Autism Central peer education programme

Covering Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire/IOW, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Aspens is the Regional Hub for the South East for Autism Central.  This is a new programme, providing high-quality and accessible autism information, education and coaching for families and carers, which is co-delivered by autistic people, families and carers. Autism Central has been commissioned by NHS England’s Workforce, Training and Education Team and is delivered nationally by nine not-for-profit organisations.

Getting support

The peer education programme is a resource open to anyone including parents, carers, family members and personal assistants of autistic people. What makes the programme unique, is that it’s run by families for families.

Our peer educators are family members or carers of autistic people and/or autistic themselves. Peer educators are trained to coach, signpost and share their learning with other parents and carers of autistic people.

Delivered in a variety of ways, including group and individual sessions, the focus will be on meeting the needs of autistic people and on signposting for access to local and national services. Sessions will be delivered in ways that suit local carers, either in person or online. Click on the links below to access our FREE support and events.

Request support

Seek advice from someone who is here to listen, offer guidance and tell you about services that are available in your local area. Click the link below to request support.

Request support

1:1 clinics

We are offering FREE 1:1 clinics where parents, carers and family members of autistic people can talk to one of our peer educators.  Our peer educators are family members or carers of autistic people and/or autistic themselves.  Seek advice from someone who is here to listen, offer guidance and tell you about services that are available in your local area. 

1:1 clinics

Event registration

Each session is provided by parents and carers of autistic people who are happy to share their knowledge and experience with others. They’re here to listen, offer guidance and tell you about services that are available in your local area. Click on the button below to view all upcoming events.

Event registration

Join the Autism Central South East Hub Facebook group here

Become a Peer Educator

We are looking for Peer Educators who are either family members or carers of autistic individuals or have autism themselves.

The Peer Educators will receive training to provide coaching and guidance and share their knowledge with other parents and caregivers of autistic people.

The sessions will be delivered in various ways, such as group and individual sessions, and the primary focus will be to meet the needs of autistic individuals and direct them to local and national services. The sessions can be conducted in person or online, based on the preference of the local caregivers.  

We are looking for people who can commit to 2 hours a week (flexible hours) and the hourly rate is £10.42 per hour, rising to £11.44 in April 2024. 

We are keen to find people who:

• are family members, partners/spouses of an autistic person or are an autistic person   
• have a good understanding of autism and how to support autistic people   
• motivated to coach, educate and support other families and carers
• able and willing to learn new skills
• live in (Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Hampshire/IOW, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and Oxford)
• are 18+ years old  

If you would like to express an interest in becoming a Peer Educator please fill in the Registration Form and a member of our team will get in touch.