Community inclusion advice and getting help

The Southampton Neurodiversity Connections Hub is based in Bitterne and is a base for multiple services for autism in the Southampton area. 

The hub has been created as a place for neurodivergent people, their parents/carers and professionals to receive valuable individualised advice from a variety of organisations who are working together to provide a joined up approach. By working together, it enables each organisation to support individuals within a safe space and signpost or refer to each other to ensure that people are accessing all appropriate advice and information.

Neurodiversity Connections Hub

• Transport support services for disabled people
• Helping Hand Scheme - Bluestar buses
• Accessibility - Bluestar buses
• Disabled Persons Railcard
• Disability driving instructors that offer disability adjustments

• Local Autism Directory, listing for social groups in Southampton
• No Limits support groups for young people
• Autism Hampshire, Serendipity Group
• Minstead Trust
• Southampton Mencap
• Saints Foundation, football based mental health and wellbeing sessions

View information on independent travel training.

The UK Cinema Association (UKCA) and its members want to make visiting the cinema an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all. We fully appreciate that some disabled people face barriers at the cinema as a result of the effect of their disability. We are working hard to identify and remove these barriers.

Some disabled people need to be accompanied by someone else to enjoy the cinema experience. To make being accompanied as easy as possible the UKCA operates the CEA Card scheme.

View more information and to apply to the CEA Card scheme.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• A long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• Difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

If you receive Disability Living Allowance already, when you are approaching the age of 16, you will receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions, asking you to apply for Personal Independence Payment, a parent, carer or guardian can be appointed as a nominee to act on your behalf to apply for PIP.

What PIP is for?