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  1. Help & Advice
  2. Useful Links

Useful Links

Click on the links below for more information

  • General advice
  • Specialist Benefit and Specific Advice
  • Specialist Autism Advice
  • Housing
  • Transport
  • Mental Health
  • Crisis Contacts
  • Education
  • Legal - All aspects
  • Employment
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  • Travel
  • Facebook Groups
  • Legislation
  • eSafety

General advice

Essex Local Offer

Information about services and local opportunities for children and young people with SEND in Essex.

Suffolk Info Link

This is the Suffolk Local offer, information about services and local opportunities for children and young people with SEND in Suffolk.

Norfolk County Council

SEND local offer for Norfolk.

Norfolk SEND Partnership

Supporting parents, carers, children & young people in Norfolk

SNAP Charity

Online directory of useful contacts

Essex Connects

A place to find local activities and to help you to get in touch with hundreds of local charities, voluntary groups, and community sector services, based in Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Tendring, Maldon, Uttlesford, Epping, Harlow, Basildon, Billericay and Wickford.

Colchester Gateway Clubs

An independent local charity, providing social clubs and activities for adults with learning disabilities.

Treetops Cafe

Gives practical bite-sized training in food preparation.

Family Lives

Help with aspects of family life that include all stages of a child’s development, issues with schools and parenting/relationship support. They also respond when life becomes more complicated and provide support around family breakdown, aggression in the home, bullying, teenage risky behaviour and mental health concerns of both parents and their children.

Safe Soulmate

Help 18+ adults to meet new people, socialise, create friendships and/or love in a safe way.

The Befriending Scheme

Provide friendship and learning opportunities for vulnerable people (16 and over ears old) including those with disabilities, mental health needs, older people, and other isolated groups. Also, provide volunteering opportunities with extra support. 

The Mix

Essential support for under 25s

Activities Unlimited

Provide short breaks and leisure activities to disabled children aged 0-25 in Suffolk. They recognise that short breaks and respite from a caring role are a priority for families and should be delivered as part of a broader package of family support services.

Thera Trust

Thera East Anglia supports adults with a learning disability in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. They can help with: support in home, help in community, short breaks, employment, work experience, life skills and support plans. 

The Child’s Bowel and Bladder Charity

ERIC exists to give every child and teenager with a bowel or bladder condition the support they deserve to enjoy a life free from shame, isolation and fear.

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Specialist Benefit and Specific Advice

Turn to us

The find an Adviser tool allows you to search for sources of information and advice on benefits, housing, jobs, legal issues and other practical help.

Disability Rights UK

Links to organisations giving advice on benefits, care and debt

Disability Advice North East Suffolk

Free, impartial and confidential information, advice, advocacy and representation service throughout Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Southwold, Halesworth and all surrounding villages.  The service is offered to anyone with a disability, their carers, and professionals working with them to help overcome day-to-day problems of disability.

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Specialist Autism Advice

Autism & ADHD

Offers support to individuals and families who live & work with Autism and ADHD on a daily basis.

ASD Helping Hands

Supporting people and carers affected by Autism.

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Housing

Shelter England

Housing advice.

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Transport

Essex Travel Training

Giving people the confidence to travel independently.

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Mental Health

Heads Up

Heads Up provide support, advice and mentoring to people with common mental health problems to help them get back into the workplace after a period of unemployment. 

Suffolk Night Owls

Suffolk Night Owls is available in Suffolk to anyone who needs emotional support including those with complex emotional needs. The telephone support line is open seven nights a week, 7pm to 1am.  Tel: 0300 111 6000

EWMHS

Providing emotional and mental health support for children and young people

Teen Body Image And Self-esteem - A Practical Guide For Parents

Informative guide on how parents can help teens cultivate positive body Image and self esteem.

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Crisis Contacts

Samaritans

Whatever you’re going through a Samaritan will face it with you.
0845 790 9090
24 hours a day

The Silverline

A confidential helpline dedicated to older people.

0800 470 8090
24 hours a day

Sane

We believe that no-one affected by mental illness should face crisis, distress or despair completely alone.

0300 304 7000
10.30am-4.30pm (Mon-Fri)

The Mix (under 25’s)

Understanding mental health can be tricky but The Mix is here to make sure you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re worried about your mental health, or someone else’s, we have everything you need to know about mental health, from anxiety and depression to self-care and counselling.

0808 808 4994
4pm-11pm every day

Papyrus

HOPElineUK. For those aged up to 35.

