THE MAG

Welcome to THE MAG by Stephen Ashfield

July is going to be a very busy month on the Brighton autism/ADHD scene and just wait until August comes along. There are plenty of events taking place that can both help and entertain our community.  The big question though is how many of the events that are being held do you know about?

May 2026 saw my life change when I was diagnosed as being autistic just a month before my 65th birthday. Being officially diagnosed as having ADHD is looking pretty likely too with initial screenings pointing in that direction.

It was a massive shock for me as this was something I had never previously considered. From the moment I was diagnosed, I began my voyage of discovery. I began to read books, join Facebook groups  and watch videos but above all I wanted to find out what local organizations I could get help from in Brighton and Hove.

I have attended several groups and received some great help. What has struck me is that finding out the information has not been an easy task. I have spoken to people who didn't know about some of the groups and events I was talking about. Of the first four groups I attended, I was the only person to go to all of them and only one person went to two.

I'm a self-employed writer but I can see that using my skills to help our community is a lot more important than writing seemingly endless tennis and football previews. Previously I have published community newsletters and seen how they can help people.

MAG stands for 'Monthly Autism/ADHD Guide' and it will include comprehensive listings for the groups in our area.  I will also be creating THE MAG EXTRA which will include articles and reviews of interest to our community. That's not all, in the middle of each month there will be THE MAG UPDATE which will include the latest information that I've been able to get my hands on.

If you have any events you would like publicised, please send them to me at mageditoruk@gmail.com or call me on 07470 028 539.  Above anything, the most important task at present is to spread awareness of this blog. That way more people can be helped by the information that is published.

The Brighton Squawk

If you want to keep in touch with the many events that are taking place in Brighton & Hove, subscribe to The Brighton Squawk. Their newsletter is packed with information with a Brighton Bulletin, Community Corner, Worth a Bite, Property Pick, a lengthy What's On Guide, and a Trivia Titbit all completely free. It's sent out every Tuesday and Friday.

Events Guide

ADHD Aware

ADHD Aware provide a number of services for the local area. You do not need to have been officially diagnosed with ADHD to be able to access their services.

They hold two types of monthly drop-in sessions. These are both in-person and also online on Zoom. These sessions are described on their website as being "relaxed and friendly" and having attended a recent group discussion, I totally agree with that.  On average, they have around 20 people attending and new people are joining every month. They really do make you feel welcome and at ease.

The in-person drop-in session takes place at the Friends Meeting House in Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF. They are held on the first Wednesday of the month between 7pm and 9pm, so that will be July 1 with the next on August 5. You need to be aged at least 18 and there is no problem bringing along a friend, family member or partner.

The online session is held on the second Wednesday of the month from 7pm to 9pm - July 8 and August 12.

The second Tuesday of each month sees a Zoom event for the parents of children with ADHD (under 18), so the next will be on July 7 starting at 7pm. For those with children 18+, the Zoom session is on the fourth Wednesday of each month (July 29).

There is also a meeting for partners of adults with ADHD and that's held on Zoom on the third Wednesday of each month (July 15).

The group discussion meetings are held both online on Zoom and in-person. The online discussion is held on the third Tuesday of the month (July 21) from 7pm. 

The in-person group discussion is held at the Brighton Foyer in Pelham Street, Brighton BN1 4FA. In June, the session looked at the subject of sleep management. I attended and found it to be very useful. Free snacks are available. It is a good way of making friends too as there was a trip to a local pub afterwards.

The next group discussion meeting is being held on Tuesday July 28 and runs from 7pm to 9pm.  The subject matter that evening will be demand avoidance.

For lots more information about what is going on, you can register for their newsletter or go to their peer support page.

ADHD South East Amigos

ADHD South East Amigos is "a friendly and chilled monthly social group for adults with ADHD/Traits and co-occurring condition.

