AutismAble

22/06/2026

☀️ Free Summer Friday Taster Sessions ☀️
For people aged 16+ with SEND

Join us this summer for 7 weeks of fun, friendship and discovery at our Summer Friday Taster Sessions, designed with neurodivergent people in mind.

Sessions will be relaxed, supportive and a great chance to try something new, meet others and build confidence.

📅 Fridays from 17th July to 28th August
⏰ 1pm – 3pm
📍 Westoe Crown Community Hub, Sea Winnings Way, NE33 3PE

💙 Free to attend

Each week has a different theme:

Week 1 – Getting to know you & your strengths
Building trust, celebrating individuality and getting to know each other.

Week 2 – Creativity & self-expression
Art, collage, creative writing, photography and sensory crafts.

Week 3 – Wellbeing & self-care
Mindfulness, relaxation, self-care toolkits and activities to help you feel regulated.

Week 4 – Communication & connections
Team games, social confidence and fun challenges.

Week 5 – Music & movement
Body percussion, instruments and a sound scavenger hunt.

Week 6 – Digital gaming
Exploring gaming safely, including Nintendo Switch, Minecraft and Mario Kart.

Week 7 – Exploring nature
A nature walk, nature collage and planting seeds.

Qualified tutors and support workers will be there to support participants throughout the sessions.

If someone is likely to need 1:1 support or has higher support needs, please make sure this is included in the support needs question on the booking form so we can make sure support needs can be met.

👉 Book your free place here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeksOU3O-AaG3pg6JdzG89qZKbI3xdczs3YiDm3HbJFPKX8IQ/viewform

Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended. 🌈

19/06/2026

15/06/2026

Do you see me? 👀💜

This week is Learning Disability Week — Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June — a celebration of the amazing things people with learning disabilities bring to our communities.

This year's theme, "Do you see me?", is about people with a learning disability being seen, heard and valued, and about challenging the barriers they still face.

At AutismAble, around 50% of the people who attend our service are autistic and also have a learning disability.

We know every person is unique, with their own strengths, talents, interests and goals — and this week is a chance to celebrate that.

Join us across South Tyneside this week:

🏊‍♀️ TUESDAY 16 JUNE
Triathlon at Haven Point, 9:30am–1pm

Watch staff and members alike take on the triathlon test!

🎬 WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE
Westoe Crown Community Hub, 1pm–3pm

What better way to celebrate Learning Disability Week than with a trip to Oz, where the best thing you can be is "Wickedly Unique". Free to attend, with the option to pre-book a cooked meal for £5.

To book, email [email protected]

🦸‍♀️ THURSDAY 18 JUNE
NeuroDivergent Wonderclub at Sea Change CIC, 6pm–9pm

Don't forget to have your best hero or villain costume ready!
Entry is £5, with face painting available for an extra 50p.

🎶 FRIDAY 19 JUNE
Live performance at the Amphitheatre, 1pm–3pm

Come and enjoy live performances from some of our amazing bands.

There is also a fantastic programme of events happening across South Tyneside, hosted by AutismAble and other disability providers. Find the full list here: http://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/LDWeek

Let's celebrate people with learning disabilities being seen, heard, included and valued — this week and every week. 💜

12/06/2026

📣 We are looking for Trustees and Directors to join The Inclusionists Board!

This is an opportunity to become part of our growing organisation at an exciting stage in our journey - helping shape strategy, champion inclusion and influence meaningful change across the North East and beyond.

Our board oversees and supports all initiatives within The Inclusionists, including AutismAble, Sea Change CIC, Future Collaborations, WEAR and Youth Hub.

We are looking for people who:
🔵 Believe in inclusion and opportunity
🔵 Want to create meaningful change
🔵 Bring lived experience, professional expertise or fresh thinking
🔵 Care about communities and people
🔵 Are collaborative, compassionate and ambitious

You do not need previous board experience to apply! We welcome applications from people with lived experience of neurodiversity and from individuals whose voices are often underrepresented in leadership and governance.

To express your interest in joining The Inclusionists Board, please send:
🔵 A copy of your CV or LinkedIn profile
🔵 A short supporting statement about why you’d like to join us

Applications and informal enquiries can be sent to: [email protected]

We are happy to arrange informal conversations before applying and can support any access requirements throughout the process!

Click here to find out more:https://theinclusionists.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trustee-Director-Recruitment-Pack-The-Inclusionists.pdf

10/06/2026

📣 Calling all professionals! Come and join us for a special networking event for

Supporting children and adults with neurodiversity, learning disabilities, SEND, or complex needs has never been more important - or more challenging! But by coming together, we can share ideas, tackle challenges, and keep making a difference in people’s lives.

South Tyneside is full of passionate people and brilliant services doing just that - and this Learning Disability Week, we want to celebrate and connect with you!

‘Let’s Connect’ was inspired by Lexie, one of our amazing group members, who wanted to help services understand each other better and work more closely together. This is the second year of 'Let's Connect' and this year Route2Work College will be hosting the event.

Join us for a relaxed meeting and welcoming space to share what you do, learn from others, and build stronger community connections.

📅 Date: Wednesday 17th June 2026
🕒 Time: 2:30 - 4:30 pm
📍 Location: The Eco Centre, Windmill Way, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear NE31 1SR

☕ Free refreshments served by Route2Work Customer Service learners.

No presentations or slides needed, just flyers and posters, and a few words on:
What your service or organisation does
How people can get involved
Any challenges or barriers you're currently facing
How others might be able to support you

Whether you're a leader or an advocate for a charity, community group, health or education team, or simply care about inclusion, you’re very welcome!

Tickets are free, but we kindly ask that you register so we can manage numbers: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=zd8g6wAtIEG3ftMq4e9wMxEwt5HBy_NPrr_YPTkPDOBUNTI3WFFFM05XUElTWUZFVFQyQ1RPUTBOQSQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

05/06/2026

Our amazing Youth Hub was nominated for a 💜

🌟 Everyday Heroes Celebrated at South Tyneside Awards 2026 💗

The passion, kindness and community spirit of people that make the Borough such a special place has been recognised at the Awards 2026.

Held at The Customs House last night (Thursday 4 June), the annual awards shine a spotlight on the Borough's everyday heroes - celebrating those who go above and beyond to support others, strengthen communities and inspire pride in the place.

You can find the full list of winners below ⬇️
https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/30696/Everyday-Heroes-Celebrated-at-Love-South-Tyneside-Awards-2026

05/06/2026

📅✨ Attention young people of South Shields and Sunderland! ✨📅

Check out what's on at your Youth Hub this week! From gaming and creative sessions to social clubs and much more, there's something for everyone. 🎮🎨🎤

Why not come along, try something new, and meet some amazing people?

💙 Get in touch to find out more and join the fun!

05/06/2026

📣 Exciting news! ..Our Sunderland sessions are starting very soon! 🎉

Beginners Employability starts Thursday 18th June
Advanced Employability + Media & Photography sessions begin this September

Each session is designed for ages 16+ and is funded through Direct Payments. If you don’t currently have Direct Payments, don't worry! We can guide you through the process and support you every step of the way 💙

We also offer FREE taster sessions so you can come along and see what we’re all about!

Want to join us? Email: [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch.

We can’t wait to welcome you!