Autistic After Hours Community Interest Company

Autistic After Hours is a community interest company that was established in 2023 to provide social and peer support to autistic adults in Torbay and the surrounding areas who do not have a learning disability.

There is very little in terms of support for adults with autism, and any support that is available is between Monday and Friday 9-5. This means that anyone who is working a typical 9-5 job, or is in education, cannot access support at all. In addition to this many autistic adults are socially isolated and find it difficult to engage with others without support. Because of this many autistic adults find evenings and weekends particularly lonely and difficult.

The National Autistic Society have reported that:

38% (nearly 2 in 5) of autistic adults need support from social groups; only 16% have this support.

29% (nearly 3 in 10) of autistic adults need buddying or befriending; just 4% (1 in 25) get this.

Autistic After Hours is addressing this by providing a safe, structured environment for autistic people without a learning disability who are at risk of social isolation and loneliness, to come together to meet new people and form friendships, and socialise in an accepting and understanding environment safe from stigma and judgement. Attending the group will promote positive well-being, self-worth and self-confidence where being autistic doesn’t need to be a barrier to enjoying social activities and company.

We currently have 35 members, many of whom have benefited from our events and return frequently.

Autistic After Hours understands that the cost of living crisis and lasting effects of the covid pandemic have impacted disabled people in a disproportionate way and many adults with autism are not in a financially good positon. Because of this Autistic After Hours does not charge any members for attending and we provide refreshments free of charge at our events. We have had a small amount of funding from Torbay Council and Torbay Lottery which has covered some of our expenses for this year, however we are raising money to enable us to continue providing this free of charge essential support system to autistic adults in and around Torbay and to help us expand our service by putting on more meetings and events.

We will also use some of the money raised to get some support in designing and setting up our website in order to reach the wider community and hopefully have more members join us. As we currently don’t have a website set up, information about the group and it’s activities can be found on the Torbay Council website within the autism partnership-board section.

Our members will be helping to raise funding towards this cause by doing a sponsored walk in fancy dress on the 10th August 2024. We will be walking from Brixham harbour to Paignton Pier, stopping at Broadsands and Goodrington along the way. This is approximately 6 miles and we estimate it will take 5 hours.