New support service for autistic adults in Bradford district

Bradford and Craven Autism AIM is a free service co-led by and run for autistic adults (aged 18 and over) who get little or no funded support.

It works with autistic adults living in or registered with a GP in the Bradford, Airedale and Wharfedale and Craven areas.

It can provide up to four one-to-one peer support sessions, support in communicating healthcare needs and accessing GP services and a mental health peer support group.

Services will be run from a Bradford Autism Hub at a venue in Bradford city centre to be confirmed.

Most of the staff team are autistic, while the service is co-led by autistic adults.

How to make a referral

The service is for adults (aged 18 and over) who live in the Bradford, Airedale and Wharfedale and Craven areas and/or are registered with a GP in those areas. To access Bradford and Craven Autism AIM, you must have little or no funded support.

Areas covered include Bradford, Keighley, Shipley, Skipton, Bingley, Baildon, Ilkley, Settle, Steeton, Silsden, Grassington and Haworth.

It is necessary to make a referral to access the service. The following people can make referrals using the online form: 

• Autistic adults aged 18+ 
• Parents/carers/partners of autistic adults 
• Professionals working with autistic adults e.g. health and social care professionals, services like housing support, social prescribing 

To refer for support from the Health Access Project or one-to-one peer support, you must have a formal autism diagnosis. If you just want to join the mental health peer support groups, you can join if you are awaiting a diagnosis or going through the autism diagnostic process.

The service is only funded to work with adults. Information on services for children in Bradford and Craven is available here.

Bradford and Craven Autism AIM is part of The Advonet Group, an independent advocacy charity based in Leeds. The service is connected to Leeds Autism AIM and Yorkshire Autism AIM. 

It is funded by grants from the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership and West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.