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💬 Our Story

SASS – Southampton Autism Support Service began with two mums, two diagnoses, and one big shared goal: to create the support they wished they had.

Co-founders Jen and Becca are both Autistic and ADHD, and both have children with neurodivergent needs. They first met in 2017 at a CAMHS Autism drop-in session, where Becca was volunteering. But once a child receives a formal diagnosis, parents were no longer eligible to attend the drop-in—a gap that left many families without ongoing support just when they needed it most.

Rather than walk away, Becca and Jen were asked to run a post-diagnostic support group, which became known as Flutterbies. It was a small but powerful beginning—offering a space where parents and carers could connect, share, and feel understood.

Then the pandemic hit. During COVID, the need for support within the community skyrocketed. Becca and Jen responded quickly—reforming as an official CIC (Community Interest Company) and offering both online and face-to-face support to families who were struggling more than ever.

As the demand grew, so did the team. Hayley and Sarah joined as Directors, bringing with them lived experience, passion, and new ideas. With their leadership, SASS received a National Lottery Community Fund grant to begin running cooking and life skills courses tailored to neurodivergent individuals.

In January 2024, the Local Authority recognised the importance of their work and offered SASS a building to run from, along with vital funding. This allowed the service to expand its reach, diversify its support, and become what it is today—a thriving hub of understanding, advocacy, and connection for neurodivergent individuals and their families.

Most recently, Susan has joined the team of Directors to support the ongoing growth and vision of SASS.

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💛 What Makes Us Different?

We’re more than a service—we’re a community, run by people with lived experience of Autism and ADHD. We’ve sat on both sides of the table: as parents, as professionals, as people walking this journey ourselves.

SASS was built because the support didn’t exist. Now, it does—and we’re here to make sure no one ever has to feel alone on their Autism journey again.😊

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