Appeer Monthly Social Peer Group - Key Information

Who is the Group for?

We run monthly group Sessions for autistic (diagnosed or suspected) girls aged 7- around 18 and their parents/carers on monthly Saturdays.  Parents and Carers may stay at the venue during these sessions and will be looked after by one of our Parent/Carer Facilitators.  We don't just assign participants to groups based on their chronological age.  We look at their presentation, interests and development too.

The age range seems large - how do you separate the younger girls from the older ones?

After you have booked either Session 1 (morning) or Session 2 (afternoon) we will assign your daughter to one of 3 groups, within the Session,  according to her age, presentation, development, interests and connections.  These groups are called Group A, B or C in the morning session and D, E and F in the afternoon session. 

What is the aim of the Group?

We aim to provide a space for autistic girls aged 7-18 years and their parents and carers to connect with their peers to help ease social isolation, develop skills, gain confidence and interact with the community.  Additionally these groups will aim to support the young people to:

●    Build positive social experiences in a supportive setting

●    Appreciate the world around them including culture and citizenship both locally and globally

●    Build trusting relationships with staff and peers and engage with those around them

●    Gain life skills in the home including managing their space, household tasks, life admin and cooking

●    Understand their autism and support needs and how they can enable and advocate for themselves

●    Explore their physical and sensory needs as well as well as their mental health and wellbeing

What will happen in each Group and how long will the Sessions be?

We offer a variety of activities, including skills focused activities including games, arts, crafts, cooking, tech and more.  Joining instructions and visual timetables will be sent 5 to 7 days before sessions. We also include some activities around being autistic, such as about sensory needs.

Who will be running the Groups?

The groups will be run by Nicki, Social Programme Manager and are supported by specialist staff.  The parents and carers are supported by our experience Parent/Carer Facilitators.  If you have any questions, please email nicki@appeer.org.uk.

Where will the Group be held?

The weekend Girls Groups are held at a quiet community venue in Woking.  This setting includes the whole building which enables us to plan diverse and exciting activities.  There is dedicated parking  on site and it's about 5 minutes walk from Woking station.

What times are the Groups?

The Groups take place on monthly Saturdays.  Session 1 is from 11am to 1pm and Session 2 is from 2pm - 4pm, so you can book whichever Session works best for you.   

How much does it cost and how do I book?   

Please see our fees here:  You are able to book up to a term in advance i.e. 4 sessions at a time.  As per our General Terms & Conditions, cancellations of at least 7 days prior to the event will be entitled to a full refund.  We regret no other refunds can be given.

Places can be booked in advance or on a monthly basis, so you can just book and pay for the sessions you are able to attend.  If requested, we will do our best to enable girls to be with some of the same girls each month, as they develop links with others, so that there is familiarity and consistency as far as we can manage. 

You can book via the COACHA app and find out more about each month's Group looking at our Book a Session Page. 

How can I ensure my daughter gets a place every month?

You are able to book a term in advance so are able to book up to 4 months in advance to secure your place.  Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. We will, of course, do our best to ensure that we can provide consistent and authentic peer groups for the girls where we can and will manage any admissions according to our Admissions Policy.

What happens when I get too old for this Group?

Don't worry at all - you can go up to our Monthly Women's Group.  You can read all about what to expect here.

Please note, our current programmes have been designed to support those who are suspected or diagnosed as being autistic, who may also have other neurodiverse conditions.  In the future we hope to expand our activities to support those with other neurodiverse conditions who aren't autistic too, e.g., ADHD.  Some Programmes, Sessions or Groups are restricted to those who are resident in Surrey due to some funding restraints.