals, corporate training, neurodiversity training for charities, and more. There is an Autistic Girls Network group local to Scarborough for autistic girls and non-binary young people aged 9 – 12 years that meet on alternate Fridays at Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall from 5p.m. to 6.30p.m. Parents can apply online: https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/face-to-face-groups/
Website: https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutisticGirlsNetwork/?locale=en_GB

If you know of further opportunities, please let us know:
scarboroughautismuk@gmail.com