Tag Archive for: Autism

Group photo in centre

Exciting News: The Pathway to Independence Centre is Open!

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Exciting News: The Pathway to Independence Centre is Open!

We are thrilled to announce that our Pathway to Independence Centre is now open! Over the first two weeks, the centre has already become a vibrant hub of activity and community.Our Adult Group has been enjoying the space, relaxing and socialising in a welcoming environment. It’s wonderful to see everyone coming together and making the most of the new facilities.

On Saturdays, our Teens & Tweens group has been busy in the Pathway to Independence area. They made some delicious old-school tray-bake for the first time, and it was a huge success! The teens and tweens took on the responsibility of washing, drying, and putting away the pots, as well as measuring their own ingredients. Their teamwork and enthusiasm were truly commendable.

Well done to everyone involved!

For more information about our clubs and services please look here or look under Activities 

Group posing at bottom of Roseberry Topping

Cheering on Our Volunteers: Training for the 40-Mile Lyke Wake Walk

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Cheering on Our Volunteers: Training for the 40-Mile Lyke Wake Walk

We are incredibly proud of our dedicated group of volunteers who are fundraising for MAIN.
As they prepare for the gruelling 40-mile Lyke Wake Walk in August, some of the volunteers managed to put some time aside, Neil, Adam, Liam, Joshua, Aidan, and Tom have been putting in the hard work to ensure they’re ready for the challenge.
This past Saturday, the team met up for a training session that took them up Roseberry Topping and to Captain Cook’s Monument and back. It was a tough trek, but the group showed incredible determination and spirit as they tested out their boots and logged some practice miles.
Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook’s Monument provided the perfect backdrop for their training, offering both beautiful scenery and challenging terrain. The team’s commitment to their training is truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to see them conquer the Lyke Wake Walk in August.
Let’s all cheer on Neil, Adam, Liam, Joshua, Aidan, and Tom as they continue their preparations. Your support means the world to them and helps drive them forward. Keep up the amazing work, Team!
Photos of our team on their practice walk   

Please help fundraise or sponsor our team of walkers by going to our JustGiving Page 

Unregistered Alternative Education explaining we are launching

New Service: Unregistered Alternative Education Provision – Middlesbrough, Darlington & Redcar

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MAIN’s New Provision

MAIN are now launching our Unregistered Alternative Education Provision for Middlesbrough, Redcar and Darlington residents.

For individuals who are Autistic. neurodivergent, awaiting a diagnosis, have a learning disability and/ or complete need and not accessing education.

Sessions take place at our centre and in the community. We aim to support young individuals engage in education using a creative and person-centred approach.

What is Unregistered Alternative Education? 

Unregistered Alternative Education for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN), who are not attending school refers to educational settings or programs that are not formally registered or regulated by the government.

These environments offer flexible and often individualised learning opportunities tailored to the uniqueness of the child, young person. Families may choose unregistered alternative education for a variety of reasons, including dissatisfaction with traditional schooling, difficulties in meeting the child’s specific needs, or sensory and emotional challenges that make formal school environments overwhelming.

What are the benefits?

Unregistered Alternative Education offers a flexible, individualised approach that prioritises the child’s specific needs, interests, and emotional well-being. With a focus on personalised learning, therapeutic support, and practical life skills, these settings offer a valuable alternative for families who find traditional schooling insufficient or unsuitable for their neurodiverse children.

 

Please contact us if you would like more information

Image with green heart in caring hand saying here to help

March 2025 -Autism & Mental Health Bookable 1:1

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Here to Help

MAIN are working in collaboration with St John of God to offer workshops to promote understanding of self and learning strategies.

MAIN will be delivering some sessions in March, you can book a 30 minute- one hour slot 

Monday 3rd March: 1pm-3pm
Wednesday 5th March: 2pm-4pm
Wednesday 12th March: 1pm-3pm
Friday 14th March: 10pm-12pm
Friday 21st March: 1pm-3pm
Monday 24th March: 1pm-3pm
Wednesday 26th March: 1pm-3pm
Friday 28th March: 10am-12pm

All sessions are suitable for anyone aged 14+ years.

