The organisation’s themes: Being Included/Social Inclusion, Citizenship/Community Development, Education and Personal Development, Emotional Wellbeing, Equality and Diversity, Health, Human Rights, Keeping Active and Involved, Leisure and Hobbies, Mental Wellbeing, Support for People with Learning Disabilities
Who the organisation is for: Carers, People experiencing mental health issues, People experiencing Unemployment, People with learning disabilities
Organisation description: Bolton Adult Autism Support is a voluntary organisation that exists to provide support to and enhance the health and well being of adults with autism and associated conditions, and their carers/families. In June 2020, in recognition of services to improve the lives of those affected by autism, BAAS received the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, which is the MBE of voluntary organisations. Our values go ACROSS the Autism Spectrum: Awareness Connection Respect Openness Sensitivity Support Our Vision Bolton Adult Autism Support’s work will continue until every community understands, supports and embraces neuro-divergence and maintains comprehensive and fully-resourced provisions for those with Autism Spectrum Condition and their families and carers from the first question to recognition and beyond. Our Services Community:- Our Social & Life Skills Events provide autistic adults and their families with a chance to experience various community activities, meeting for social events and enjoying carers respite trips/days out further afield. For some autistic adults and their families, spending time with BAAS may be the only time they feel able to be part of their local community, due to anxieties around leaving home without support. Life Skills:- Together with providing a community for our members, we also offer life skills sessions, providing autistic adults with skills to enable their independence. We offer cooking sessions each month, giving our members the confidence to cook in a supportive environment. We offer craft skills sessions giving them the chance to try a new hobby, a complimentary reiki or yoga session to aid relaxation, and we have also facilitated money skills sessions, with the support of Bolton Council. Welfare Benefits:- We assist our service users to apply for the correct benefit entitlement by helping them to complete disability welfare benefit forms, such as Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work forms, as well as challenge adverse benefit decisions through the mandatory reconsideration and appeal process. Befriending Service:- Befriending is a national mission to reduce social isolation and loneliness amongst some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. At BAAS, we support our volunteer befrienders by providing them with training in befriending, adult safeguarding and Autism. Our volunteers support our service users by spending two hours/week accessing various community activities and providing emotional support, with a view to improving mental health & overall wellbeing. Raising Awareness:- We work and liaise closely with other organisations to raise awareness and meet the needs of autistic adults in the Bolton area. Particular organisations and networks of note are: Bolton GP Federation NHS Community Mental Health Team Autism & Post Autism Diagnostic Team Bolton Adult Social Care Greater Manchester Autism Consortium We also provide work placements to students from Manchester Metropolitan University, Wigan and Leigh College and Bolton University. Autism in Bolton There are an estimated 2,224 autistic adults living in Bolton right now. That is 2,224 people, in addition to their families and caregivers, who may benefit from our support.
Where the organisation operates: Unsure
Location: First Floor, Nelson Square, Nelson House, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS
Email: vicky@boltonadultautismsupport.org.uk
Phone: 07772547158
