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Coronavirus (COVID 19) ​ Current links to general services available, updates and Information ​ ​ Benefits and Grants ​ Turn 2 us - Advice and benefits calculator ​ Bereavement information ​ Child Bereavement UK - Support and information ​ Haven Hospices - Infromation and guidance for Bereavement ​ National Autistic Society Information - Bereavement for families ​ General Information and Guidance ​ Ambitious about Autism - A great range of practical resources, including templates and posters, that parents and young people can download and use at home during this difficult time. Some of these templates are editable. ​ Community 360 - The Essex Family Support Service - providing support to families which include school-aged children and young people aged 8 – 19 years ​ Contact.org.uk – Up to date information about health passports, education rights etc. Contact.org.uk - 1-1 confidential phone appointments with our family support advisers. ​ Council for Disabled Children - Government updates across variety of service. Council for Disabled Children - Some great guidance on supporting children with LD / ASC. ​ Effective Support Hub - list of organisations. ​ ​Essex Family Forum - Dedicated Coronavirus update pages. ​ Essex Child and Family Wellbeing service - Some great advice and guidance. Essex Child and Family Wellbeing service - Families with SEND children and YP Essex Child and Family Wellbeing service - Families with Autistic Children or YP ​ Essex.Gov.UK - A new range of services has just been launched to give young people and their families a little extra help during the coronavirus pandemic. ​ ​ Essex Welfare Service - Online and phone support. ​ GOV.UK - Update for parents and carers regarding testing of Covid 19 GOV.UK - Guidance for schools and local authorities on providing vouchers to support pupils eligible for free school meals, over the summer holiday period, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. GOV.UK - Optional badges/lanyards to promote ongoing social distancing ​ Herts local offer - Resources for parents and professionals in Hertfordshire. ​ Inclusive Communication Essex (ICE) - Up to date Information and Guidance on wearing facemasks ​ Keepsafe.org.uk - Masks - Information on exemptions and printable cards ​ Kids Inspire - Support and resources for families. ​ Mencap - Good source of Support and information for people with additional learning difficulties and their families ​ National Autistic Society Information and Guidance - Covid 19 ​ NHS - Key rule change for essential carers / support for people with high needs ​ Sibs uk - Information for Siblings of a disabled brother or sister at home. ​ SNAP - Coronavirus directory - Family guide. ​ Social Care Institute for Carers (SCIE) - Guide for carers and families giving support. ​ ​ Young Minds - Supporting your child through the lock down.

April 2024 Today Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 PACT Events Calendar

Assessment / Diagnosis Rights and Support Health and Well Being Out and About Finance and Housing Resources Family and Carers Employment / Education Finance and Housing Helpful Links and information ​ ​ Benefits online calculator ​ ​ Citizens advice bureau Gov.uk Webpage and links to all benefits and financial help ​ MENCAP – Benefits, clear and easy read guides to benefits. ​ National Autistic Society Benefits advice​ ​ ​ Peabody - Essex outreach support service - support people over 16 who need support, guidance or advice around health, finances and housing. ​ Preparing for Adulthood - Giving Everyone Equal Life chances as they move into Adulthood​ ​

How to Support Us There are a number of ways that you can support PACT for Autism and all donations are gratefully received, no matter the amount. Here you will find information on the different ways you can support PACT for Autism: Donate through JustGiving PACT for Autism is entirely funded by charitable donations, so every penny really does count! ​ Our JustGiving page makes it easy for you to set up a monthly direct debit, make a ‘one-off’ donation, or set up a fundraising page for an event. If you are a UK tax payer, we will receive the gift aid on your donation. ​ You can also make a direct donation by emailing our finance officer, Lisa Gay . Alternatively, you can send a cheque to our office Click here – please be sure to enclose a covering letter explaining who you are and why you are donating! Donate through PayPal Giving Fund ​ Our PayPal Giving Fund Page makes it easy for you to set up a monthly direct debit, make a ‘one-off’ donation, or set up a fundraising page for an event. If you are a UK tax payer, we will receive the gift aid on your donation. ​ You can also make a direct donation by emailing our financial officer, Lisa Gay . Alternatively, you can send a cheque to our office address Click here – please be sure to enclose a covering letter explaining who you are and why you are donating! Support us through Amazon Smile Shop on Amazon Smile and chose PACT for Autism as your chosen charity ​ To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.co.uk from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.co.uk to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. ​ Amazon donates 0.5% of the net purchase price (excluding VAT, returns and shipping fees) of eligible purchases to PACT for Autism Join the Essex Lottery. Support PACT for Autism ​ The Essex Lottery was created in 2017 by Essex County Council. Set up to support community projects in the local area, The Essex Lottery operates on the principle of raising money within the community for the community. We empower local good causes to raise money in a fun and effective way. ​ In a time of shrinking budgets and increased community need, The Essex Lottery enables people to support the causes they care most about, helping good causes to connect with their supporters. ​ A ticket for The Essex Lottery costs £1 per week and 60p will go directly to good causes! Sponsor our Annual Charity Ball The PACT for Autism Charity Ball is our chief fundraising event of the year. Over the evening we celebrate the achievements of the year and our PACT children and families through a night of feasting, dancing, music, and laughter. You can help in a number of ways. Every year we seek sponsors for the event to show their solidarity and passion for our cause. If you or your organisation would be interested in sponsoring the PACT for Autism Charity ball then please get in contact for further details. We also hold a charity raffle during the evening. We are extremely grateful for any donations of raffle prizes. Likewise, if your business would like to donate an experience, such as a day trip or getaway, then please get in touch. Other ways to support us on the Web We are also registered with Easy Fundraising , making fundraising much easier by allowing you to raise funds while you shop – without costing you a penny! From energy bills and insurance to groceries and electronics, you can help contribute without spending a penny extra! ​ By using Easysearch you can also contribute half a penny for every time you search the internet. 15 times a day can end up raising around £25 over the whole year.

