We are here to support you, and we support each other. These are our groups currently running, with the support of The National Lottery, the Dorset Community Fund, Dorset Council Youth Fund, Just Giving and the Co-op Community Fund.
11-18’s
ASCape host a Youth Club at the Bridport Youth and Community Centre on the third Tuesday of the month. This is an opportunity for the children to socialise in a supportive and nurturing environment as well as to try artistic, musical and game based activities.
Our ‘Teens and nearly Teens’ are welcome to attend the monthly activity afternoons at Hooke Court; we tend to see more of them when we have laid on more adventurous activities such as kayaking, archery and survival skills!
We also organise ad hoc activities during the school holidays such as climbing at Rockburn, bowling at Freshwater, paddle boarding both on the Brit and on the sea and High Ropes at Treetops in Charmouth.
For this age group, as the children gain independence, parents and carers are not always included (though they are always welcome!)
Parents & Carers
We believe that to support Autistic children to thrive their Parents and Carers need to be supported too, both in a nurturing and in a practical way. All ASCape events are open to the whole family, and a great deal of peer support happens while the children and teens are safely occupied!
We offer a weekly Walk and Talk group, monthly Wellbeing afternoons and ad hoc Nights out. Additionally, our closed Facebook group and Parents and Carers WhatsApp group are invaluable sources of support and information.
7-11’s
Our 7-11 age group meet in a variety of ways. They can take part in monthly adventures at Hooke Court an outdoors activity centre, and we run a variety of other activities for them during school holidays. For example climbing at Rockburn, bowling, paddle boarding, and visits to the Shire, an outdoors facility which nurtures and inspires with arts, animals and nature. At Hooke Court groups get the opportunity to try activities such as kayaking, archery, cooking outdoors, nature trails, and making rockets!
All our activities for this age group involve the whole family, including siblings. They are extremely inclusive and are a great opportunity for families to share experiences and grow together.
18-25’s
This is our newest group. We are very proud to be offering support to this very underfunded and under-resourced demographic.
We have teamed with The Burrough Harmony Centre in this work with young people, so that we can also include anyone in this age group who struggles with mental health challenges.
This group meets every third Tuesday of the month at Bridport Youth Centre for support and activities such as music production and art. We hope to be able to give input into self care and encourage independence and fulfillment of interests, together with signposting.
We also aim to run at least one social event per month, chosen by the young people. So far we have been to the pub, cinema and climbed at Treetops.
ASCape 