Call: 0800 068 4141
Text: 0778 620 9697
10am – 10pm weekdays
2pm – 10pm weekends
2pm – 10pm Bank Holidays

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

The leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.

0800 802 5858 (5pm to midnight)

Police/A&E

Call if you are in need of URGENT medical attention.

111 or 999

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Education

Special Needs Jungle

Parent-led information, resources and informed opinion about children and young people 0-25

IPSEA

IPSEA offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Also offer training on the SEND legal framework to parents and carers, professionals and other organisation

SEND IASS

Education queries 0333 013 8913

Families in Focus

Education enquiries 01245 353575

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Legal-All aspects

Equality and Advisory Service

The Helpline advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales.

Suffolk Law Advice Centre

ISCRE runs interventions to support individuals and organisations in the statutory, private and voluntary sectors, to understand the extent and nature of inequality experienced by individuals and groups in fields such as the criminal justice system, housing, employment, education, health and social care. The aim is to encourage them to implement policies and practices which will eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity, and good relations, between all persons.

Disability Law Service

Provides free legal advice to people with disabilities and their carers to ensure that they have access to their rights and justice. Advice on community care, employment, housing and welfare benefits.

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Employment

Careers Matter Norfolk

Support for carers in Norfolk

Essex Supported Employment Services

Referrals made to Employment Services from social workers and are allocated to an Employment Advisor who will work with the customer to find suitable employment opportunities.

Hoursworth

A supported employment scheme that enables people with a learning disability and high support

Mencap

An employment service for people with a learning disability looking for work

Essex Carers “The way to work project”

Helps unemployed and unpaid carers get back into work.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships to enable people aged 16 or over to combine work with study.

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General Health

Suffolk Community Service

Provides high quality, reliable and safe healthcare to people in Suffolk, delivered with compassion and kindness. They strive to work in an integrated way with services across health, social care and the voluntary sector.

ACE

Anglian Community Enterprise (ACE) Community Interest Company provides a range of community health and well-being services to the population of North East Essex, with some services also in Suffolk.

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Travel

Essex Travel Training

Giving people the confidence to travel independently.

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Facebook Groups

*EHCP Experiences England

This is a closed group for parent/carers of SEND 0-25 to share their EHCP experiences and ask advice from each other. It is administrated by an SEN solicitor, who provides live chat on the page.

*SEN Advice and Support (Official)

A closed group, for parents and carers of children with Autism and other disabilities. Instant support and advice form the group community. They also run twice monthly advice drop in sessions in Colchester. Email address is [email protected]

*Autism Action Group Suffolk

Formed in January 2013 in response to negative parental experiences of the education system in the county. They are a campaigning group of parents with experience of the system and came together to try and influence change.

Let’s Do It –Autism Family Group

A group for children with autism, associated conditions and their families.

*Provides instant advice from the group community, once you have joined the FB page.

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Legislation

Care Act 2014

Children’s Act 1989

Children and Families Act 2014

Equality Act 2010

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eSafety

A Parents’ Guide to Teaching your Teen Online Safety

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Published: 1st February, 2020

Updated: 14th August, 2020

Author: Daniel McCullagh

Related topics:
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Autism Anglia

Make a one-off donation or set up a regular giving amount to Autism Anglia here. You can also create your own fundraising page to allow friends and family to donate to your event.

Published: 24th May, 2020

Author: Anna Rogers

Location: ,,

Target amount: £50,000.00

Amount raised: £23,609.62

Donate Fundraise

Comments: 1

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    We are compiling a useful list of online resources to help autistic people and their families cope during this difficult period.

  • Donate to or fundraise for our Welfare Rights Advice Service

    Donate to or fundraise for our Welfare Rights Advice Service

    Our Welfare Rights Advice Service is a source of information, advice and guidance for autistic people, their families and professionals. Working across Essex and Suffolk, this vital service relies entirely on grants and donations to maintain its team of advisors.

  • Crisis Contacts

    A selection of useful numbers if you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feeling hopeless, desperate and need someone to talk to.

  • Support Groups

    Support Groups

  • Practical Advice

    Practical Advice

  • Funds & Grants

    Funds & Grants

    Caring for someone with autism can become expensive. For children and adults needing specialist care, the costs can quickly spiral, from having to buy special sensory equipment and toys, to paying for higher utility bills. This can put a strain on your financial situation, so it is worth finding out if you are eligible for any funding or grants either through charitable organisations or the government...

