Views expressed on this website are not necessarily those of The National Autistic Society and reference to specific services or approaches to autism does not
imply endorsement, nor does the absence of any services or approaches imply that NAS Richmond does not support them.
Images in this website credited to Allan Sears, Alison Sears, and the Microsoft Office plus Bing Clip Art image libraries.
All material © The National Autistic Society (Richmond Branch) 2021 and cannot be reproduced without permission.
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The National Autistic Society HQ. 393 City Road, London EC1V 1NG Tel: 020 7833 2299 Email: nas@nas.org.uk Website: www.autism.org.uk
ACTIVITIES & EVENTS - YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS
RICHMOND MENCAP: YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS
Richmond Mencap publishes a comprehensive monthly calendar of events for people who have learning disabilities, not just of their own activities but those of other local organisations as well.
While Richmond Mencap face-to-face services are closed due to the coronavirus, they are offering some exciting services to both current and new users, all of which are delivered by Richmond Mencap's staff team. These include:
Telephone Befriending Service
Richmond Mencap's telephone befriending scheme is for anyone who would like yo have a chat and a laugh over the coming weeks.
Funmail
The Richmond Mencap emails young people and adults with regular roundups of fun straight from the staff team
Power Hour
Richmond Mencap's group activities via a video call. Join in for drama, quizzes, dancing and all sorts of fun.
Please do contact Richmond Mencap for more information on 020 8744 1923 or at office@richmondmencap.org.uk. In due course, to see what events will be on offer, please go to http://richmondmencap.org.uk/events/.
THE PEOPLE HIVE (for people with a learning disability)
The People Hive offers a variety of activities to people who have a learning disability. Due to coronavirus, The People Hive is currently not running the full range of its usual activities, but are running a number of activities via Zoom. Do check People Hive's Activities Update webpage to check what's being offered.
For more information, do visit The People Hive's Contact Us webpage.
RICHMOND AID: BUDDYUP
BuddyUp is for young people with disabilities or additional needs aged between 14-17 years and living in the Richmond or Kingston boroughs. It works by matching young people up with their own young volunteer (‘buddy’) and aims to enable young people to increase independence and confidence through travelling and getting out and about more in their community. And of course it’s about having fun and building a friendship!
Please contact the following for more information:
Jamie Cutler - 020 8831 6072 or j.cutler@richmondaid.org.uk (Richmond)
Chloe Crawford - 020 8831 6079 or c.crawford@richmondaid.org.uk (Kingston)
You can also read more about BuddyUp by visiting Richmond & Kingston BuddyUp.
DIMENSIONS TRIAL SCREENINGS FOR OLDER VIEWERS
At selected cinemas, Odeon screens autism friendly screenings of films for an older audience. The Odeon cinemas nearest to Richmond participating in the screenings are those in Wimbledon and Kensington. At present, these screenings are on hold due to coronavirus.
Details of the next screening: To be announced
For more information about adults' autism friendly screenings at Odeon cinemas, contact the Disability and Accessibility Helpline at 0800 138 3315 (Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 6.00pm, Sunday between 10.00am and 5.00pm) or otherwise visit Odeon autism friendly screenings.
THE CURLY HAIR PROJECT: ONLINE AUTISM WORKSHOPS
The Curly Hair Project offers online workshops you can take part in from your desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone or tablet - webinars. You will need to book a ticket to take part and you will be emailed joining instructions before the webinar is due to run.
For more information and to book the webinar of your choice, please visit this webpage: https://thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk/training/webinars/. If you have any further concerns or questions, please email info@thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk
To find out more about what the Curly Hair project offers, please visit their website https://thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk.
RISE MULTI-SPORTS CLUB ACTIVITIES
Richmond Inclusive Sports and Exercise (RISE) provides a varied programme of activities for adults and older young people who have a disability.
These activities include archery, canoeing, football, Fusion dance and drama, golf, gym sessions, rugby, swimming, tennis, trampolining, wheelchair basket ball and yoga. RISE also offers its weekly Saturday Multi-Sport Club of inclusive sports and activities.
For more detail of these activities, please visit RISE activities for adults If you would like any further information about RISE, inclusive and disability specific sport or exercise activities, call RISE on 020 8831 6134 or email rise@richmond.gov.uk from Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm.
RISE also offers sporting opportunities to children and young people, the details of which can be found on the Activities News and Events page.
SPECTRUM YOUTH THEATRE
Spectrum Youth Theatre (SYT) is a puppet youth theatre for young people aged 11 to 18 with Asperger's / high functioning autism. It began as a pilot project with support from Turtle Key Arts, and has gone from strength to strength. This is a perfect club for artists, model builders, designers, problem solvers, puppeteers, performers and people with big imaginations or a quirky take on life.
You can find out more about what the Spectrum Youth Theatre has to offer by visiting
https://littleangeltheatre.com/creativelearning/young-people/spectrum-youth-theatre/
The Spectrum Youth Theatre is based at Little Angel Studios, Sebbon Street Community Centre, Sebbon Street, Islington. N1 2EH. To find out more, do visit Spectrum Youth Theatre. If you would like to hear from Spectrum Youth Theatre about their activities, do visit https://littleangeltheatre.com/join-our-mailing-list/.
THE LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT
This is a specialist support group for autistic young people where they can make friends, and access youth services. It is open to young people from the Richmond and Kingston Boroughs. Membership is by referral only (parents can make referrals).
When: Thursday evenings, 6.00pm to 8.30pm (term time only)
Where: Heatham House Youth Centre Whitton Road, Twickenham, TW1 1BH,
Age Range: 11 to 24 years
For more details, call 020 8288 0950 (Heatham House office). You can also email Meg Scott at meg.scott@achievingforchildren.org.uk.
TAG YOUTH CLUB
This is a club for young people with disabilities. TAG seeks to provide a safe, stimulating and engaging environment for any young person with a disability to meet up with their friends, take part in fun activities and learn social and life skills.
When: Friday evenings, 5.30pm to 7.30pm (Junior Club),
7.30pm to 9.30pm (Youth Club)
Where: Ham Youth Centre, Ham Close, Ham. TW10 7PL
Age Range: 10 to 25 years
For further details, call 07557 397934 or email TAG at info@tagyouthclub.org. To find out more about what TAG has to offer, please visit https://tagyouthclub.org.
ACTIVITY STATION: ONLINE ACTIVITIES
Activity Station provides people with disabilities access to a range of fun, inclusive activities and social events in their local area from which they can choose. Following on from the Government's advice, all face-to-face events and activities are currently paused.
However, throughout the summer, Activity Station are running free weekly interactive sessions online for art, pottery, music, drumming and drama.
If you'd like to take part, do email Activity Station at activitystation@outlook.com or call them on 07444 881962.
TURTLE KEY ARTS CLUB
The Key Club is for anyone aged 16 to 30 year of age who has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism. Our nearest Key Club meets once a month on a Saturday morning at The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. Each meeting consists of a two-hour workshop followed by a break and a discussion. The subjects of the workshops and the discussions change each month but are based on the performance arts, visual arts and other creative disciplines. For dates, see Turtle Key Arts' webpage at https://www.turtlekeyarts.org.uk/key-club.
Where: Lyric Theatre, Lyric Square, Kings Street, Hammersmith, W6 0QL
When: Saturdays 10.00am to 1.00pm or 2.00pm to 5.00pm once a month
Fee: Free to all participants. If you would like to make a donation to help Turtle Key Arts continue their work with young autistic people, please click HERE. If you would like to become a member of the Key Club, please call them on on 020 8964 5060 or visit this webpage: https://www.turtlekeyarts.org.uk/key-club