Services for Parents & Carers (of children & young people)
CAAS has a range of services designed to support parents and carers of young people diagnosed with ADHD or autism.
For all enquiries, or to book places on any of the below, please contact us using the links below.
We want to be as welcoming as possible, and will make accommodations to enable you to access our services. Please click on this document to see some of the reasonable adjustments we can make to support you, and do let us know by emailing or calling us if there is anything else we can do to make our services accessible for you.
Table of Contents
Drop-In Support
For: Residents of North-West London.
When: Wednesdays and Fridays during term-time, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM; 3rd Monday of the month, 7:00 – 9:00 PM.
What: The support sessions are a great introduction to our services: you can meet someone from both the Family Support and Youth Teams and find out about the help we can provide for you and your family, as well as connect with other parents/carers in a similar situation. During the daytime sessions, a creche is available for parents with pre-school aged children. This is run by trained childcare staff. Creche must be booked by emailing enquiries as spaces are limited.
For: Residents of North-West London.
What: As well as holding our regular drop-ins in the CAAS centre, we also hold weekly drop-ins in wider North-West London to expand our reach and increase the number of people who can access our services.
Bay20
Where: Bay20 Community Space, 71 St Marks Rd, London, W10 6JG
When: Wednesdays during term time, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
WEST Youth Zone
Where: WEST Youth Zone, 2 EdCity Walk, London, W12 7TF
When: Mondays during term time, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
For: Residents of North-West London.
What: As well as holding our regular drop-ins, we also run drop-in sessions in different locations across Brent throughout the year, sometimes in partnership with local community groups. Check our Events Calendar for upcoming dates and locations.
For: Residents of North-West London.
When: Every other Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 PM; Wednesdays 7-00 – 8:30 PM
What: Our online drop-in support groups are a wonderful opportunity to talk to our family support team, who are here to offer guidance and support. Connect with other parents to share stories, offer advice, and build a supportive community. You are welcome whether your child is formally diagnosed, on the pathway, or if you suspect your child might need an assessment and want to know the next steps.
Regular Support
For: Residents of Harrow
When: By appointment.
What: Blended online and face-to-face sessions with one of our family support workers. This project aims to support parents/carers neurodivergent young people at difficult times in you or your child’s life. Support will be topic based, offered over around 6 sessions, and available via email, phone, text, or in person. Please note that we are currently operating a waiting list for this service, so accessing drop-in is recommended initially.
For: Residents of Harrow and Hillingdon.
What: This group is designed to give you the opportunity to share and gain support from other local members. Please note: this group is not regularly moderated or responded to by CAAS staff, it is to facilitate community posting. Please read group rules before posting. https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdandautismsupport.
For: Members of CAAS.
When: Access during drop-in sessions or by arrangement.
What: Our well-stocked library has books on all aspects of ADHD, autism and other related conditions. Our books are updated on a regular basis. We also stock books that support parenting as well as literature on siblings and family dynamics. Books are also available to help children or adults with a diagnosis of ADHD or autism to understand their condition.
Cost: £10 deposit to be retained if books are not returned within six months. Two books may be borrowed at any one time.
Workshops
For: Residents of North-West London
When: Dates vary.
What: Specialist workshops are held throughout the year with blended online and face-to-face service. These are accessible to parents, carers, professionals and ADHD/autistic individuals. Details are sent via email to members and are published on our website and social media. Places must be booked. To view current workshops, please visit our Eventbrite page.
For: Residents of North-West London
When: Dates vary.
What: CAAS offer sleep support to enable parents to gain a greater understanding of how to support children with sleep issues. We hold regular workshops offering insight into the importance of sleep, as well as strategies for how to support your child to have a more restful night’s sleep. We also offer support on a one-to-one basis. Support will generally be offered via email, phone or in person.
For: Residents of North-West London
When: Monthly
What: This monthly workshop will help parents understand the process of completing a DLA form and will go through the form question by question giving examples of the kind of information required. You do not need a diagnosis before you apply.
Courses
To register for one of our parenting courses, please use this form: https://forms.office.com/e/bXJYGXnBVt
For: Residents of North-West London. Suitable for parents of children/teenagers diagnosed autistic or on the wating list for diagnosis.
When: Termly; in person at the CAAS centre
What: Understanding Autism is a 6-week course that focuses on increasing parents’ understanding of their autistic child/teenager and looking at how best to support them. The course provides in-depth information and covers topics such as communication differences, sensory issues, how behaviour is impacted and as well as providing a safe space for parents/carers to ask questions and connect with others in a similar situation. Parents have shared that attending the course in person at our centre is particularly valuable in enhancing their experience of the course. Courses are offered for both evening and daytime, online and in person at our centre.
