Herefordshire Autism Partnership

Herefordshire Autism Partnership

Herefordshire Autism Partnership brings together people from public services, support organisations, those on the autistic spectrum and their family carers. It aims to promote better understanding of the spectrum in order to improve services for people, families and carers living with autism. It offers opportunities for you to get involved in developing those services and future strategy.

The NHS provides information and referral advice on their web page NHS guide to autism, and there is more support, including educational videos about sensory needs, from Herefordshire & Worcestershire ICS on their Autism page. For support for children and young people and information about getting a diagnosis, visit our Autism page.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Autism Strategy 2024-2029

Herefordshire and Worcestershire's Autism Partnership Boards have worked with autistic people, carers, professionals from social care, health, public health, police, support providers and advocacy services to co-produce a new All-Age Autism Strategy for the two counties.

The priorities in our strategy reflect the six priorities within the National Autism Strategy 2021-2026 with an additional local priority around keeping safe:

• Improving understanding and acceptance of autism within society.
• Improving autistic children and young people's access into education and support positive transitions into adulthood.
• Supporting more autistic people into employment.
• Tackling health and care inequalities for autistic people
• Building the right support in the community.
• Improving support in criminal and youth justice systems
• Keeping safe

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Autism Strategy 2024-2029

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Autism Strategy 2024-2029 survey response data

Herefordshire Autism Partnership Board

If you are interested in attending any of our meetings, or would like to find out more about our work, please email Paul Choppen, Partnership Board Assistant, Herefordshire Council at paul.choppen@herefordshire.gov.uk

Date of next meeting 2025

• Tuesday 22 April from 1.30pm to 4pm in the Fownhope Room, Plough Lane Offices, Herefordshire Council and via Microsoft Teams

View Herefordshire Autism Partnership Board meetings minutes and documents

Getting a diagnosis for autism

Adults

Herefordshire has its own autistic adult diagnostic pathway for people seeking an autism diagnosis. The pathway is run by the Family Psychologists and commissioned by the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

You can get a referral to the service through your local GP or through the Mental Health Team if you are already being seen by them.
Find out more about how to get diagnosed with autism as an adult on the NHS site.

Children

Find out more about the diagnostic pathway for children (aged 0-17) with autism.

Post-diagnosis support services for people with an autism diagnosis in Herefordshire

Brightfire CIC

Brightfire CIC is a non-profit, autistic led community interest company, providing mental health and wellbeing support for autistic adults.

They offer private and group sessions such as the Being Autistic programme. This is an art therapy and psycho-education project for autistic adults developed by Brightfire CIC in collaboration with The Cartshed Charity at their woodland site in Herefordshire. Over 12 sessions participants have an opportunity to explore their autistic identity, connect with peers, develop strategies for improving mental health and wellbeing whilst connecting with the natural environment.

Autism West Midlands

In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Autism West Midlands offer:

• Information, advice and support to autistic adults and/or parent carers of adults by phone, email or online meetings
• Structured support sessions for autistic adults who have been diagnosed in recent years. These are offered online or face to face in community venues (there may be a wait for face to face appointments)
• Autism confident programmes for autistic teenagers and adults
• A 1-1 support service for individuals with an autism diagnosis

Autism Central Midlands

NHS England commissioned nine charities to provide high-quality and accessible autism information, education and coaching for families and carers, co-delivered by autistic people, families and carers.

In the Midlands, charities Contact and Ambitious about Autism run Autism Central's programmes for children and young people.

National Autistic Society (NAS)

The National Autistic Society help the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and their families. This includes running specialist schools, campaigning for improved rights or training companies on being more autism-friendly, we are dedicated to transforming lives and changing attitudes.

Local NAS branches

The National Autistic Society has volunteer-led branches across the UK. Volunteers at local branches run support, information and social activities for autistic adults, children and their families in their local area. They also organise and join in with fundraising and campaigning.

For more information on the Herefordshire Branch please see:

• National Autistic Society - Herefordshire branch
• National Autistic Society Herefordshire Branch Facebook page

For more information on  local services for people with autism visit the National Autistic Society's Directory page.