They hold a monthly meet-up at the Alcampo Lounge, 84-86 London Road, Brighton on the third Thursday of each month. That means this month their meet-up is on July 16 from 7pm to 10pm. Look out for the pink flamingo on their table. More information on their Facebook page.

Adhoc Autistics Activity Group 

July is going to be a memorable month for this group. Due to the closure of Cafe Domenica in Preston Road, their WEEKLY meet-ups will now be held at The North Star at 2-3 Pavilion Buildings. Brighton BN1 1EE.

That venue is also run by the charity Team Dominica who support people who have learning disabilities and autism. They help them "gain meaningful employment and thrive in life."

The weekly meetings will be held there every Wednesday. between 11am and 1pm. with food being served at the venue from midday.

That means in July there are  bumper five meetings being held on July 1,8,15,22 and 29. The meetings are a great way to make friends and avoid that horrible feeling that isolation can create. 

Other events scheduled include meeting up to attend the Autistic Pride/Craft Fair on July 25 and the Neurodiverse-city event  on August 7. More information about those events in this blog. A visit to Brighton Museum and Art Gallery is also being planned for July 31.

They are a peer led activity group for Brighton and the surrounding area. Many of the members are AuDHD. They also run a Telegram group that has over 100 members. For more information go to their Facebook group. 

Amaze Sussex

Amaze was founded in 1997 by a group of parents who had a desire to "guide other parents and carers through the maze of bringing up a child with special educational needs or disabilities."

In December 1999, Amaze registered as a charity and they currenty support young people aged 14-25 as well as their parents and carers. In addition to working in Brighton and Hove, they also carry out work in East Sussex. Amaze offers "emotional and social support as well as information and advice."  April 2026 saw them beginning to host the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum.

Their site is packed with useful resources and has pages dedicated to autism, ADHD  and dyspraxia.  Also recommended are their factsheets.  They run groups for parents and young people. Amaze also run several events each month, full details are on their website.

Autistic Mental Health Conference

August will see an Autistic Mental Health Conference being held. This is being organised by NeuroHub Community Ltd in association with Autistic Inclusive Meets (AIM) and runs over three days from August 14 to 16. Two of the days are being held online but on the 15th, people can attend the conference in-person at St Mary Magdalen Church Hall in Coldean. That will also include stalls, food and entertainment. 

The conference is for members of the neurodivergent community, whether they have been diagnosed, are self-identified or uncertain. Also welcome to attend are parents and family members, professionals who work with neurodivergent people, eductors, therapists and support workers and anyone that wants to have a more inclusive understanding of neurodiversity.

Included in the conference will be "keynote talks from leading voices in the neurodiversity space." There will also be "live and pre recorded accounts of lived experience from members of the autistic community."  The three days will cover "Ecosystemic Causes of Mental Health Issues”—examining how environments, systems, and societal structures shape neurodivergent wellbeing."

A single day online ticket costs £50 but a 15% Early Bird  Discount is available until the final line-up of speakers is confirmed, reducing that to £42.50. An online Full Weekend Pass is £120 (£102 with the discount). 

An In-Person ticket for the Coldean event on August 15 is £80, £68 with the discount. A full weekend pass including attending the in-person event is £150, £127.50 if you get the Early Bird discount.  NeuroHub members can receive a 33% discount.

NeuroHub is a "neurodivergent-led initiative focused on improving understanding, wellbeing, and inclusion for neurodivergent people. Their goals is to "contribute to a world where neurodivergent people are understood, supported and able to flourish."  

Grounded in NeuroHub Community Ltd’s six-point framework, it centres learning and partnership, inviting readers to honour authentic Autistic needs, identities, and ways of being through relationships and environments, rather than attempting to fix or change individuals. 

We'll have more about them in future editions. 

Autism Partnership Board

The Autism Partnership Board (APB) is defined as “a group of stakeholders, working together” with the aim of making the city of Brighton and Hove “a better place for autistic people to live.”

