• About BAAS

About BAAS

Formed in 2013, BAAS, Befriending & Adult Autism Support is a grassroots charity based in Bolton supporting autistic adults and their parent/carers. In June 2020, for “working to improve the lives of families impacted by autism,” BAAS received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for voluntary organisations.Queens Award for Voluntary Service - Bolton Adult Autism Support

What we do

We strive to improve the mental health and well being of autistic adults and their parents/carers, and do this in the following ways:-

  • A volunteer led one to one adult focused befriending service, providing autistic adults with meaningful and consistent social support
  • Regular group social events to provide a sense of belonging and facilitation of recreational and life skills activities
  • Disability Welfare Benefits assistance and advocacy, for both applications and appeals
  • Employment support and advovacy
  • Monthly Carers Only Groups
  • Promoting awareness in our local community through workshops and lectures, partnering with other local organisations and educational establishments
  • Facilitation of student work placements from both Bolton and Manchester Metropolitan Universities – equipping our region’s future workforce with a greater understanding of autism, and providing them with valuable new experience and skills

If you feel that you, or someone you know, would benefit from our support, then please get in touch here. Additionally, if you have a passion for improving the lives of vulnerable people, and are able to volunteer for two hours a week, we’d also love to hear from you. You can complete a volunteer initial interest form here.

Our Vision

A society that accepts, involves and understands autistic people. Where all autistic adults and their carers feel they belong.

Our values go ACROSS the autistic spectrum

  • Awareness
  • Connetion
  • Respect
  • Openness
  • Sensitivity
  • Support

Our Objectives

To view our objectives, please click on the BAAS Constitution below.

Click here to download the complete BAAS Constitution >

Click here to read our Safeguarding Adults Policy >

In Memoriam of the charity’s founder, our late chairman

Harold Graham Heywood BEM

14 September 1944 – 17 January 2023

In Memoriam: Harold Graham Heywood BEM. 14 September 1944 - 17 January 2023

Read more about Harold Graham Heywood

General Information

BAAS is a voluntary, not-for-profit registered charity, fully constituted. We are full members of Bolton Community and Voluntary Services. We specialise in supporting young adults/adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs), who suffer from social and communication difficulties caused by ASCs and introduce them into inclusive social settings. We also support the families and carers of these young adults/adults and the wider community.

The Charity Commission has approved BAAS as a charity and it has been entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1215829.

BAAS Constitution
Safeguarding Procedures

Our Committee Structure

“The activities of the group are overseen by a committee of 7 elected officers (trustees), which include: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, Designated Safeguarding Officer and Safeguarding Lead.

About Autism

About BAAS

Contact Us

FAQs

Useful Links

Volunteer With Us

What BAAS volunteers and clients say…

I first started with BAAS accompanied by a Support Worker.  From the very beginning I was welcomed and have been treated with kindness and respect. Soon after becoming a service beneficiary, I was found a Volunteer Befriender. The whole experience was a positive one and consequently when finishing with my befriender I was eager to help someone else and became a Befriender myself.

I’ve been involved as a BAAS befriender now since March 2023 and find this is a really rewarding experience to me. Watching an autistic adult become more confident in social activities not only beneficial for her, but also helps me to understand how we can offer support in the community. Two hours a week does more than I can expect. I sincerely hope more people could become befriender in BAAS , and working together to build a better inclusive society.

I look forward to seeing my Befriender every week because we can share interests and activities and we are on the same wavelength.

“I contacted BAAS after applying for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) myself and being awarded 0 points. After being turned down at the Mandatory Reconsideration stage I was scared about a tribunal hearing. BAAS helped me to argue my case, submit my evidence in the correct way, and I was awarded the enhanced rate of PIP for both the daily living and mobility components – the very highest level of the award. I couldn’t believe that after twice being found to be ineligible to receive PIP I was now given the highest rate. I couldn’t have done it without BAAS’s help and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

“I had always had a support worker to assist me, but these people weren’t very consistent and often changed over time, or depending who was on shift. Through BAAS I was introduced to my befriender, and we got to know each other over 16 months. For the first time since I could remember I was being supported by someone who I knew wasn’t getting paid for being there for me, and I really felt that they valued my friendship just as much as I valued theirs. I was anxious at first about getting to know them, but they took everything one step at a time in a way that I could manage. My confidence has grown much and so has my independence. I’d really recommend befriending to anyone who feels they may need it.”