The Berkshire West Autism & ADHD Support Service offers free advice, workshops, and courses for families of children and young people (up to age 17) with possible or confirmed autism and/or ADHD. The service is delivered in partnership by Autism Berkshire and Parenting Special Children, on behalf of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West NHS Integrated Care Board.
Who can use this service? Families must be registered with a GP in the Berkshire West NHS area (Reading, Wokingham, and West Berkshire council areas).
Support available includes:
- Helpline & Support Calls: Free and confidential advice, available Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), for autistic young people, their parents/carers, and professionals. Signposting is also available for families of children with possible or confirmed ADHD. Parents and carers can request appointments with family support workers for in-depth discussions.
- Autism advice workshops: Topics include Understanding More About Autism, Sensory Differences, Supporting Behaviour, Emotional Regulation, Eating & Mealtime Challenges, Autism & Mainstream Schools, and tailored workshops for parents/carers of autistic 11 to 17-year-olds.
- Teen Life course: A National Autistic Society programme for parents/carers of autistic children aged 10 to 16.
- ADHD advice workshops: Covering Introduction to ADHD, Anxiety and ADHD, and Managing ADHD Behaviours.
- Additional workshops/webinars: Sleep Difficulties and Transition to Adulthood.
- Support for autistic and ADHD children and young people: Tailored interventions for children aged 5 to 7, based on individual need.
How to access: You can contact the service or request places at workshops/courses at any time via the online referral form, by email, or by phone. Please include a daytime phone number in your message so the team can get in touch.
Cost: All advice and support calls are free. Some workshops and courses may require booking; details are provided upon enquiry.
For professionals: Health, education, or social care professionals supporting autistic children and young people can refer families using a dedicated referral form.
Families of children and young people who have a diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, or are on the Berkshire CAMHS waiting for autism and ADHD assessment, and are registered with a GP surgery in the Berkshire West NHS area (the Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire council areas).