Where do I begin - Parents and Carers Where do I begin? Education Health & Wellbeing Family Support / Care Financial & Benefits Resources Other Useful Links You may be noticing differences in the development of your child or young person. ​ Collect together your own observations and thoughts together with reports from nursery/school or any other people involved. ​ ​ Then speak with your G.P, Health visitor, school nurse Speech Therapist or other Health professional and ask them to refer your child or young person to the local Child Development Team. (In West Essex it will be the JADES Pathway Journey of Autism Diagnosis and Early Support (JADES) . ​ ​ You can Send us a Message if you would like help with this. ​ If your child is in education you do not need a diagnosis to get support for them, your school or nursery should be working with you to record their strengths and needs and to provide support. Find out more about support with this on our education page . ​ ​ ​ Our top websites to find a wide range of support, services and activities. . Local Offer - This is the local government run directory of Information about all services and local opportunities and activities for Children and young people up to 25 years with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). To find your Local Offer, type your county name and Local Offer into your search engine. Alternatively, click on one of the local links Essex Local Offer Hertfordshire Local Offer ​ National Autistic Society - All the most up to date information from diagnosis through to all sorts of services and useful information from Child to Adult. Autism Central - A hub of resources and peer to peer support ​ Short Breaks - The Short Breaks programme is open to all children and young people who are aged between 0-25 (Please note some services post 19 will require a personal budget) and have a diagnosis of Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability. Providing support and a wide range of activities. Essex Short Breaks Hertfordshire Short Breaks ​ Contact - A national organisation with a wealth of information supporting families of Children and young people with SEND, from benefits through to education and clothing. Essex Child and Family wellbeing - Children’s Health and developmental health needs along with the family hubs/Children’s centres in Essex, the site has a wealth of information on therapy, services and ways to help your child/young person. ​ SNAP (Special needs and Parents) - An excellent easy to use resource to find activities, Parent and Professional courses/talks, and the services SNAP offers as well as an extensive local directory for Essex, aimed at families of children with SEND 0-25. ​ SPACE - a Hertfordshire based Charity supporting Parents/Carers of Neurodivergent Children and young people. ​ ​

Please note that the following events are not run by PACT for Autism Continue to the event page and details of contact and booking details will be displayed. Thank you

Helplines : 07377386090 07377386093 Information & Support PACT - Activities Fundraising & Charitable Events About Privacy Policy Blogs Search Results Forms & Downloads Job Board Click for More Join our mailing list Pact is a charity who connect and support a Neurodiverse community of parents, carers, Autistic adults and families, with or without a diagnosis . PACT for Autism are a Small Charity who connect a Neurodiverse community of Parents, Carers, Autistic Individuals and families along with the wider community. ​ We are based in Harlow in West Essex but you can contact us from anywhere, no diagnosis is required to access our services. ​ We listen, Explore, Explain, Plan, Signpost & Connect ​ Listen Explore Explain Plan Signpost Connect We listen to you and explore with you by talking, text or email and explain from an lived experience perspective about Autism , diagnosis, services, processes etc. We may then put together a plan with you and signpost you to services and organisations. We will always try to connect you to an organization we know can support directly. If you would like a regular email to access our activities and links to information please register here All members of the staff and volunteers provide support at our events and and will respond to your enquiry then will pass you onto the relevant team member,we do also have specific support Team of two part time staff. We know people have different preferred ways of communicating so please do choose the method suits you best to contact our team, we will contact you back to arrange a time and if you would like a plan of what we will talk about. Our key services include; Support & Information by Phone and email Website with links to local and national services - The Signpost. Monthly group meetings for Parents, Carers Autistic Adults Workshops Activities Mailing list – we regularly mail out information on local and national initiatives along with our booking information for workshops, meetings and activities. Autism Talks & training from a lived experience perspective. Information & Support Whats on at PACT Support Us About PACT