  • Feedback and Donate

    Feedback and Donate

    Our Autism Advice Service is a source of information, advice and guidance for autistic people, their families and professionals. Working across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, this vital service relies entirely on grants and donations to maintain its team of advisors.

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  • Current Vacancies

    Current Vacancies

    Autism Anglia provides all staff with ongoing training and supervision, continuing professional development and support as well as an extensive induction on commencement of employment... Click here for current vacancies...

  • What is an Autism Alert Card?

    What is an Autism Alert Card?

    Autism Anglia offers a credit card sized Autism Alert Card as a way of boosting confidence and giving peace of mind if encountering emergency situations... PLEASE NOTE that due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, there may be a delay in processing Autism Alert Card applications. Apply for an alert card...

  • Signs of Autism

    Signs of Autism

    Although every individual on the autism spectrum has different needs and displays different symptoms, there are signs that you can look out for if you think that you or someone you know might have autism... Find out more about autism...

  • Getting a Diagnosis

    Getting a Diagnosis

    The pathways to getting an assessment for autism vary greatly between areas so this page will provide you with guidance on how the process may look when you start. Find out more about getting a diagnosis...

  • Norfolk

    Norfolk

    We are aware of the following support groups running in the Norfolk area. Please e-mail [email protected] if you are aware of a support group not listed below with details. Autism Anglia is not responsible for the content on any of these sites.

  • Current Staff Vacancies

    Current Staff Vacancies

    Details of all current staff vacancies

  • Doucecroft School

    Doucecroft School

    Doucecroft School in Colchester is an autism-specific day and residential school for children aged 3-19 years. Learn more...

  • Suffolk

    Suffolk

    We are aware of the following support groups running in the Suffolk area. Please e-mail [email protected] if you are aware of a support group not listed below with details. Autism Anglia is not responsible for the content on any of these sites.

  • Adult Services Overview

    Adult Services Overview

    Adult Services offer specialist support to adults aged 18 onwards within our Residential Services, Supported Living, Outreach Programme and Opportunity Centres in Essex and Norfolk... Learn more...

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    Caring for someone with autism can become expensive. For children and adults needing specialist care, the costs can quickly spiral, from having to buy special sensory equipment and toys, to paying for higher utility bills. This can put a strain on your financial situation, so it is worth finding out if you are eligible for any funding or grants either through charitable organisations or the government...

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Diagnostic Screen
Autism Passport

Autism Passport

Our new Autism Passport has been produced for autistic individuals and can be used in a variety of situations, e.g. court settings, police stations, Job Centres... Get Your Copy... Read more

Published: 22nd October, 2019

Updated: 16th June, 2020

Author: Dave Taylor

Donate Now

Donate Now

Your donation to Autism Anglia will help us to continue improving the lives of people with autism in this region Read more

Published: 25th March, 2020

Updated: 30th March, 2020

Author: Anna Rogers

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Sleep-in Room Upgrades

Sleep-in Room Upgrades

We want to upgrade the sleep-in rooms in our adult Residential and Supported Living Houses to provide a better experience for the staff on duty in the houses. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 16th April, 2020

Updated: 7th July, 2020

Author: Anna Rogers

N229 - Support Workers - Full & Part Time in Dereham & Norwich

This role is varied, and every day is different, so being adaptable is an important quality. Our priority is our commitment and passion to enable the best opportunities for the people we support, encouraging independence and promoting choice.  We focus on the person and supporting them to live their best life. Read more

Published: 20th July, 2020

Updated: 8th February, 2021

Author: Darryl Beard

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D210 - Lead Clinical Psychologist

We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Clinical Psychologist to join our friendly Multi-Disciplinary Team. Read more

Published: 19th October, 2020

Updated: 3rd February, 2021

Author: Marisa Brennan

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N242 Adult Services Norfolk Cook

One of our residences in Dereham, Norfolk are in need of a fabulous cook! If you have a passion for food and have a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, would like to work creatively in an environment which promotes independence, combined with part time hours, you’ve found your perfect role! Read more

Published: 6th November, 2020

Updated: 18th January, 2021

Author: Marisa Brennan

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We are looking for an experienced, professional and flexible Team Leader for one of our residences in Colchester. This is a varied, rewarding and fulfilling role, with supportive and friendly colleagues, who all work to achieve the best experiences for our residents. Read more

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Updated: 17th February, 2021

Author: Marisa Brennan

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