https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/support-in-the-community/centres/england/lancashire-centre

https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/support-in-the-community/cafe-autisan

We offer a diverse set of support services to autistic adults, all of them beneath the NAS Centre Lancashire’s umbrella. Café Autisan is a popular Café located immediately at the entrance of Whalley Abbey. Here, we provide autistic adults with the opportunity to experience an active workplace, and develop transferable workplace skills- both retail and culinary- in a supportive environment tailored to their needs.

We aim to provide a training opportunity which is low-pressure, and less intense than conventional workplaces – so autistic adults are able to later access those workplaces with the experience and confidence they might otherwise struggle to gain. The Day Opportunities Centre is equally oriented towards cultivating new and transferable skills, but it teaches them by working towards self-determined goals with a supportive, recreational approach. This could take the form of independent living skills (cooking; managing money) or generalised life skills (Social Skills, IT). The venue also encourages social interaction, and we offer a selection of group activities both within the Centre itself and out in the wider community.

Our Outreach provision supports people out in the community to maintain their quality of life, access the resources and opportunities in their local communities and to travel further afield. Outreach support staff will usually either collect a person from home in order to facilitate an activity, or support them to cultivate independent living skills in their homes.

Other specialisms: Specialist Award - June 2023