SPACE for Families

Supporting families

Supporting families living in Hertfordshire raising neurodivergent children or young people is what we do. We understand the highs and the lows, the challenges and the joys because we also live with and love children and young people who are autistic and/or have ADHD.

Opportunities for everyone

“If you want questions answered SPACE is the place you’ll get the answers…it’s comforting…it gives us hope…the courses and activities are great…I’d like to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU!”

At SPACE we believe that all families should be able to have opportunities to learn, socialise and have fun. And we know that if your family is neurodiverse, it can be difficult to find the right activities, access training courses or just have a chat with others who really get it.

We work really hard to provide all our families with opportunities they might otherwise not have. Everything we do is designed to help you navigate local services, build confidence, share knowledge and safely enjoy social opportunities and activities where you and your children and young people can ‘be themselves’.

Understanding my Autism and ADHD

A comprehensive 6-week programme designed to help young people learn more about neurodiversity and their own experiences. Through interactive sessions, the young people can discuss their strengths, challenges, and strategies for navigating daily life.

Key themes include identifying your needs and communication preferences, navigating friendships, problem-solving, advocacy, and becoming more confident and happier. You can find out more here.

Parent/Carer Support groups

We host free in-person support groups for parents and carers creating friendly, informal ways of meeting other parents and carers in a relaxed, safe environment. There are lots of opportunities to find out about SEND services and how to access them as well as plenty of opportunities for informal chats.

Our in-person support groups are currently held in Croxley Green, Hoddesdon, St Albans and Welwyn. You are always welcome to attend any of these depending on what times, dates and formats work best for you!

Find out about our upcoming support groups and book on here.

Facebook Group

“Since I’ve been on the Facebook group for SPACE I feel more connected and supported. Sometimes just knowing others are there to listen or share info is helpful. I’m not a very active participant but I do feel a sense of belonging and understanding which helps me feel I ‘fit’ as a parent of a child who is neurodivergent, very special, and needs to be understood”

Our biggest support group is our closed and private Facebook Group. This is often the first place parents and carers turn as they start their journey through the SEND world. Here you can join 9,000 other parents and carers in Hertfordshire of children and young people who are autistic and/or have ADHD. The SPACE Facebook group provides a hugely supportive peer network and is packed full of information, guidance and support. As it is a closed group it means nobody outside of the group can see what you are posting within the group. This is where you can laugh, cry, share successes, get advice or simply have a bit of a rant to other parents who ‘get it’.

Workshops, training courses and conferences

We organise and host workshops, training courses and conferences for parents and carers covering many aspects of supporting children and young people who are autistic, have ADHD or other neurodiverse conditions.

SPACE are are only organisation in Hertfordshire licenced to deliver the ADHD Foundation’s ADHD Parenting Programme. We also deliver the Sleep Tight Course from The Children’s Sleep charity and workshops covering topics such as:

• Anger and conflict
• Anxiety
• EHCPs
• Executive functioning
• Navigating the SEND world
• Puberty
• Sensory processing
• Sleep
• Transitions
• Understanding ADHD
• Understanding autism

To receive details of upcoming workshops and courses as soon as they are available to book, please follow us on Facebook and Eventbrite

SEND Family Support

“Just want to say a big thankyou … you have been amazing. A good listener, always at the end of emails and the phone when I need you and just a great person. You have been brillant..”

We know that when you have a child with SEND or are beginning to feel that they may have additional needs sometimes a listening ear is just what you need.

SPACE’s SEND Family Support Workers are here to help families in Hertfordshire who just aren’t sure where to turn next.

Book a telephone or face-to-face appointment today with one of our Family Support Workers to talk through your situation and get emotional and practical support.

For general enquiries about family support email support@spaceherts.org.uk

Neurodiversity Services

We offer bespoke, specialised services to parents and carers of children and young people with neurodiverse conditions. Parents and carers can self-refer to these services as can schools, settings and other professionals.

SPACE is a certified provider of the QbCheck for ADHD screening.

You are also able to book a triage appointment for Autism and/or ADHD for parent/carers of children/young people aged 4-18 years old in conjunction with The Gesher Assessment Centre. 

We offer a one hour face-to-face appointment with the team to support you as a parent to make an initial EHCP application. 

We also offer dyslexia screenings, Speech and Language Clinics, and Education Psychology Consultations.

And we also provide Tutoring for children and young people with SEND, Speech and Language Therapy, Mentoring and therapeutic services which can be accessed privately or through Alternative Provision.

All of these services are delivered with the values, passion, experience and understanding you would expect from SPACE.

Lending SPACE

“Borrowed an egg chair and spinner for our little people today, the kids have had the best fun whizzing round in their chair. What a great opportunity to try out toys and sensory items for free before spending out. Thank you.”

Lending SPACE is an equipment lending library for families living in Hertfordshire with children and young people with autism, ADHD or other additional needs. 

It offers an extensive range of specialist sensory, practical and educational equipment and resources for families to borrow. It’s an ideal way to try expensive equipment to see if it works for the needs of your child. 

The lending library is based in Stanstead Abbotts near Ware, is open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings and is funded by Hertfordshire County Council.

For more information, queries and to find out how to book to borrow equipment, please click here, follow our Lending SPACE Facebook page or email lendingspace@spaceherts.org.uk.

Social events and activities

“SPACE’s activities for SEN children are amazing. They are the perfect way for everyone in our family to enjoy themselves in a safe, non-judgemental environment.”

We arrange a wide range of bespoke activities for children and young people who are autistic and/or have ADHD throughout the year. These, together with our exclusive family events, are great opportunities for children and parents and carers alike to enjoy activities on their own terms, relax, be themselves, meet other families and make friends. 

SPACE activities are always very popular. To receive details of upcoming activities as soon as they are available to book, please join our community on Facebook and follow us on Eventbrite .

Some of the activities we run include:

SBLO

SPACE are an approved SBLO (Short Break Local Offer) provider. Several, but not all, of our existing SPACE exclusive activities are available as SBLO. If parents or carers choose SPACE as one of your SBLO providers and are subsequently accepted you will receive emails from us directly inviting you to book SBLO places on activities. You can read more about SBLO, how to apply for it, how to use it, and some information about SPACE’s specific SBLO offer here.

Subscribe to our free newsletter today