*Please note that we are a service for autistic adults. To access more information about children’s services, please visit the Leeds Local Offer link below.

Leeds Local Offer

The Local Offer for Leeds is a service by Leeds City Council that helps to find specific services for people with autism and learning disabilities aged 0-25. It has a directory, which you can find at the link below:

If you have any enquiries about education, health and voluntary services, the Local Offer also has a phone number. You can  send an email to [email protected].

Local support groups

ZigZag are another support group for parents and autistic children. They organise play groups and run a community shop. You can get in touch with them in the following ways:

Airedale and Wharfedale Autism Resource (AWARE) work in the Airedale, Craven, Wharfedale and Bradford areas. It is run by parents of autistic children in those areas and provide a range of groups and events. Here are their contact details:

Social groups/workshops

People Matters have a Teens and Twenties Group for autistic people and people with a learning disability in Leeds, aged between 16 and 29. The group do lots of activities, including bowling, trampolining, swimming and meals out. Activities are chosen by the group members themselves.

There are 15 spaces within each social group. You can come alone or with your own support. Membership for the group is free, but there is a cost for each activity. Groups run Monday to Thursday and will usually start at 6:30pm and finish about 8:30pm. They also have a Saturday group, which runs from 1pm to 3pm.

Education

The STARS Team are a group of autism specialists who offer awareness training to mainstream schools. They also offer advice to parents and schools on how they can provide the best possible education for autistic children. Here are their contact details:

Lighthouse School

This is a free school for autistic children in Leeds, run by parents of autistic children. It has four cornerstones of learning:

  • Curriculum
  • Wellbeing
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Experience and Skills

It offers education from 11-19 and is based in the Cookridge area of the city.

SEND IASS

Leeds Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice Support Service (SEND IASS) is a support service for parents of children/young adults who need information and advice on Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP).

Local nurseries that have special educational needs (SEN) provision

MindMate – Neurodiversity Hub

MindMate is a mental health resource for children and young people in Leeds. They have a neurodiversity information hub for neurodivergent young people and their parents/carers experiencing mental health difficulties: MindMate Neurodiversity Hub

Barnardo’s – Leeds Children’s Rights Advocacy service

The service offers independent advocacy to young people transitioning from a Special Educational Needs statement to an Educational Health and Care Plan. They also advocate for young people who are unhappy with any aspect of their plan.