Autistic Girls Network Groups

We currently run some Face to Face groups for girls and non-binary young people aged between 9 – 25, and it is our wish and intention to open more as we get funding!

We’d love to see the day where anyone can access a neuro-affirming group, wherever they are.

Our groups are one of the most powerful things we do for young people’s mental wellness. The space itself is built around how autistic young people experience the world: soft or natural lighting rather than harsh strip lights, low noise, no strong smells, predictable routines, small, capped numbers, and absolutely no pressure to speak or join in. In that safety, anxious and isolated young people grow in confidence, make friends who truly understand them, and learn to advocate for themselves. Families consistently describe it as life-changing.

To talk about opening an AGN group, get in touch with us at the contact email at the bottom of this page – but please note we won’t open anywhere there is already a successful group.

What’s special about our groups?

  • Our groups are neuro-affirmative spaces where, most importantly, autistic children and young people can be themselves and be accepted exactly as they are

  • Our group facilitators are neurodivergent themselves, with neurodivergent children, and they understand. Most of our facilitators have trained as teachers or Forest School practitioners. They are DBS checked with safeguarding training.

  • Our group sizes are capped so that the group does not become too big for the young people to be comfortable coming to it.

  • We do lots of craft, cooking and outdoor activities but we also make time for understanding more about being autistic, in a positive way.

  • We spend a short time covering different life skills-related topics each session, for example we might talk about emotions, or friendship, or money management.

  • We genuinely get it – and so there is space to talk about passionate interests, and respect those interests. All of them.

  • We create an environment where co-production is the norm, and where self-advocacy is encouraged. We want to help these young people to be able to advocate for their needs.

  • Our groups are very popular! Some of our members have been coming since the very first group!

Who can attend our groups?

In order to come to the groups, you or your child need to:

  • Be autistic or on the pathway to diagnosis (self diagnosis is valid)

  • Be a girl, woman or non-binary young person

  • Be able to attend group alone without the need for 1:1 support or for a parent/carer to stay

What about our group leaders?

All of our group facilitators are neurodivergent themselves and will bring their own relatable experience of being diagnosed as an adult to the sessions. They are passionate about nurturing a positive autistic identity and helping to change the narrative around neurodiversity.

Each group facilitator is DBS-checked, has had safeguarding training and has previous experience of mentoring or working with autistic young people.

We run our groups for autistic girls and non-binary young people at the following locations

Abergavenny

Ages 13 – 18Abergavenny Community Centre, Merthyr Rd, Abergavenny NP7 5BY
Alternate Wednesdays 4:30-6

Bradford on Avon

Ages 13-18
Quaker House, 1 Whiteheads Lane, Bradford on Avon BA15 1JU
Wednesday evenings 5pm – 6.30pm

Chester

Ages 13-18
SPACE UNIT 6/7, Grange Park, Grange Road, Chester, CH2 2AN
Alternate Wednesdays 6-7.30

Edgbaston

Not Currrently Available

Hereford

Ages 9 – 12
Bartestree Village Hall, Ledbury Road, Bartestree, Hereford HR1 4BY
Mondays 6-7.30 Alternative weeks

Hereford

Ages 13-18
Bartestree Village Hall, Ledbury Road, Bartestree, Hereford HR1 4BY
Mondays 6-7.30 Alternative weeks

Liskeard

Ages 13 – 18
The Liskerrett Community Centre, Varley Lane, Liskeard, Cornwall
1st and 3rd Monday of each month

Liverpool

Ages 14 – 18
Squash Liverpool, 112-114 Windsor Street, Liverpool L8 8EQ
5:45 – 7:15 Alternate Thursdays

Lowestoft

Ages 9-12
(Kirkley Church Hall) St Peter & St John Church Hall, St Peter’s Road, Kirkley, Lowestoft NR33 0ED
Sundays 10am – 12pm

Newbury

Ages 13 – 18
Opens 18th September
Progress House 79 Gaywood Drive Newbury RG14 2PR
Alternative Fridays 4:30-6pm

Pontefract / Castleford

Ages 11 – 16
Kendal Drive Family Hub, 51 Kendal Drive, Castleford WF10 3SP
6 – 7.30 every other Friday

Pontefract / Castleford

Ages 14 – 18
Kendal Drive Family Hub, 51 Kendal Drive, Castleford WF10 3SP
6 – 7.30 every other Thursday

Scarborough

Ages 9-12
Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall, Burniston, Scarborough YO13 0HJ
Alternate Fridays 5pm-6.30pm

South Birmingham

Ages 9 – 12
Pineapple House, Dads Lane Community Centre, 171 Pineapple Road, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2SY
Alternate Fridays 5.15-6.45

South Birmingham

Ages 13 – 18
Pineapple House, Dads Lane Community Centre, 171 Pineapple Road, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2SY
Alternate Fridays 7-8.30

Stratford upon Avon

Ages 9 – 12
Lifeways Centre, 30 Albany Rd, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6PG.
6-7.30 pm every other Friday

Stratford upon Avon

Ages 13 – 18
Lifeways Centre, 30 Albany Rd, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6PG.
6-7.30 pm every other Friday

Stratford upon Avon

Ages 18 – 25
Lifeways Centre, 30 Albany Rd, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6PG.
7.45 – 9.15 pm every other Friday

Thanet

Ages 10-14Arts in Ramsgate, 46 High St, Ramsgate CT11 9AG
Alternate Tuesdays 6pm – 7.30pm

Opening new groups

We are always looking at possibilities of opening new groups and are in talks with a few people around the UK about opening.

To open a new group we need:

  • Neurodivergent facilitators – two for each group session, must pass a DBS check and undertake safeguarding training as well as training on our own Autistic Girls Network Groups framework. In some instances these will be volunteers, in others if we have enough funding in place they can be paid on a freelance basis. We may need to prove need before we can secure funding. Our facilitators also need to uphold AGN’s ethos of Difference not Deficit and be passionate about changing the narrative on neurodiversity.

    Find out more about volunteering opportunities HERE

  • A suitable and secure venue that’s available at the same time every week/fortnight. It needs space for activities, cooking facilities, preferably outdoor space and to not be a sensory nightmare! When the group location is not near AGN headquarters, we rely on the group facilitators to secure a venue, but AGN funds it.

  • Funding to pay for the venue, activities, supplies such as art and crafts, fidget toys and sensory items, admin and group facilitators.

If you’d be interested in helping us to open a group near you, please get in touch at hello@autisticgirlsnetwork.org. Be patient – we are still a tiny charity and we don’t have huge capacity.

Channel 4 News special report

One of our face to face groups was recently featured on a Channel 4 News special report on autism waiting times – please watch it to understand why our groups are so important and why we need to open more of them.

What people say about our groups

Funding seven groups for a year