We are delighted to announce that our award-winning Autism AIM service has received funding that will secure its’ future for the next few years. The funding will cover the core services for Leeds Autism AIM and Bradford and Craven Autism AIM.
Meanwhile, Leeds Autism AIM will also receive a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. This will help the service to reintroduce its mentoring offer, with a greater focus on employment.
Core funding
Leeds Autism AIM’s core services – information and signposting, post-diagnostic support and Autism Hub sessions – will be funded for four years, with the option of an additional year. This will come from a grant funded jointly by Leeds City Council and the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.
Bradford and Craven Autism AIM’s services – information and signposting, Health Access Project and Post-Diagnostic Support – are funded for the same period. This is via a grant from the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, aided by the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership.
The monthly mental health-focused peer support groups for Bradford and Craven will continue to run thanks to the grant received. Funding for both services is effective as of April 2025.
The continuation of this work will enable us to support autistic adults living in Leeds, Bradford and Craven through information and signposting, peer support and more.
Lottery grant
A three-year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund will help the Leeds Autism AIM service to develop:
- One-to-one peer support
- Volunteer peer support
- Peer-led groups, including their monthly online Women-Aligned and Peer Support groups
- Training for Third Sector Organisations on how to recruit and support more autistic volunteers
This funding will also be supporting employment mentoring volunteers. Work on one-to-one and volunteer peer support will start this autumn.
Training professionals
Finally, Leeds Autism AIM’s work with Live Well Leeds will continue after their contract to provide autism awareness training for their staff was extended for another two years. Since the partnership started, the team have trained dozens of staff in a variety of roles, getting plenty of positive feedback along the way.
What happens next?
We will have more details on any of the new work for both Leeds Autism AIM and Bradford and Craven Autism AIM on the services’ websites in due course.
Massive thanks to the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Leeds City Council, Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, The National Lottery Community Fund and Live Well Leeds for showing faith in Autism AIM. It is much appreciated by all of us at The Advonet Group!
