About this Support Category
Support groups can help people feel less isolated and more connected when navigating SEND, autism, ADHD, disability, mental health needs, diagnosis pathways, school concerns, family stress or life with additional needs.
Some groups are run by charities or community organisations, while others are peer-led by parents, carers, autistic people, ADHD adults, disabled people or people with lived experience.
Support may include:
- Autism, ADHD, SEND or disability support groups
- Parent, carer or family support groups
- Peer support and shared lived experience
- Online, local, regional or national support groups
- Information, signposting, workshops or informal guidance
- Groups for children, young people, adults or specific communities
If you are looking for broader community-based projects, visit Community Organisations. If you need rights-based help or support being heard in decisions, visit Advocacy Services.
When choosing a support group, check who the group is for, whether it is local or online, whether it is professionally facilitated or peer-led, whether there are fees or eligibility criteria, and whether the information is current.
Related Support Areas
Finding the Right Support Group
The right support group will depend on age, location, diagnosis status, support needs, family situation and whether you are looking for peer connection, parent support, shared experience, information or local signposting.
Some support groups focus on autism, ADHD, SEND, disability, mental health, parenting, carers, siblings, young people or adults. Others may provide general community support, online groups, workshops, events or informal information sessions.
This section is most relevant where families or individuals are looking for peer support, community connection or shared experience, rather than private assessment, clinical therapy, tutoring or formal advice.
Before contacting a provider, consider whether you need:
- A local, national or online support group
- Parent, carer, adult, young person or family support
- Autism, ADHD, SEND, disability or mental health-related support
- Peer-led support, professionally facilitated support or both
- Workshops, events, online sessions or informal group meetings
- Information about eligibility, access, fees and group format
Find Support UK does not provide clinical, legal, financial or emergency advice. Always check provider details directly and consider speaking with a school, GP, health professional, local authority service or appropriate adviser if you need urgent or specialist support.