How can this be achieved? The APB believes this will only happen “through co-production with autistic individuals and organisations representing the wider autistic community.”  This enables both citizens and decision makers, or “people who use services, family carers and service providers” to “work together to create a decision or service which works for them all.”

All of this can help develop the Brighton and Hove City Council’s Autism Strategy. There are also workstreams and ‘working groups’ working in co-production. They focus on “improving particular aspects of life for autistic people in the community, as identified by the Autism Strategy. 

There are currently two ongoing workstreams related to ‘Neurodivergent welcoming GP practices’ and the Police and justice services.

The next APB meeting is taking place at Hove Town Hall on Monday September 14th from 10am to midday. This is followed by a debrief of the meeting. There is also the option to attend the meetings online via Microsoft Teams.

Thanks to APB Supporter Cara Loreilhe for the information that was sent to me about this. We will have more information about the APB in future editions.

Autistic Pride and Craft Fair   

Saturday July 25th will see the AIM Autistic Pride and Craft Fair take place in Brighton. It is being held at the Brighton Unitarian Church in New Road Brighton BN1 1UF from 12pm to 5pm.

AIM stands for Autistic Inclusive Meets "and they are an organisation that supports autistic adults, teenagers, children and the parents/carers of autistic children.

The event is described as "a celebration of autistic culture, history and our wonderful neurodivergent families."

There's going to be plenty happening with guest speakers and poets as well as authors. Guest speakers will be Erin Ekins from Queerly Autistic, Dean Beadle, David Gray-Hammond (NeuroHub Community Ltd) and Neurodivergent Joy.

You will also be able to buy art, books, clothing, jewelry and sensory goods. All are welcome to attend the event. The organisers say that it is "an afternoon to celebrate being you so stimm openly and know you are wanted." The event is also being supported by Puzzle Bored who are of course situated just across the road from the Unitarian Church.

More information about AIM on their Facebook page. There will be more about this event in THE MAG UPDATE online in the middle of July.

SEE Autistic Women: London & Soth East England Support and Social Group

This is a community for Autistic women in Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and London. It therefore covers quite a large area.

For more information go to their Facebook page (which is a private page) and access the events section with the next local one being due to take place on July 11.

Brighton Autistic Movement (BAM)

BAM is supported by Impact Advocacy which is part of Impact Initiatives. They are "passionate about providing advocacy with a focus on empowering and enabling people to speak up and live the lives they choose." They have a team of highly experienced advocates who provide both one-to-one advocacy and BAM "who influence and improve local services through active membership of the Brighton and Hove Autism Partnership Board. 

This is a group that is open to anyone that is over the age of 18, autistic and lives in Brighton & Hove.  The aims of the group are:

· To provide a safe space where Autistic individuals can meet, make friends and support each other.

· To raise awareness of the issues faced by those who are Autistic.

· To have a say in local policies and services and to provide input into the local Autism Strategy

BAM holds a monthly meeting with the next being held on Tuesday June 30 from 5pm to 7pm at the Friends Meeting House in Ship Street, Brighton.

This is a hybrid meeting and you can either attend in person or online by using Zoom. Full details are given in the in-depth monthly newsletter that they distribute. To receive that please email akina.advocacy@impact-initiatives.org.uk. Their meetings are for autistic people only, and their support as needed. Go online to like their Facebook page.

The format of the meeting will begin with check in's and peer discussion on the theme for that month. After a break there will be a visit and presentation from a guest speaker. On June 30, there will be a presentation by mASCot, more about them elsewhere in THE MAG and future editions.

Their next meeting will be on July 28, the theme will be 'Autistic experiences of A&E.' This will gather information that will be given to Edel Parsons head of Safeguaring at the County Hospital in Brighton.

 BANG (Brighton Adult Neurodiversity Group)  

BANG is a great opportunity for people aged 40 years + to meet up. It is held at Puzzle Bored at 27 New Street, Brighton just opposite the Unitarian Church. on the first Friday of each month. 