ABOUT OUR CAUSE PACT for Autism is a charity providing support and connection for Autistic children and individuals, neurodiverse families, couples and carers of Autistic people young and old and other Neurodivergent conditions. We are a Neurodiverse community. We support people with or without a diagnosis. The charity was founded in 2012 by a group of parents who wanted to improve education, health and social care services, and provide families with opportunities to thrive within an inclusive society. Parents and lived exsperience remain at the heart of the charity. We provide support and information to enable all to feel empowered to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. Lived experience is at the heart of our board of Trustees, These insights and direct experiences help to shape the charity’s services, which include: Telephone Helpline Support Monthly Information & Support Meetings Family Activities Talks & Training Service for both families & professionals Annual Events to promote awareness, knowledge & strong working relationships (open to the public): Autism Talks Our Charity Ball Our aim is to improve living, working, social and leisure opportunities for autistic people of all ages and their families, where all can feel included and valued . PACT for Autism Promotional video Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share A short video showcase… Being a parent of a child with a disability can be isolating. At PACT for Autism, we pride ourselves on the wonderful friendships that we have formed over the years, giving us all the strength and belief to do the best we can for our children. Here is a short video which showcases our services, to families and will give you an insight into who we are and how we support the community.

Advice for Parents during COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Please click on the links below in order to view/open/download the appropriate Forms. Click above to Download

Kevin Gay Charity Manager Kevin joined the team in August 2019 as the new charity Manager. Although taking on a new role he is not a stranger to PACT Having been on the board of trustees for many years and fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve as Chair of the board, up to the time he took on his exciting new role. Married to Lisa, who was a founding member of PACT for Autism in 2005, they have two children. Kevin is the father to Callum who is now 21. Callum was diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum when he was 5 and also has sensory processing challenges along with a learning disability. We have since found out, through a Genome project, that Callum also has a rare genetic syndrome ADNP Prior to working for PACT, Kevin spent 30 years working as a police officer with Essex police, finishing his career as a Police Inspector and building up 10 years of supervision and management skills and experience. Kevin is passionate about ensuring the Autistic community has a voice and is represented in all areas. He has worked hard to renew working partnerships and connections with other service providers, charities and organisations.

Resources Education Health & Wellbeing Family Support / Care Financial & Benefits Resources Other Useful Links Local offer - This is the local government run directory of Information about all services and local opportunities and activities for Children and young people up to 25 years with SEND (Special Educational Needs/Difficulties).To find your Local Offer type your county name and Local Offer into your search engine. Essex Local Offer Hertfordshire Local Offer ​ Short Breaks - The Short breaks programme is open to all children and young people who are aged between 0-25 (Please note some services post 2019 will require a personal budget) and have a diagnosis of Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability. Providing support and a wide range of activities. Essex Short Breaks Hertfordshire Short Breaks ​ Accuro - A local charity providing a range of specialist services for children, young people and adults with a disability across West Essex, their services enable members to take part in a wide range of social and leisure opportunities. ​ ​ Chewigem - A company that makes and sells a wide range of items for sensory seeking chewers, also offer advice and support. ​ ​ Epping Forest Inclusion Project - A wide range of well supported Activities that anyone can access regardless of area. To see what’s on offer please Contact the team on the link above to discuss your child’s/young persons needs. Then to book follow this link and look for activities marked Disability Inclusion Project To Book ​ Essex Outdoors - With sites across Essex including Harlow, with skilled and inclusive teams who offer a wide range of activities for over 8’s , contact the centre on this number to discuss activities and support needed for your child to attend their activities. 01279 620270 ​ Fledglings - An online shop for a wide range of reasonably priced specialist products from clothing to toothbrushes, toys to g.p.s trackers. ​ Grove Cottage - Provides social and educational activities for people of all ages with learning disability: to develop their potential, avoid social isolation by supporting lifelong friendships and; to provide respite for their families. ​ Inclusive Communication Essex - An Essex wide service that offers training and resources to hire that enable communication. ​ SNAP (Special needs and Parents) - An excellent easy to use resource to find activities, Parent and Professional courses/talks, and the services SNAP offers as well as an extensive local directory for Essex, aimed at families of children with SEND 0-25 ​ ​