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Thanks to our funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we are now offering one-to-one and group peer support. If you want to access this service, please complete our referral form on the Peer Support page or read on to learn more about peer support.
Peer support is when people use lived experiences to support each other.
It involves bringing people together with similar life experiences to give and receive support from one another in a space where we can feel safe, understood and accepted.
It is not a counselling service and peer supporters are not trained counsellors - it is a listening service, rather than a therapeutic one.
Peer support is a welcoming, non-judgmental space to share and be heard by someone who understands.
It's about using empathy to connect with and understand someone’s unique experiences through shared understanding.
What can peer support look like?
Peer support is flexible and adapts to the needs of those involved—there is no single way to do it.
It can take place online or in person, in groups or one-to-one, and through various formats such as face-to-face meetings, video calls, audio chats, or text-based communication.
At APUK, we currently offer peer support via video calls, either one-to-one or in groups. If you have alternative requirements you can discuss these during your triage appointment.
Peer support is not a one-way process. It is a collaborative exchange where both individuals contribute to the conversation.
At its core, it is about listening with empathy, seeking to understand each other’s perspective.
What are my peer support options with APUK?
APUK offers two main types of peer support, each providing up to six sessions:
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One-to-One Peer Support: Individual sessions with a trained peer supporter, giving you a private space to share your experiences and receive support tailored to your needs.
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Structured Group Peer Support: Small group sessions facilitated by trained peer supporters, with up to 10 participants going through the sessions together. In the first session, the group will explore what each person is looking for support with, fostering connection and shared understanding.
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In addition to these programmes, we are also introducing drop-in groups focused on specific topics and interests, such as navigating EHCPs, parenting children of certain age groups, and even a book club.
These groups offer a more flexible and informal way to connect with other Autistic parents around shared experiences and needs.
How do I access peer support with APUK?
You can apply to access our peer support services by completing the referral form on our main Peer Support page.
Who can submit referral forms?
Anyone can submit a referral form – you don’t need a referral from a healthcare professional. Our peer support is available to all Autistic parents, whether you have a formal diagnosis or are self-identified as Autistic.
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If you are a healthcare professional or community services representative working with an Autistic parent you believe could benefit from our peer support services, you can also submit a referral form on their behalf.
What happens once I submit a referral form?
Once you submit your form, it will be securely uploaded to our administration system and placed on a waiting list to be allocated to one of our peer supporters.
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A peer supporter will contact you to arrange an initial meeting via video or audio call on Google Meet. We aim to do this within 7 days of receiving your referral, but waiting times may vary depending on current demand.
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This initial meeting, called a triage call, is where we’ll discuss the support available and what you are looking for from us.
You will then be allocated to either a group or one-to-one peer support. Our current allocation waiting time is 7-10 days.
Before starting your peer support sessions, you will receive an evaluation form to complete. This helps us ensure we are meeting our funding requirements and delivering the best service possible. Your answers are confidential and will never be shared in a way that could identify you.
For how long can I attend peer support sessions?
The one-to-one peer support programme consists of six sessions. These can be scheduled weekly, fortnightly, or at intervals agreed upon with your peer supporter.
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Our structured groups also run for six sessions, currently held fortnightly. As we continue to expand our services, alternative scheduling options may become available.
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At the end of your sessions, you will be asked to complete an evaluation form. This helps us ensure we provided the best possible service, identify areas for improvement, and understand the demand for additional support services. Your feedback also helps us demonstrate the need for our services when applying for future funding.
For how long can I attend peer support sessions?
If you would like further support after completing your sessions, you can request to be placed back on the waiting list for one-to-one peer support or join our drop-in groups.
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We also offer a private peer support community on Facebook, where you can connect with other Autistic parents for continued support.
Can I volunteer?
We have a number of volunteering opportunities here at Autistic Parents UK. If you are interested in hearing more please contact us at volunteering@autisticparentsuk.org.
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Who are Autistic Parents UK and what do you do?Autistic Parents UK (APUK), is a user-led non-profit organisation aiming to build support for Autistic parents (parents who are Autistic themselves) in the UK. Parenthood can be an amazing yet challenging time for all, but Autistic people may experience specific challenges and often lack effective support from family, friends and professionals. APUK was set up by a group of Autistic parents in the West Midlands area, who felt a gap in support available for both Autistic adults and parents. After months of planning, the organisation officially formed in November 2020. As APUK is in the early stages of development, we are trialling a number of different methods of supporting and facilitating mutual peer support connections. We work reflectively and flexibly with our members to move towards being inclusive of the needs of all individuals in the community we build together. As well as facilitating a peer support network, APUK is committed to supporting Autistic parents in a number of ways, including: - regular blog articles, from Autistic parents sharing lived experience - monthly webinars with well-known Autistic Advocates - free-to-access training for parents (such as perinatal education and approaches to parenthood workshops) - training and supervision for professionals - monthly giveaways to increase accessibility to literature and support relevant to Autistic parents
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Do you support parents of Autistic children?Yes, if the parents are also Autistic themselves. We support all Autistic parents regardless of their children's neurotype.
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What is Autistic Parents UK's view on Autism?Autistic Parents UK supports the Neurodiversity paradigm, and positive Autistic identity through the lens of the social model of disability. This does not mean that we don't understand the negative experiences that many Autistic people go through (ourselves included). We are happy for people at any stage in their learning of Autism to join us and we are happy to share reputable resources to support increased accurate knowledge of Autism. ​ At Autistic Parents UK groups we use identity-first language, and we don’t discuss cause or cure. Autism is referred as such within our groups, to Autistic Parents UK Autism is a neurology (neurotype), not a disorder or condition. Self-identification is valid for our groups.
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Are Peer Support groups therapy?Everyone involved with Autistic Parents UK is an Autistic parent themselves and there is no hierarchy within our groups. Autistic Parents UK does not facilitate therapy groups, no person involved in the mutual peer support groups we run is doing so as a trained professional, though has received peer support training and on going suppervision from the charity. If you feel like you need professional support we can signpost you and other members may be able to share their experiences around this. Autistic Parents UK does not provide crisis support. If you are in need of crisis support will signpost you to an appropriate support organisation, please call 999 in an emergency.
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I would like to join one of your webinars, how do get a free members ticket?"You may select a free members ticket on our eventbrite listings. Membership includes: Being a member of our Autistic parents (parents who are Autistic) only Facebook group. Being an Autistic parent living in the UK (tickets will be confirmed after contact is made with us by email or on our contact page).
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What are your group rules and guidelines?We know that rules aren't always well received but in order to keep our group safe for all members we have some basic rules; each has been well thought out and has a valid rationale behind it. We are happy to chat with you about this further if you'd like, feel free to drop us an email. We aim to keep all of our groups a safe place for all and support the development of trust and enable us to share our thoughts and feelings with each other. Each individual group facilitated by Autistic Parents UK will be invited to add to or challenge any of the rules or guidelines. You can view the guidelines in full here and our policies and procedures here.
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How do you protect my information?Autistic Parents UK only collects necessary information to ensure the safety of our groups and to evaluate the peer support offerings in order to develop and make changes. ​ All your information is securely stored in online cloud storage that is password protected. ​ You can access our policies here for more information.
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Do you share research requests?We only publicise research that is in line with our ethos and in the best interest of our community. Go to our research request page to find our more.