Their meeting in July takes place on the 3rd between 6pm and 8pm. Admittance to the venue is free and you can book up on their website Food and drink is available and you have the opportunity to play board games, puzzles and jigsaws. 

Puzzle Bored 

Puzzle Bored has three floors and really is a welcoming place for members of our community. Their site explains how they realised there was "a need for more quiet social spaces especially for the neurodivergent community and those that have noise sensitivity issues or just need a place of calm to relax and unwind." 

The venue also holds several other events and workshops throughout the month. These range from a creative writers group to quiz nights and a brand new group for chess players every Thursday from 4pm to  6pm. 

Puzzle Bored is available for hire and also sells their own range of jigsaw puzzles.You can even try to see how many Brighton related words you can spot on the downstairs world search on the wall.

Brighton Pebbles

It can be difficult to access mainstream activities because of your child's special needs. If you wish to meet with other parents who are in a similar position, then this group is there to help you.

Brighton Pebbles is a local charity that is run by parent carers. They welcome children who have any disability, but particularly "children who find it difficult to access mainstream activities, for instance those with severe learning disabilities, severe autism and challenging behaviour." 

Their aim is to "offer a place for parents to feel supported and understood and a place for all of our children to play and have fun.

Therefore, they hold a weekly after school family drop in session at the Manor Gym in Manor Road, Whitehawk, BN2 5EA. They run on Fridays from 3.30pm to 6pm during term time and during school holidays. A donation of £2 per special needs child and 50p for siblings are asked for.

The sessions are held in a large sports hall and there is soft play, a sensory area where you can relax, toys and games, an enclosed outside area, dressing up and a space for parents to enjoy a cuppa and a chat.

Brighton Pebbles stress that they are not a childcare provider. Therefore, parents and carers attending the session remain responsible for their chidren while on site. There are playworkers employed to help with the activities that take place during the sessions.

During the weekends and school holidays, there are some activities taking place. This includes days out at local attractions. Contact Brighton Pebbles for more information by emailing brightonpebbles1@gmail.com or calling them on 07506 105265.

Carousel  

Carousel are an award winning learning disability led arts organisation. They are located at Community Base  at 113 Queens Road, Brighton  BN1 3XG.  

The Blue Camel Club is an event that has been running for 24 years and is held at the Brighton Dome, orn Exchange, Brighton BN1 1EE. The next event is due to be on November 3 from 6pm to 10pm. Entry is £6 but carers  go free. 

Carousel also broadcasts their own podcasts and radio programmes and also have their very own  Youtube channel.  

Grace Eyre

Grace Eyre is a charity that supports those with autism and also a learning disabiity. Their vision is "a society where happiness, rights and inclusion are felt everyday by people with a learning disability, autistic people and everyone we support."  Their three keywords are "Ability, Equality and Independence."  

They are based at Telecom House, Ground Floor West, 125-135 Preston Road Brighton BN1 6AF.  Below we have details of their upcoming events. 

More details about them can be found on their events page.  

Have a Ball with Grace Eyre 

Do you fancy a game of football?  Grace Eyre hold indoor football sessions for people who are autistic and those with a learning disability. They take place at the Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre, Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton BN2 4PB every Wednesday from 10am to 11am.  Click here for more information about this and other sports (including basketball) provided by Grace Eyre. 

Laughter Lounge

Do you fancy ending the month of June with a good old giggie? That is what awaits you if going to the Laughter Lounge event that is being held  at The Joker which is situated at 2 Preston Road, Brighton BN1 4QF.

Some of Brighton's top neurodivergent comedians will be on stage with the headliner being Joe Wells. Also providing plenty of laughs will be: Carl Carzana, Vaiga Perkauskaite, Donna Williams and Joe Williams. 

The evening will be hosted by Paggy. Doors open at 6.30pm with the show due to start at 7pm.  Tickets cost £10.78 or £8.62 for concessions.

