Support Groups

Befrienders is an independent voluntary organisation which recruits adult volunteers to offer friendship and support for children aged 7-16 years, living in Argyll and Bute, and experiencing difficulties in some area of their lives (including children with autism spectrum disorders).

An independent advice centre offering free, confidential and impartial support and advice on a range of issues including housing, benefits, debt management, consumer advice, employment, tax and social issues. The centre can also provide representation at disability benefit tribunals.

Butterfly ForRest aims to provide support, play and respite care for young special needs children and their families in Westhill and surrounding districts.

Caledonia Youth (CY) provide relationships and sexual health support services to young people up to the age of 25, with a particular focus on priority groups such as young people with an ASD.

Capability Scotland campaigns with, and provides education, employment and care services for disabled children and adults across Scotland.

Carers Link supports and encourages carers, providing support, information, advocacy, courses, groups – and a listening ear when you need one.

Our aims are to support all adults in a caring situation in East Lothian to get information and services to help their individual caring role, enhance their own wellbeing and strengthen their collective voice to improve services.

An independent advocacy and information service covering the whole of East Dunbartonshire. We work with people with a range of needs, including those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Contact provides support, advice and information for families with disabled children, no matter what their condition or disability.

The Carers’ Centre offers guidance, information and support to carers in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Isles. All our services are free. We host a counselling service, a Befriender service and offer Playlist for Life.

The Dumfries and Galloway Carers Centre provides information, advice and support to people who care for someone who is ill or disabled. Services include welfare rights advice, signposting to other agencies, information about local services, coping strategies and a one-to-one listening ear.

We give practical and emotional support to individuals, organise groups and provide access to alternative therapies, social events, training sessions, peer support, information and advocacy.

Dundee's Childcare Information Service provides parents and carers with the information they need to make the best choice about the care and education of their children.

Provides information, advice and support to carers of all ages in East Ayrshire. Services include young carers groups, a drop in facility, social activities, training, information, meeting rooms and a newsletter.

The befriending service trains volunteers to befriend lonely, isolated or disabled adults living in East Dunbartonshire.

A membership organisation in Scotland for people with learning disabilities and family carers. Information about their campaigns, services, events and

The Carers Centre provides individual and group support to carers of all ages in Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire.

Gordon Rural Action operates three Advice Centres in Huntly, Inverurie and Ellon. This is an independent service with access to the Citizens Advice Scotland Information System.

Support services and Training

The project supports people who are caring for people with any type of disability.They offer a wide range of facilities to all carers including information, advice, support groups, complimentary therapies, access to welfare rights advice, training courses, advocacy support and counselling.

Parents supporting other parents - to help build a family's confidence and ability to cope. Any family can be supported, as long as they have at least one child under five.

Home-Start offers support, friendship and practical help to families with young children across Clackmannanshire. Home-Start offers a unique service, recruiting and training volunteers, who are parents themselves, to visit families at home who have at least one child under 5 to offer informal, friendly and confidential support.

Offers support, friendship and practical help to families at home with children under 5. A volunteer is assigned to a family and visits them for a couple of hours once a week to provide support, reassurance, a listening ear and an extra pair of hands.

Offers informal support for parents who have at least one child under the age of 5. The support is free, confidential and non-judgemental. Families can self-refer. Home Start helps to increase the confidence and independence of families

JUST Jordan is a new and innovative Autism/Aspergers Awareness Support Group including its very own FREE Monthly Newsletter.

An autism support group for people living in the Kemnay area of Aberdeenshire. We aim to offer a sympathetic ear and to disseminate information to our group. Please contact us to find out where and when we meet.

Kindred (formerly known as SNIP) provides advocacy and information on services available to children with additional support needs and their carers. You don't always have to have a specific question for us, as we also provide a 'listening ear'.

Through it's Integrated Stage School KISS, Music 4 U offer music and music related opportunities to children and young people on the autism spectrum.

The Clydebank / West Dunbartonshire Social Group is for young adults aged 16-25 years at the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, such as those with Asperger syndrome (AS).

NAS branches are run by parent volunteers and offer support to families who have a child or family member with autism or Asperger syndrome.

Social Groups are for people over the age of 16 at the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, such as those with Asperger syndrome (AS). The groups are facilitated by a Social Programmes Manager who is responsible for a number of groups in their area

EarlyBird is for parents whose child has received a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is of pre-school age (not yet of statutory school age).

The National Autistic Society (NAS) Branches offer support to families who have a child or family member with autism or Asperger syndrome. This group meets monthly in Kilmarnock. Find us on Facebook NAS East Ayrshire.

As well as providing information and support via email and telephone, the branch also organises social outings and fundraising events, as well as a range of talks and seminars

Support group for parents of children with an ASD living in the general areas of: Daviot, Inverurie, Meldrum, Banff, Macduff, Portlethen and Banchory.

