Embracing Autism - Basingstoke 2025
14th Mar
2025

A training day for Parent/Carers & Professionals

Basingstoke – FULLY BOOKED

A day that focuses on learning skills and strategies for parents, carers and professionals who are supporting an autistic young person. Hampshire CAMHS colleagues will be hosting this day alongside parents/carers with lived experience in coproduction with Viv Dawes Autism Advocate.

WAIT LIST

Please email HantsCAMHSInnovations@southernhealth.nhs.uk

with your full name, email address, job role and organisation (if applicable) to be added to the wait list for this event. You will be contacted once a place becomes available.

 

Event Information

Booking

Tickets cost £20.

Tea and coffee will be provided but no lunches.

Here is the event flyer.

Viv Dawes

Viv Dawes (she/they) is late-diagnosed autistic (PDA) and ADHD advocate, trainer and author. She has over 25 years experience of working with vulnerable people, who were mostly neurodivergent, including as a Senior Practitioner in the NHS, managing teams of forensic drug workers in prisons. She also started and ran a community based addiction recovery programme. Viv has written a number of books, including two books about autistic burnout.

Emma Holmes

Emma is a passionate neurodiversity ally, continually advocating for understanding and celebrating neurodivergence. She is a proud member of a neuro-spicy family who loves to empower parent carers and professionals to embrace the wonderful world of ND.

Emma spent 7 years in education before moving into the world of peer support and workshops, providing positive mental health and neuro-affirming knowledge to others. She uses her lived experiences to bring a realistic, yet sometimes amusing narrative to her talks whilst using her honesty to provide a safe place to land for other parent carers.

 

Agenda

9.00-9.30     Coffee & Networking

9.30-10.45   Session One: Supporting your Autistic Child to Thrive – Dr Catherine Robson

What areas of life can be challenging for autistic young people? We will think about how we adapt our communication and the environment around the young person to make life easier and more suited to their needs. We will discuss practical changes that can be made in all the areas and give examples of what these look like in real life.

10.45-11.15   Tea/Coffee Break and Networking

11.15-12.15   Session Two: Embracing Autism – A parent perspective – led by Emma Holmes

This session will give you insights based on a parent’s experience in how we can all create better support for our neurodivergent young people.

12.15- 13.00   Lunch Break & Networking/Stands

13.00-14.00    Autistic Burnout/Masking (Part 1) – led by Viv Dawes Advocate/Trainer/Author

Understanding autistic burnout, what it is, why it happens, why it’s different from depression, recovery, safe places and prevention.

14.00-14.20   Quick Tea Break

14.20-15.00   Autistic Burnout/Masking (Part 2) – led by Viv Dawes 

15.00- 15.30   Q&A Panel with Speakers

15.30              Finish

 

Stand Information

There will be the opportunity for a small number of stands which provide relevant information on organisations and charities that provide support for families in Hampshire.

To request to have an Information Stand at this event, please email HantsCAMHSInnovations@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Stalls will be assigned on a first come basis.

Event details

Date: 14th March 2025

Time: 9:30 – 15:30

Location: Proteus Creation Space, Council Road, Basingstoke, RG21 3DH