Pre-Brighton & Hove Pride Party

Brighton & Hove Pride  is just around the corner and is being held on Saturday August 1 and Sunday August 2. It will be the usual mixture of the Parade, the Preston Park event and the Street Party.

On Tuesday July 21, Grace Eyre hold their Pre-Brighton Pride Party at Carousels which is at 216-225 Kings Road Arches in Brighton, BN1 1NB. Performing at the party will be Rainboy, Daniel Wakeford, Family Thing and resident DJ Kez Edwards. 

Tickets cost £6 each with carers being admitted free. They can only be purchased on the door on the evening of  the party. For more information email Jenny Good at jgood@grace-eyre.org or call her on 07816 646331. 

Brighton & Hove Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade 

The Pride event gets underway with the Community Parade on Saturday August 1 and Grace Eyre will be part of it this year just as they were in 2025. They will be marching with Heart Venture, Team Domenica Brighton & Hove Speak Out and the Hastings samba band Sambalanco. The Parade begins at Hove Lawns around 11am. It then makes its way through the city all the way to Preston Park. This year's Parade has the theme of 'The Power of Love.'

Neurodiverse-city

August is going to be an exciting month in Brighton. There's already the Pride event which is being held over the first weekend of the month but on August 7 Brighton becomes Neurodiverse-city. 

The event is being held by local support group Grace Eyre and partners. It's a day/night event which the organisers describe as "a celebration and education of neurodiversity in Brighton." In the daytime, there is a free festival for all ages on New Road between Puzzle Bored and the Unitarian Church. 

Then in the evening between 5pm and 9pm, the church will be holding a 18+ ticketed show that will include comedy. music and dance performances with Strenuous, Daniel Wakeford and Rainboy confirmed.

The daytime event runs from 12 pm to 5pm and it's going to be action-packed. There will be games and activities with face painting also available. Local vendors will be there and it promises to be a great afternoon. 

The Purple Clubhouse

The Purple Clubhouse is a monthly club night that is run by autistic people and those with learning disabilities, through the Purple Productions team. The evenings are held at the Brighton Railway Club which is at 4 Belmont, Seven Dials, Brighton BN1 3TF. Tickets for the evening show cost £15.  For more information, email Jenny Good at jgood@grace-eyre.org or phone here on 07816 646331. 

There's everything from DJs to dancing plus quizzes and games. There is often a theme for the evenings. The Grace Eyre site says that the evenings usually take place on the second Friday of the month with additional bi-monthly nights being held at Audio Active in Worthing. To find out more, go to the Grace Eyre events page. 

The Summer Support Circle

The Summer Support Circle is a "gentle seven-week coaching space for parents of neurodivergent children" and is part of the help offered by Practical Wisdom (more about them shortly). It runs from  Monday July 20  to Sunday September 6 by qualified ND coach Helen Morris-Davies and costs £222. It will be kept to a small group of ten parents. You can book up by using the form on the page linked to earlier in this paragraph.

Helen is also a parent and has spent 38 years supporting people “through life’s most challenging moments.”

This has a simple message: “You don’t have to carry the summer on your own!”  It can be a stressful time for parents but Helen and the other attendees will be helping you if you join up.

It may be advertised as a summer break but for parents it means “changing routines, emotional overwhelm, sibling disagreements, sensory needs and trying to remember whether you’ve eaten lunch.” It’s a tiring time for sure but often by the time September arrives, it is often difficult to realise just how tired you are. Your summer has been spent helping others simply because “that’s what parents do” but parents need support too.

The Summer Support Circle is described as “a calm place to land throughout the holidays.” Each weekday will see Hele sharing a “gentle coaching reflection, practical idea, question or voice note to help you pause, reconnect and respond to what is happening around you.” There won’t be a rigid programme followed. The support will evolve around the requirements of the group.

