In December 2022, we informed you of a new programme, funded by Health Education England called the National Autism Peer Education Programme. The lead organisation for this programme was announced as the National Autistic Society (NAS) and whilst we informed you of the programme, it was in very early development, and we wanted to update you on where the programme is now.
The National Autism Peer Education Programme is now called Autism Central, it is a peer education programme for parents and carers of autistic people. The aim is to offer high-quality and easily accessible learning, information and guidance developed by autistic people, parents and carers and delivered via regional hubs across England, alongside a dedicated website.
The Autism Central website hosts details about each regional hub, information resources developed for the programme and signposts to useful external resources.
Training and support delivered via 7 Regional Hubs across England:
Including online and in-person training, group support and 1:1 mentoring
How far along is the project?
The organisations that have been contracted to run each regional hub were appointed in early 2023 via a tending process and are now in the recruitment and training phase of development. Hubs have started offering online training and information events. Phase 1 of the programme will begin in Autumn 2023 and this will include stakeholder engagement with local and national organisations. Phase 2 will begin in early 2024.
How are NNPCF involved?
Our role is a small but important one in ensuring that the programme is driven by lived experience and the needs of families. Two members of the NNPCF Steering Group were appointed as members of the Autism Central Governance Steering Group (GSG) and Expert Reference Group (ERG) in March 2023. A Compliance & Monitoring Sub-group (CMSG) of the GSG was formed in June 2023 and NNPCF have a representative in this group also.
Our role in each group:
Governance Steering Group (GSG) – guide the strategic direction of the project, manage risks, have oversight of performance and impact and financial sustainability.
Expert Reference Group (ERG) – support the development of information and training resources.
Compliance & Monitoring Sub-group (CMSG) – Monitor Quality Assurance and Risk across programme delivery including quality and improvement, safeguarding and data protection.
The regional hub tendering and contract award process had been completed prior to the appointment of a permanent NNPCF member to the GSG. As a member of the CMSG, NNPCF will have oversight of performance and delivery of the project by the regional hub providers.
Advisory and Governance Partners
Autistica
Ambitious about Autism
The Autism Education Trust (AET)
The Autism Alliance
Contact
Great Minds Together
National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNCPF)
British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD)
Delivery Partners
National Autistic Society (Autism Central Programme Manager)
Aspens – South East Regional Hub Provider Aspens | Autism Central
Bristol Autism Support – South West Regional Hub Provider Bristol Autism Support | Autism Central
Contact and Ambitious About Autism – London Regional Hub Providers Contact and Ambitious about Autism (London) | Autism Central
Contact and Ambitious About Autism – Midlands Regional Hub Providers Contact and Ambitious about Autism (Midlands) | Autism Central
Daisy Chain – North East and Yorkshire Regional Hub Provider Daisy Chain Project | Autism Central
Essex County Council – East of England Regional Hub Provider Essex County Council | Autism Central
Great Minds Together – North West Regional Hub Provider Great Minds Together | Autism Central
If you want to contact the NNPCF about this programme, please email info@nnpcf.org.uk