Autism Matters

We are an award-winning, MEMBER-LED charity for autistic adults. We were led by their ideas and needs for access to social activities.

Our aim is to provide person-centred support in collaborative, unique and innovative ways

📍 Office Hours: Mon to Fri, 9-5 | 🛍️ Angels Shop Hours: Mon & Fri, 10-2 Autism Matters was created, together with Autistic adults and staff who they trusted and chose to support them. First service we created was our social support groups. Then came our short breaks, then we added our 1-2-1 PA support servi

ce. We now have additional support with work experience, called Autism Angels, and a therapy service.

03/09/2026

August has been all about getting together, trying new things and making the most of every opportunity to have some fun! 🎊

It’s been a brilliant month across our PA and Social Group Services, with our members enjoying a fantastic mix of activities and experiences. Our Social Groups have had a great balance of the classics and firm favourites we know and love, alongside plenty of new things for members to give a go. From memorable days out to fun evenings together, there have been lots of opportunities to spend time with friends, meet new people and make some brilliant memories 🥰

Our PA Service has also been making the most of the final month of summer, getting out and about, enjoying time in the community and making the most of the warmer days while they last ☀️

Because at the heart of it all, this is what Autism Matters is about. Having fun, finding your tribe, trying new things and creating a life filled with the people, experiences and opportunities that matter to you. Supporting autistic adults to live the lives they want to live, to the fullest and freest, is our mission ❤️

Here’s a little look back at some of the moments that made August so special! 📸

01/09/2026

The wait is finally over... 🎉

Our 2027 Short Breaks are live! ✈️🌍

The moment we’ve been waiting for is finally here! Our 2027 Short Breaks are officially out, and WOW... you lot have been quick! We’ve already seen so many places booked up across our amazing selection of adventures! 🤩

From city breaks and sunshine to seaside escapes and action-packed adventures, there’s a whole lot of memories waiting to be made!

And while we know it’s very easy to look at the list and think “I want to go on ALL of them!”, we do ask that you please book the breaks that genuinely suit you and your budget. That way, everyone gets the best chance of enjoying a place, and it helps avoid spaces being booked and then cancelled later on ❤️

Missed out on your first choice today? Don’t worry! 👀

You’ll still have the full three weeks to book, swap or make changes if needed. Spaces can become available again, so keep checking back on our members' site! Bookings officially close on Monday 21st September! 🔔

There’s already SO much excitement around the 2027 breaks, and we can’t wait to see where you all choose to head off to! 👏

27/08/2026

Someone has been packing their suitcase ready for our 2027 Short Breaks, and we think they might have left a few things behind that could give away where we're heading... ✈️

Take a good look and see what you can spot! 💭

By now, you've probably seen a few of our clues, heard some guesses, and maybe even worked out one or two destinations. So, how many can you recognise from the suitcase? Let us know your guesses in the comments! 👇

We're getting closer and closer to the big reveal...

Tuesday 1st September at 9am, our 2027 Short Breaks will be released on our website, with bookings closing on 21st September. Make sure you're ready! ❤️

23/08/2026

We’ve been digging through the archives and found a few snapshots from some of our past Short Break adventures... 📸

But there’s a twist! 👀 These are four of the places we’re heading back to in 2027! 🎉

We’ve zoomed in on a few familiar sights from our adventures, but we’ve made it a little trickier to work out where they are! 🔍

From exploring new places and trying new things to enjoying time away with friends and making memories along the way, our Short Breaks have given us so many amazing moments over the years ❤️

Now we’re getting ready to make some more! ✨

Can you recognise where we’ve been? 🤔

Drop your guesses in the comments and let us know how many you can work out! 👇
And keep your eyes peeled... our 2027 Short Breaks are coming soon on Tuesday 1st September! ✈️

20/08/2026

Time to put your detective skills to the test again! 👀

We’ve got six more clues for you, but we’ve made them into emojis this time, as you all are leaving some great guesses in our comments… ✈️

Can you work out which six of our 2027 Short Break destinations are hiding behind the clues? 🌍

Some might be easy, some might have you scratching your head... 😂

Drop your guesses in the comments and let us know how many you can crack! 👇

And remember, the big reveal is getting closer... 🎉
🗓️ Tuesday 1st September
⏰Published at 9 am
🔗 autism-matters.co.uk

See you then! 👋

19/08/2026

Did you know we have a continuous job application form? 📣

We’re always happy to hear from caring, reliable and enthusiastic people who share our values and are passionate about supporting autistic adults to live more independently, build confidence and enjoy life on their own terms.

Those with experience in care or supporting vulnerable adults are ideal, and experience supporting autistic adults is desirable. But most importantly, we want to hear from those with the right attitude, values and willingness to learn 🙌

As our support workers transport members to activities and appointments, you will need to have:
🚗 Access to your own vehicle
🚘 A full UK driving licence
📑 Business use insurance

👉 Apply here: https://forms.gle/TNL6WcNH1EnpAAfg8

We keep applications on file and will be in touch when suitable opportunities become available, so even if there aren’t any current vacancies, we’d still love to hear from you! We often have opportunities arise in both our Social Group and PA service ✨

And if you know someone who might be a great fit for our team, please share this post or tag them below; it really helps us reach the right people!

Could you be part of our ever-growing team of enthusiastic people who are passionate about making a difference? ❤️

17/08/2026

This week’s Moments That Matter is all about: Challenge 💪

At Autism Matters, we love seeing our members have a go at something new, even if that thing can feel a little outside of their comfort zone.

This photo was taken during a recent social group at the Air Trail at Tees Barrage. There was climbing, balancing, fun, and plenty of laughs along the way! Everyone gave it a go in their own way, from tackling zip wires and wonky ladders to navigating those uneven steps 👏

For some of our members, it was about facing their fears and pushing themselves to keep going when things got a little tricky. Some needed a helping hand from staff along the way, while others couldn't get enough of the challenge and were more than happy to show everyone else how it was done! Having friends around you, along with the support of our amazing staff, can make trying something new feel a whole lot easier ❤️

And that's what our social groups are all about. We want autistic adults to have opportunities to get out into their community, try and challenge themselves, meet people with similar interests and have fun along the way 🤝

Sometimes you surprise yourself with what you can do when you challenge yourself give something a go. And even if you don't quite make it to the top, you've still had a brilliant day with your mates! We're here to support our members to get involved, try new things and enjoy life 🎉

Address

57-59 Mandale Road, Thornaby
Stockton-on-Tees
TS176AE

Telephone

+441642601262

Website

https://linktr.ee/autismmatters, https://www.facebook.com/autismangelmatters/, https://www.facebook.com/autismmattersnew

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