Subjects that may be explored during the seven-week course could be “protecting your energy and setting boundaries, guilt, self-compassion and letting “good enough” be enough, creating moments of connection and joy, preparing gently for the return to school and carrying what you have learned into September.”

You do not need to join in every day and it is not a fixed course. Practical resources will be available and it will take place in a private WhatsAPP group for paying members. It is “not a replacement for therapy, medical care or urgent mental health support.” If there is still space and you join late, you can still take part and “catch up in your own way.”

Writing about the course, Helen comments that she fully knows what happens when parenthood arrives. “The Summer Support Circle isn’t about teaching you how to be a “better” parent. It’s about making sure you don’t have to carry all of this on your own.”

Practical Wisdom

Practical Wisdom gives support to “adults across the UK who are exploring their ADHD and/or autism traits, as well as those making sense of life after assessment.”

Their work also gives support to “the people, teams and systems around neurodivergent individuals.” This is achieved via neurodiversity training, awareness and consultancy. Practical Wisdom also offers help to organisations to “build understanding that leads to practical change.”

Sector support is also provided and this includes focused sector support. This involves direct work with healthcare staff plus guidance on “supporting patients who may be neurodivergent alongside their presenting issue.”

They also contribute to social impact work. This sees them addressing neurodiversity inequality and “related intersections, such as trauma and mental well-being.”  Practical Wisdom say that “ a trauma-informed, practical approach underpins everything we do.”  

To contact them, email hello@practicalwisdom.uk

Stay Up Late

Stay Up Late is "a grassroots charity that enables adults with learning disabilities and autistic people to lead active social lives and make decisions about how they want to live their life." They work "to tackle social isolation and push back against restrictive social care practices."

This includes campaigning to "end inflexible support for people with learning disabiities, make partying for people with learning disabilities a normal thing to do and make sure everyone gets to live a gloriously ordinary life. 

Their pet project is called Gig Buddies.  Their admirable belief is that "everyone should have people in their lives who aren’t paid to be there - real friends who simply enjoy spending time together. "  They aim to achieve this via Gig Buddies.

Rather than staging their own events, they instead pair those with learning disabilities and autism with volunteers who share their interests. This can be any "mainstream" events from food to sport to music, just anything they both love.  

As their website says: "it's all about genuine connection and shared experiences."  It all helps them achieve their aims of tackling isolation and building "a more inclusive, connected society - one friendship at a time."  More about them in future editions.

The Clare Project  

The first Monday of the month sees The Clare Project hold a meeting of their Neurodivergent Group at the Ledward Centre at 14a Jubilee Street Brighton. The next meeting is on Monday July 6 between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

This is a space where "people who are autistic/neurodivergent and also trans, nonbinary, intersex, gender-variant or gender questioning can come along to connect with each other, chat and find out more about local support services.

The Clare Project site says that there is "no pressure to 'mask' at this event" with stimming encouraed and fidget toys are available to use. Headphones can be worn if that is easier for attendees. A personal assistant or friend/famly member can come along to support you. The facilitators for the meeting are all autistic/neurodivergent and trans, non-binary or gender variant. 

UOK Wellbeing Service

July 13 was an important date as the UOK Wellbeing Service was launched. This offers free mental health and wellbeing support for adults in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex who are aged 18+. 

It is delivered by Southdown and is part of the wider UOK partnership. Funding is being provided by NHS Sussex and Surrey, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council. The aim is to help people "find and access local support in a way that feels clear. welcoming and right for them." 

The service includes walk-in welome sessions with no appointment required and peer groups that focus on a specfic mental health or wellbeing topic. Group bookings can be made through the UOK website. Telephone appointments can also be made if you cannot attend a welcome session in person. Again, go to  the website to book a Saturday telephone appointment. 

Social spaces are soon to be added and they will offer more opportunities to connect with other members of the community.  You do not have to attend the location that is the closest to where you live.  Their phone number is 0808 196 1768 and it is available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holdays).

