Autistic children and young people are brave, brilliant and creative, but they can often face significant social and sensory challenges, leading to anxiety and isolation. 

 Aspire delivers youth clubs and support, in Cambridge city, South Cambridgeshire and Peterborough city, for autistic children and young people. Our clubs reduce social isolation and improve the mental well-being of those who attend. We currently support over 190 children and young people through our clubs and 1:1 support.

To access our support a child needs to:

• have a formal autism diagnosis;  
• be on roll at a mainstream school, and in year 5 or above (up to age 18); and   
• live in Cambridge city, South Cambridgeshire, or Peterborough city.

If you would like more information or are looking to refer an autistic child or young person to our services, please contact the Romsey Mill Aspire team on [email protected] or call the Romsey Mill office on 01223 213162.

Please be advised that we are a small team and we receive a high number of enquiries for Aspire. This means that we often have waiting lists for our support.

“I have found my people.”

Young people who have benefited from our support told us:

“I have found my people”

“I have learned a wide variety of social skills”  

“I have become more independent and confident over my years of attending”

“It's really lovely to be able to meet and socialise with people who have similar challenges and can relate to my experiences. I feel much less alone.”  

When asked recently:

• 90% of autistic children and young people feel the youth club gives them a place to belong and feel less lonely
• 85% feel the youth club makes them feel more cheerful or happy
• 76% feel that attending the youth club improves the child’s confidence
• 81% say they have made a friend at the youth club

"Attending Romsey Mill’s Aspire group has literally turned my child’s life around."

Parents told us:

“Attending Romsey Mill’s Aspire group has literally turned my child’s life around. Having somewhere to go where he can be himself and is understood has made him a more happy, confident and resilient person… his future is suddenly looking a lot brighter.”  

“From the moment he started attending he was happier and seemed to carry less of a burden, he seemed lighter somehow, like he’d finally found a place where he belongs and seems a little less lonely in the world.” 

"The Club has been a godsend to our family. It has supported my son in so many ways and his well-being has improved. Before joining the club he was very low emotionally."