News & Events
We are proud and delighted to announce that The Autism Apprentice CIC have been chosen by the panel as Winner of this years Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards. The team attended the awards ceremony on Friday 20th October 2023 and were surprised to receive a second award as overall Champion in the category of Wellbeing Staff.
The Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards is an annual event to showcase the people, organisations and initiatives that help us cope with life. The event’s three themes are: mental health; wellbeing; kindness and compassion. Thank you to our amazing team, volunteers, supporters and funders. We couldn't do what we do without their support.
Our coffee morning dates up until December are:
- Thursday 12th September 10 - 12
- Tuesday 22nd October 10 - 12
- Tuesday 5th November 10 - 12
- Thursday 5th December 10 - 12
They will be at The Sheppey Hall, Main Road, Queenborough ME11 5DL and are open to families living in Kent and Medway.
Come and have a coffee and a chat with the family support team who all care for at least one autistic young person and some are autistic themselves.
No booking required, just turn up. Children not in school are welcome to accompany but parents / carers are responsible for them at all times.
For further information please email admin@autismapprentice.co.uk.
These sessions are funded by the postcode community trust
We currently have two different age youth groups running. This is the 11-18 years old group. They are all held at Sheppey United FC, Holm Park, Queenborough Road, Sheerness ME12 3DB, unless otherwise stated below.
10am - 11:30am on the following dates:
- Thursday 29th August - to be held at Sheppey Hall, Main Road, Queenborough ME11 5DL
- Saturday 7th September
- Saturday 19th October
- Saturday 2nd November
- Saturday 14th December
We will have VR-Headsets, Board Games, LEGO, Crafts and Table Tennis, indoor football. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase at a subsidised cost.
This is open to young people living in Kent and Medway.
Numbers are limited so booking is essential. Please email admin@autismapprentice.co.uk to book your place.
This is all possible thanks to a Kent & Medway Better Mental Health and Well-being Grant
Thanks to funding from the The National Lottery Community Fund we are able to bring you an Out of Hours Help Line.
We understand that for many reasons, the only free time you have may be evenings so, if you need some advice you can now call us.
You can call 0300 011 0300 between 6.30 - 7.30pm and each week we will advertise the days the phoneline will be open on our Facebook page.
We are delighted to be hosting our popular SEN Info Day for the second year running.
This will take place on Wednesday 2nd October 9.30 - 2.30 at The Woodstock, Sittingbourne ME9 8AG
We have Dr Kim Selby hosting a Q & A session; Dr Georgie Siggers speaking about autistic burnout and Andrew Green speaking about the different aspects of communication.
There will also be a range of information stalls for you to browse:
- Ripplevale School - Home | Ripplevale School
- Starjumpz - Integrated Services for Children, Young People and Families (starjumpz.com)
- Forest Autism Support - Autism Kent, Assessment, Support, Diagnosis, Consultant, Education (forestautismsupport.co.uk)
- Sensory Playground - Children's Sensory Toys | Autism Toys | Kent | Sensory Playground UK
- Amanda Peddle, Tams Journey - TAM’s Journey – Inside Out (insideoutosyp.co.uk)
- Dandelion Time - Home - Dandelion Time
- Inclusive Sport - About us - Inclusive Sport
The Autism Apprentice Team will also be available to speak with.
To secure your place, tickets must be booked in advance - https://buytickets.at/theautismapprentice/1269300
We currently have two different age youth groups running. This is the 8 - 13 years old group. They are all held at Sheppey United FC, Holm Park, Queenborough Road, Sheerness ME12 3DB, unless otherwise stated below.
10am - 11:30am on the following dates:
- Saturday 21st September
- Saturday 12th October
- Wednesday 30th October 1 - 2.30pm - to be held at Sheppey Hall, Main Road, Queenborough ME11 5D
- Saturday 16th November
- Saturday 7th December
- Monday 30th December - to be held at Sheppey Hall, Main Road, Queenborough ME11 5D
We will have VR-Headsets, Board Games, LEGO, Crafts and Table Tennis, indoor football. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase at a subsidised cost.
This is open to young people living in Swale.
Numbers are limited so booking is essential. Please email admin@autismapprentice.co.uk to book your place.
These youth clubs are supported by BBC Children in Need
From September thanks to funding from The Kent & Medway Better Mental Health and Well-being Grant, we are able to provide weekly social clubs for young people who are either home educated or out of school.
These sessions are for young people living in Kent & Medway who are aged 11 - 18 years old.
We will have VR-Headsets, Board Games, LEGO, Crafts and Table Tennis, indoor football. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase at a subsidised cost.
These sessions are run by experts by experience, one of which is a qualified teacher.
Numbers are limited so booking is essential. Please email admin@autismapprentice.co.uk to book your place.
The next round of The Real Life Autism Course starts at 12 noon on Tuesday 10th September. This is a 6 week virtual course delivered via Zoom. £80 per family.
Each week the sessions will be geared around a different topic:
- week 1 - Introductions, What is autism and the co-occurring conditions
- week 2 - Sensory Processing
- week 3 - Anxiety, stimming and masking
- week 4 - Education
- week 5 - Communication and behaviour
- week 6 - Q & A- ask us
Please email admin@autismapprentice.co.uk to book your place
Following completion of this round, the next starts on Wednesday 6th November at 7pm.