The Lonely Club

Feeling lonely is not a pleasant experience at all. It just seems to be something that can come along at any time and can often be difficult to escape. Lara Rodwell found herself in that position in her teens and twenties. Three years ago, Lara founded The Lonely Club with events being held in London.

At the start of 2026, the Brighton Hub was created for adults aged 18+ and weekly meetings are held at the Just Life Hub in London Road, Brighton just opposite Aldi. They run from 12pm to 4pm with no pressure put on attendees to be present right from the start or stay to 4pm. It is ok for you to bring your lunch if you wish.

While not being exclusively for members of the neurodivergent community, the venue has soft lighting, fidget toys and gentle activities "to help everyone feel at home."

There is a Whatsapp group and you can also follow the Lonely Club on Instagram. July saw them begin to be sponsored by Skylark Coffee. Writing on their Instagram page, the Coffee Club said that "Coffee and community have always been perfect partners, that's why we knew that The Lonely Club and Skylark would be a wonderul duo." They added that both are "social--minded projects born out of kindness, plus a desire to connect people and do things a little differently."

mASCot 

mASCot provides parent led peer to peer support for families who have autistic children. 'ASC' stands for 'Adult Support Community."

This support can begin from when parents recognise that their child may be autistic, "being on the diagnostic pathway or with a full diagnosis."  Their aim is to "bring families together and enable them to connect with others in similar situations as themselves." 

Members are able to "share their experiences and swap strategies." They also provide many projects, clubs and groups that help benefit those that attend. The group realise that "having a place where we can share problems, solutions and advice 24/7 is so important."  

The past couple of years have been important ones for mASCot as their membership has spread outside of Brighton and Hove to other areas in East and West Sussex. They now have over 2300 members. Their next pub meet is being held on Thursday July 9 at The Temple Bar which is at 121 Western Road, Brighton BN1 2AD from 7pm to 11pm.

There is also a Coffee Club that his held at the Emmaus Coffee Shop in Drove Road, Portslade BN41 2PA. This takes place from 10am to 12pm and the next Coffee Club is being held on Wednesday July 8. Children are welcome at this event. 

Wednesday August 5 will hopefully have good weather. That will be perfect for their Picnic in the Park. This is being held just by the play area in Hove Park from 10am to 1pm. Just look out for the mASCot flag. 

Recently, their founder Sam Bayley was interviewed by NEUROshambles and is well worth listening to. They also have a monthly newsletter that you can sign up for.

Brighton Neurodivergent Community

So what happens when the youngsters helped by mASCot reach the age of 18? This is a social group for those in the neurodivergent community that are aged between 18 and 40.

Brighton Neurodivergent Community has been created by Bill and Leigh and it is an "inclusive hub where an ND community of young adults can meet virtually to chat, make friends and to plan and arrange meet-ups.  

This includes going to gigs, clubs, the cinema, cafes, online events via Discord and more.  To sign-up go to this page. There are also pages on Facebook, Instagram and the Discord Server.

On Wednesday July 15 from 6pm there is a Sober Social being held at Puzzle Bored. This is for neurodivergent adults under 40 years of age. It's going to be "a night of hot chocolate, puzzling and delicious snacks."  

Monday July 19 sees BNC holding a Craft Crew event at Queen's Park between 12pm and 5pm. This is a "laid-back social" for those who enjoy crafts, colouring drawing, coding and puzzles. 

The big date to put in your diary is their Prom at the Railway Inn in Portslade on October 10, starting at 8pm running to 11.30pm. This might be your first ever prom or the chance to relive the one you've previously enjoyed. It might even be the chance for redemption after a previously disappointing prom. Ge ready to dress to impress.

 There will be fidget toys available, outside space and "somewhere to hide from the crowd."  The prom is a fundraiser for BNC and those buying tickets will be entered into a raffle.  Prizes include a Bird and Blend Tea Tea Cube, entry to Brighton Museums for two adults and a couple of children, help from a personal chef and a bundle from Stanley Road Store.