If your child/teenager is dual diagnosis we recommend attending the Understanding ADHD as well. The ADHD and Autism Parenting Boost is then recommended as a follow-on course to explore strategies and skills.
Cost: £30 per person; a discounted rate is available when booking multiple courses:
- Book any two courses (e.g., Understanding ADHD/Autism or Parenting Boost) together and pay only £20.00 for the second course.
- Book all three courses at once for just £10.00 for the third course.
Note: Discounts apply only when courses are booked and paid for at the same time.
For: Residents of North-West London. Suitable for parents of children/teenagers diagnosed with ADHD or on the wating list for diagnosis.
When: Termly; in person at the CAAS centre
What: Understanding ADHD is a 6-week course that focuses on increasing parents’ understanding of their ADHD child/teenager and looking at how best to support them.
The course provides in-depth information and covers topics such as communication differences, executive functioning, behaviour and emotional regulation. The course also provides a safe space to ask questions and connect with others in a similar situation. Parents have shared that attending the course in person at our centre is particularly valuable in enhancing their experience of the course. Courses are offered for both evening and daytime, online and in person at our centre.
If your child/teenager is dual diagnosis we recommend attending the Understanding Autism course as well. The ADHD and Autism Parenting Boost is then recommended as a follow-on course to explore strategies and skills.
Cost: £30 per person; a discounted rate is available when booking multiple courses:
- Book any two courses (e.g., Understanding ADHD/Autism or Parenting Boost) together and pay only £20.00 for the second course.
- Book all three courses at once for just £10.00 for the third course.
Note: Discounts apply only when courses are booked and paid for at the same time.
For: Residents of North-West London. Suitable for those who have previously attended our Understanding ADHD and/or Understanding Autism courses.
When: Termly; in person at the CAAS centre
What:
The ADHD and Autism Parenting Boost is a 6-week follow on course which is available to parents/carers after attending the Understanding ADHD and/or Understanding Autism courses.
The sessions are designed to provide enhanced understanding and offer additional strategies for parents. The course is based on the accredited “Effective Parenting” course, which has been adapted to meet the needs of families of neurodiverse children and teenagers, and provides the opportunity to explore and learn together in a safe space.
Cost: £30 per person; a discounted rate is available when booking multiple courses:
- Book any two courses (e.g., Understanding ADHD/Autism or Parenting Boost) together and pay only £20.00 for the second course.
- Book all three courses at once for just £10.00 for the third course.
Note: Discounts apply only when courses are booked and paid for at the same time.
For: Residents of North-West London. Most suitable for parents/carers of children aged 3-10 years who are diagnosed, waiting for diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of ADHD.
When: One course per year, in person at CAAS.
What: Are you feeling overwhelmed by your child’s behaviour or finding everyday parenting more stressful than it should be? You’re not alone—and there is a simple, effective approach that can help. If you’ve tried a counting method before and found it didn’t work, our Calm Countdown, based on the well-known 1-2-3 Magic method developed by Dr. Thomas Phelan, is here to support you.
This course is designed to give parents and carers practical, research-based tools to confidently manage behaviour and help children learn self-regulation. It’s especially helpful for families with children who have ADHD, offering clear strategies that reduce frustration and improve daily routines.
By learning how to respond calmly and consistently, parents often find they achieve better outcomes with less effort and stress. Whether you’re looking to feel more in control, connect better with your child, or simply bring more calm into your home, this programme can make a real difference.
We highly recommend this course for parents of children with ADHD. Please check course suitability for ASD.
Cost: £30 per person
Understanding the Diagnosis
To register for any of our Understanding the Diagnosis webinars, visit our Eventbrite:
Understanding the Diagnosis by Centre for ADHD & Autism Support | Eventbrite
For: Residents of North-West London
When: For seven weeks at a time
What: Join our free series of webinars designed to help parents and carers deepen their understanding of their child, whether they are on a waiting list for diagnosis, or been diagnosed, with autism. Led by professionals with lived experience, each session includes key information, practical strategies and valuable insights that support you to help your child or young person thrive.
For: Residents of North-West London
When: For seven weeks at a time
What: Join our free series of webinars designed to help parents and carers deepen their understanding of their child, whether they are on a waiting list for diagnosis, or been diagnosed, with ADHD. Led by professionals with lived experience, each session includes key information, practical strategies and valuable insights that support you to help your child or young person thrive.