NAS Branch for local families offering support, information and social events.

NAS branches offer support to families who have a child or member with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

NAS branches offer support to families who have a child or member with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The One Stop Shop in Ayrshire is here to provide information, advice and signposting to people with autism, their families and people within their support network.

The NAS Scotland Family Programme provides information and advice to families of children and young people in Scotland up to the age of 18 years affected by autism.

The group is for young people aged between 12 and 18 years in North Ayrshire or 14 and 18 years in East Dunbartonshire. It aims to encourage social interaction with peers, promote confidence and introduce the young people to activities appropriate to their age and suited to their interests.

We offer support through monthly meetings and also offer a telephone and email support services and a quarterly newsletter.

NAS Branches offer support to families who have a child or member with autism or Asperger syndrome. The branch meets monthly in Stirling. For further details please contact the branch.

NAS branches offer support to families who have a child or member with autism or Asperger syndrome. The branch meets monthly. For further details please contact the branch.

The centre provides a variety of services to support people who care for someone who is ill or disabled. This includes information, advice, training and leisure and social activities to Carers.

The One Stop Shop is based in Aberdeen and provides information, advice, and support to people on the autism spectrum, their families and people within their support network.

Parent Advisory Group for Education and Socialisation (PAGES), a parent support group which runs activities and a youth group for children and young people.

PAMIS works with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their family carers and professionals who support them.

PAMIS offers support to families, adults and children with profound and multiple learning disabilities and the professionals supporting them.

PAMIS works with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their family carers and professionals who support them in Tayside

Parent to Parent was established in 1988 to support families caring for a child with additional needs living in Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross. It is open to all families of children who have a diagnosis or are awaiting or undergoing assessment.

Parent to Parent was established in 1988 to support families caring for a child with additional needs living in Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross. It is open to all families of children who have a diagnosis or are awaiting or undergoing assessment.

PASDA is a registered charity supporting parents, carers and partners of adults on the autism spectrum who live in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Perth Autism Support is a local registered charity, supporting children under the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with autism, and their families.

PIN is a group of parents who want to share information and advice with each other, organise training and increase understanding about the way forward to include all children and adults with disability in today's society.

PKAVS Perth Kinross Association of Voluntary Services Dynamic local charity with a Big Heart from carers young and old, to adults recovering from mental ill-health, minority communities, volunteers, and voluntary groups we work tirelessly throughout Perth and Kinross to improve wellbeing, connect communities, and help people to realise their potential.

The Pre-5 Support Service provides a range of services to very young children with developmental difficulties and to their families. Parental support is a key element of the service, in addition to support for children and pre-school centres. Services provided include assessment, advice, consultation, input to the development of Individual Educational Programmes (IEP), and parent support

This is a support group for parents/carers of pre-school children with additional support needs, held at Esslemont School in Ellon. The group provides experienced play workers for the children while adults are supported by the Community Worker.

A group of parents and professionals who share a common interest in the difficulties experienced by some children as they develop through their early years and then move through the education system.

The Advice Line is available to families and professionals who are seeking information and support about autism. Whether looking for services or just generally seeking advice, our Autism Advisors are here to help.

We have a dedicated team of advisors who are trained and experienced in working with people on the autism spectrum. Each year we handle hundreds of calls and our advice line enables a direct first response to families looking for information, advice and support.

We have a dedicated team of experienced autism advisors who are on hand to provide emotional and practical support to families and professionals. Whether it is signposting to particular services, information on getting a diagnosis or just someone to talk to who understands, we have someone here who can help.

Scottish Autism runs two Social Independence Groups in Alloa and Musselburgh for adults with autism. We encourage individuals to come together to develop their social skills and enjoy social activities within the community.

SensationALL provides multi-sensory experiences for children and adults with disabilities, multiple support needs and their families.

Kinnections is a social independence group developed by Scottish Autism in the Central Scotland area. The aim of this group is to provide opportunities for individuals with high functioning autism and/or Asperger syndrome aged 18 or over, to meet and participate in social activities.

Star Youth Club is our specialist youth club provision supporting young teenagers aged 12-18 years living in East Lothian with a wide range of special needs / disabilities.

TaSK aims to support families who have children affected by an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or ADHD. The group will bring families together for friendship and support, to allow parents, carers and their children to meet and chat on a regular basis in an informal way.

A voluntary organisation that has developed a range of services for people with additional support needs and learning disabilities and their carers throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians and Falkirk.

TRAINs is a group of Grampian based professionals, providing FREE training workshops about subjects relating to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The group provide both interactive presentation sessions and practical workshops throughout the (term-time) year to professionals, parents/ carers and family members of anyone with autism.

The Tuesday group is a social group for people with autism and Asperger syndrome and is supported and run by Inspire and volunteers.

The Carers Centre provides a drop-in, appointment and telephone advice and support service. A member of staff is always on reception and ready to help.