Non-member tickets cost £18 and are available here. Join their Discord group and a discounted ticket can be purchased. A limited number of discounted tickets are available for guests on a low-income. Contact BNC for more details. 

Autism Friendly Cinema Screenings 

Cineworld

Autism friendly screenings are held each month at Cineworld in the Brighton Marina on the first Sunday of each month. So how do they differ from the usual screenings of movies at the cinema?

They do so in several ways in an attempt to create a sensory-friendly environment. Therefore, there are reduced sound levels, no advertisements (it's getting better by the minute), no trailers and dimmed lighting. You are also able to move around the cinema or make noise with no chance of being told off for doing so.  

Cineworld are part of Dimensions autism-friendly screenings and have been holding them since 2012. They say "it's very important for us to be able to offer inclusive screenings for people with autism and help them enjoy the world of film. The Cineworld site says the screenings have the aim of providing "a stress-free and enjoyable cinema visit."  All they can't guarantee is that the movie is entertaining.

We should be ok in July as the film being shown is Toy Story 5 on Sunday July 5 with the screening beginning at 11am. They haven't announced which movie will be shown in August but it will take place on the 3rd. More details when we get them.

Duke of York's Brighton 

The Duke of York's cinema has what they term 'relaxed screenings that are described as being "ideal for neurodivergent audiences of all ages."  As with Cineworld. there are no adverts or trailers, the lights are left on low, free movement around the cinema is acceptable and breaks from the screen can be taken when required.  

Duke's at Komedia at 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 also have relaxed screenings. Their website says that they typically show a new release every second Monday of the month and a family-friendly film on every third Sunday of the month. Autism friendly screenings are also available at Odeon Brighton at Kingswest, Brighton BN1 2RE. They have told me that the screenings are usually held on the final Sunday of the month.  You are advised to contact the cinemas for more details.  

Neurodivergent-Friendly Mushroom Foraging Walk 

This is going to take place on Sunday October 18 between 11am and 3pm. Neurodivergent-friendly guided mushroom foraging is part of the Mushroom Foraging Walks near London and Brighton Collection and run by Adi's Urban Mushrooms London Ltd.

This will be autistic and ADHD-led with no small talk and no masking.  Meet up at Station Hill, Three Bridges.  The exact meeting point will be given out a week before the event. 

Adi has been foraging for 46 years and is openly autistic and ADHD. He has a PhD from Goldsmiths University of London, an MSc with Distinction, and 15+ years of university teaching experience. Adi is a member of the Association of Foragers.

He writes that "our hunter-and-gatherer brains were built for the forest." Adi adds: "The hyper-focus, the pattern recognition, the deep sensory engagement, the absence of social performance pressure - being in nature with a purpose switches something on for many neurodivergent people that nothing else quite does.

There will be an introductory talk and then around three hours spent in the West Sussex forest. You will be shown how to identify choice edible mushrooms from the ones that are dangerous to consume, plus how to understand foraging ethics and law.  All of this can take place at your own pace.

There is a maximum of 12 people that can be part of the group, allowing everyone to receive real attention. Tickets start at £33.22, these being Support tickets for those on Universal Credit working below the minimum wage and/or using a Food Bank. A standard ticket is £65 and for £92.80, your place is covered "plus a little more."  Email adi@urbanmushrooms.co.uk for more details. Free tickets are only for people who have bought a voucher and want to redeem it 

What's in THE MAG EXTRA?? 

Current contents include:

• Articles on Sol Ruca, Jordynne Grace and Cathy Kelley from WWE
• Links to Autism and ADHD news items.
• Book review
• Podcast review
• On the Radio
• Review of the Netflix documentary 'Room to Move.'
• Being diagnosed at a late age
• Hyperfixations.

This is planned to be launched online on Tuesday July 7. If you would like to contribute to future editions, please contact me at mageditoruk@gmail.com or call me on 07470 028 539.