Location: MAIN, The Finlay Cooper Centre, Elizabeth Terrace, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, TS3 6EN

We can provide alternative dates and times, along with telephone or video call sessions. Please just get in touch.

You can access more information, resources and support here

Please contact us if you would like more information and to book on

photo of showstoppers group with handmade cards

Showstoppers Spread Love and Joy at the Care Home

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Showstoppers Spread Love and Joy at the Care Home

Over the past couple of weeks, the Showstoppers have been hard at work practicing a dance to “Love Is All I Can Give to You” and a song to “Dancing Queen” in preparation for their performance at the care home. Their dedication and enthusiasm truly shone through during their visit.

In addition to their performances, the Showstoppers made heartfelt Valentine’s cards with personalized messages for the residents and staff. The entire group did an amazing job, displaying confidence and warmth as they greeted everyone with cuddles and conversations. They were respectful and kind to all the staff, making the visit even more special.

A highlight of the visit was reconnecting with their favourite resident, Carol, from their last visit. The Showstoppers made an extra effort to chat with her and see how she’s been, which brought smiles all around.

To say we are proud of the Showstoppers is an understatement. Their hard work and kindness have made a significant impact, and to celebrate their achievements, we will be having a movie night and takeaway next week to show them just how amazing they are.

Stay tuned for more updates on our wonderful Showstoppers and their inspiring activities!

 

 For more information about our Showstoppers group please look here
Love heart art work

Celebrating Heart warming Feedback from Our Community

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Celebrating Heart warming Feedback from Our Community

February at MAIN: Fostering Relationships and Wellbeing

February is MAIN’s month to focus on our relationships and provide clients with useful guides and workshops to promote safety and wellbeing and reduce social isolation. We are thrilled to share some lovely feedback from various services we provide at MAIN.

Showstoppers Group

One parent shared their appreciation for our Showstoppers group:

“Lovely group put together who enjoy singing and dancing and each other’s company. C looks forward to going each week, which has helped her confidence and social isolation greatly. Thank you for your ongoing support.”

Durham Coordinators

We also received heartfelt verbal feedback for our Durham Coordinators:

“Thank you so very much, Katherine. I really appreciate it. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Lewis, and the rest of MAIN. You are such a vital service, and you are all so nice, patient, and understanding.”

1:1 Bookable Sessions

In partnership with St John of God, our suicide prevention program for autistic individuals across Tees Valley has also received positive feedback:

“The advice and guidance I have received from Leah so far has been really beneficial, and I am grateful to have this support at a crucial point where I am facing a lot of uncertainty and changes. I’d feel alone otherwise and just wouldn’t know what to do. I feel it will help me navigate what the next few months may look like or what might change, and I am hopeful it will help me get back to a stable position where I feel more confident and comfortable with my circumstances and can manage my anxiety.”

We are incredibly grateful for this feedback and remain committed to supporting our clients in every way possible. Thank you for being a part of MAIN’s community!

Saturday Tween and Teens 

Two parents gave some amazing feedback to Brooke Hall, the groups facilitator- well done Brooke

Mum: 
“James loves your teens and tweens. Since you used the public bus, he has been showing me pictures of Arriva buses on his iPad. So, that whole part of the activity where you did something that James wouldnt normally do was great for him”
Mum: 
“T loves all the sessions, he loves anything physical and always comes home having enjoyed the activities”
 For more information about our Post Diagnostic Support and other services, please visit Support Services on our website
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Feedback from a Parent – Durham’s Post Diagnostic Support Service

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Celebrating Heart warming Feedback from Our Community

At I am MAIN, we are dedicated to providing compassionate and expert support to Autistic Individuals and their families. We are thrilled to share some heart warming feedback from the parents of one of our clients, which truly highlights the positive impact of our services.

