How We Can Help

At BAAS we offer a number of services to support autistic adults and their parents/carers.

Befriending Service

We facilitate befriending relationships between autistic adults and volunteer befrienders. These are a supportive relationship led and informed by the autistic adult, including activities that they find beneficial to their social and mental well-being.

To find out more, click here.

Social and Life Skills Events

These are weekly events held throughout the Bolton area. Autistic adults and their parents/carers are welcome to attend to engage in a supportive environment and take part in a range of activities.

To find out more, click here.

Welfare Benefits Advocacy

We understand that it can be challenging to negotiate the welfare and benefits system. We provide an advocacy service to help with knowing which benefits are available to apply for, and also the application process and, where required, the appeals process for a number of disability related benefits.

To find out more, click here.

Employment Support

We also understand that finding and maintaining employment can pose additional challenges for neurodiverse adults. Our in house Employment Adviser works in partnership with Bolton Work Well to provide employment advocacy and support to autistic adults in Bolton.

To find out more, click here.

Carers Support Group

Are you a carer or family member of an autistic adult? Do you want to meet other carers and family members in a similar situation? We are now running a support group for carers and family members of autistic adults to discuss any and all support needs. This takes place at our Bolton town centre premises on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, running from 2pm – 4pm.

To find out more, click here.

Student Work Placements

We offer the opportunity for students to join us on placements for a wide range of courses. We welcome autistic students, students who are carers of an autistic adult, or those who have a desire to learn more about autism and to gain experience working in this field.

To find our more, click here.

Support

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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.”