Autism Suppport service

The Pitch

Problem statement

We work in the community impacted by Autism across Northamptonshire. This is a community where individuals and families are often left feeling isolated and marginalised. Additional to our own lived experience perspective we have actively engaged via an online anonymous survey using existing parent carer support groups’ social media networks with our community. This showed over 80% felt lost and bewildered following diagnosis. . Blossom Children’s Occupational therapy service says “Having a service like En-Fold, that can support the early months following a diagnosis and signpost families will be hugely beneficial and also reduce any feelings of isolation and helplessness.”

Solution

Our vision is to open doors, and provide links and support for individuals and families by acting as system navigators. We will provide an autism support service that provides individually tailored support and connects people to other organisations and services, as well as peer support groups, creating sustainable support in the longer term. We will also train up volunteer mentor / befrienders who will offer emotional support to parents and to autistic adults. This funding would be spent on staffing the initial support, training and supporting volunteers as well as coordinating the service.

Why are we best placed to deliver?

We are an organisation founded and delivered by an Autistic person, with the support or a robust and professional team of trustees. We have great experience of needs of autism and pride ourselves on listening to the voices of those who need the support. Lat financial year we supported 50 families though the service. This year we have already achieved 52 referrals and are not yet half way through the financial year. Feed back has been brilliant: https://www.enfold.org.uk/case-study-mike

Focus Areas

Delivery plan

Budget breakdown

Beneficiaries

80 people

Expected impact

Some of the key outcomes of our work for Autistic people and their carers and families are: 1. Reduced Isolation 2. Increased mental wellbeing – mood will be greater 3. Connected to at least 3 more services/groups to support their journey going forward 4. Connected to local peer support groups whether through meetings or online and will then become part of the peer support themselves as their own journey progresses. 5. Financial pressure reduced through awareness of benefit entitlement, reducing poverty. 6. Greater understanding of Autism and its impact, and be supported in adjusting to this diagnosis. 7. The number of meltdowns and level of anxiety reduced as a result of greater understanding. We use an outcome star to benchmark, and complete again after our support to measure impact. Last financial year stats shows significant improvement across the board: • Meeting emotional needs – 87% • Social Networks – 93% • Supporting learning/employment – 93%

Track record

The link below describes Mike’s story. He accessed our support following his diagnosis and has since become a trustee. https://www.enfold.org.uk/case-studies#casestudymike. Further notable data from our evaluations from those who have completed the initial support include: • 100% feel they understand more about autism • 100% would recommend En-Fold to others • 100% feel less isolated • 100% feel better equipped to deal with behaviour/meltdowns and sensory needs. Spectrum parent support group says this of En-Fold: The vision of En-Fold… is something that is very much needed and regularly talked about within our group… We refer any families of newly diagnosed children to En-fold and welcome parents being told about what we have to offer at Spectrum. All the parents who have accessed En-Fold talk of how much is has benefited them and what a great service it is.

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