“As parents of a young person with autism, we received the news of I am MAIN’s existence with great relief. Friends of ours with similar needs spoke very highly of the support their young person had received from the service in Durham. Since then, our son has attended a series of meetings with Katherine Palmer to talk through his experience and his needs in detail. He has engaged very well with Katherine and the process even though he doesn’t always find this sort of thing easy to deal with. Katherine’s empathetic approach in the meetings provided a reassuring and understanding environment for him to express himself in. He has enjoyed the opportunity to talk through his aspirations with Katherine and about the obstacles that he will need help tackling in order to achieve them. And we now have a series of support activities scheduled to help him begin work on this. We have greatly appreciated the compassionate and expert engagement we and our son have experienced so far and are very hopeful about the programme that is now available for him to move forward.”

We are incredibly grateful for such kind words. It means the world to us to know that our efforts have made a positive difference in the lives of our clients and their families. Katherine Palmer’s empathetic approach and dedication to understanding each individual’s unique needs have been instrumental in creating a supportive and reassuring environment for our clients.

Our mission at I am MAIN is to empower young people with autism to achieve their aspirations and overcome obstacles with the help of tailored support activities. We are excited to continue working with our clients and their families to provide the best possible care and support.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and feedback with us. Your stories inspire us to keep striving for excellence in everything we do.

Together, we can make a difference

 For more information about our Post Diagnostic Support and other services, please visit Support Services on our website
Image with green heart in caring hand saying here to help

February 2025 -Autism & Mental Health Bookable 1:1

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Here to Help

MAIN are working in collaboration with St John of God to offer workshops to promote understanding of self and learning strategies.

MAIN will be delivering some sessions in February, you can book a 30 minute- one hour slot 

Monday 3rd Feb – 1pm-3pm
Wednesday 5th Feb 1pm-3pm
Monday 10th  Feb 1pm-3pm
Friday 14th Feb 1pm-2pm
Monday 17th Feb 10am-12 noon
Wednesday 19th Feb -10am-12 noon
Friday 21st Feb -1pm-2pm
Monday 24th – 10am -12 noon
Friday 28th Feb – 10am-12 noon

All sessions are suitable for anyone aged 14+ years.

Location: MAIN, The Finlay Cooper Centre, Elizabeth Terrace, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, TS3 6EN

We can provide alternative dates and times, along with telephone or video call sessions. Please just get in touch.

You can access more information, resources and support here

Please contact us if you would like more information and to book on

Poster for ADHD Session with Becca Brighty- 5th February 12 on teams- Please contact to book

MAIN are hosting a virtual session on ADHD

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The ADHD Formula – by Guest Speaker – Becca Brighty

We are delighted to be joined by Becca Brighty who will be delivering a talk on ADHD and Understanding the ADHD brain on 5th February at 12. This will be on Teams.

Poster for ADHD Session with Becca Brighty- 5th February 12 on teams- Please contact to book

 

Hi, I am Becca Brighty, founder of ADHD Impact, Business Psychologist and ADHD coach. I was diagnosed with ADHD in May 2022. Since then, I have used the skills my professional training has given me to learn as much about ADHD as possible and apply that knowledge to how I work.

Learning about my brain has completely changed my life. For the first time ever I am truly working toward achieving my potential, work feels easy, I am no longer constantly exhausted and after a lifetime of career frustration and disappointment it’s the most exciting, incredible feeling.

Please email to book on here

You can find out more about Becca Brighty and ADHD Impact on their website here

Image with green heart in caring hand saying here to help

January 2025 -Mental Health Bookable 1:1 Sessions

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Here to Help

MAIN are working in collaboration with St John of God to offer workshops to promote understanding of self and learning strategies.

MAIN will be delivering some sessions in January, you can book a 30 minute- one hour slot 

3rd January- 10am-2pm

10th January- 10am-12

13th January- 12:30-2:30pm

15th January 1pm-2pm

20th January 10am-12

22nd January 1pm-3pm

All sessions are suitable for anyone aged 14+ years.

Location: MAIN, The Finlay Cooper Centre, Elizabeth Terrace, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, TS3 6EN

We can provide alternative dates and times, along with telephone or video call sessions. Please just get in touch.

You can access more information, resources and support here

Please contact us if you would like more information and to book on