July 2026 newsletter

Hello everyone,

Welcome to our July newsletter. It has been another busy month across London Autism Group Charity, with plenty to share. Since our last newsletter, our new Tooting Community Cafe has properly launched and held its first two sessions, our Ealing community enjoyed a wonderful seaside trip, we proudly sponsored Autistic Pride in Hyde Park, and Fridays at Farringdon has grown with gentle yoga on Friday mornings.

We are also delighted to shine a light on two of our wonderful volunteers this month, Consuelo and Riccardo. As always, thank you to every volunteer, attendee, supporter, partner and donor who helps make this work possible - LAGC exists because people keep showing up for one another.

If you missed our June newsletter, you can catch up there for all our recent updates.

Thank You for a Brilliant Autistic Pride in Hyde Park

We were very proud to sponsor and support this year's 11th Annual Autistic Pride in Hyde Park on Sunday 12th July 2026.

Autistic Pride is a wonderful event, run by autistic people for autistic people. It brings the whole community together for a relaxed and joyful afternoon where people can be themselves, meet others, and enjoy a real sense of belonging.

It was a lovely day, and it was great to see so many of our community come along and enjoy it. A big thank you to everyone who helped organise the event, everyone who came along, and everyone who helped create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We were very proud to play our part in supporting it.

Our New Tooting Community Cafe Has Launched

We are delighted to share that our new Tooting Community Cafe has now launched and has already held its first two sessions at Tooting Grove Community Clubhouse - a free, relaxed and welcoming space for autistic and neurodivergent adults, families, friends and allies in the local area.

Our June launch got the cafe started, and the July session built on that momentum with a wonderful animal therapy visit from Ryan Parker of Save the Animals, Save the World, and his emotional assistance dalmatian Bellatrix, who has been doing the rounds at our community cafes.

As with all our community cafes, there is no pressure to socialise in any particular way - you are welcome to talk, sit quietly, take part in an activity, enjoy a drink and a snack, or simply be around others in a space where neurodivergent ways of being are understood.

When: Second Sunday of each month, 1pm - 3pm

Venue: Tooting Grove Community Clubhouse

Cost: Completely free · no registration required

Thank you to Tony, Teddy, Consuelo, Dom and everyone else supporting the Tooting cafe as it grows. Everyone is welcome, wherever you are based - though it is especially handy if you are in or around Tooting, Wandsworth or South London. Please do come along, and help us spread the word if you can.

A Wonderful Ealing Seaside Trip

Our Ealing community recently enjoyed a wonderful seaside trip, and we are so pleased it went so well.

Days out like this are a lovely chance to spend time together, enjoy a change of scene, and share a relaxed day by the sea. Group outings can feel daunting to organise or take part in, so a friendly, well-supported LAGC trip can make a real difference - and it was great to see everyone having such a good time.

Our huge thanks to Jenny Teuten for arranging the trip, and to the wonderful volunteer team who supported it so brilliantly on the day. Thank you also to everyone who came along and helped make it such a happy occasion.

Gentle Yoga Has Arrived at Fridays at Farringdon

Fridays at Farringdon has continued to grow as one of our most valued low-demand spaces, and we are delighted that it now includes gentle yoga sessions.

The first outdoor yoga session took place on Friday 3rd July with Marlijn leading on the terrace. Further sessions are planned through July and August, and they have already proved popular.

The sessions are designed to be relaxed and accessible. They are not about performance, competition or doing things "properly" - they are about gentle movement, breath, regulation and wellbeing in a neurodivergent-friendly environment.

What: Free weekly access to a welcoming Pan Macmillan space

Gentle yoga: On selected Fridays · booking required for yoga spaces

Cost: Always free

Thank you to Marlijn for offering her time and skill, and to the Fridays at Farringdon volunteer team for helping make the sessions work.

Celebrating Two of Our Amazing Volunteers

This month we are shining a light on two wonderful volunteers - Consuelo and Riccardo - who both kindly shared their stories with us.

Consuelo Redaelli

Interior architect, writer & community cafe volunteer

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm originally from Italy and moved to London six years ago. I'm an interior architect, writer, and former university lecturer. I founded my own design studio in Milan in 2006 and have since worked across the food and beverage, retail, office and hospitality sectors. More recently I completed a postgraduate qualification in neurodiversity because I wanted to better understand how people experience and interact with spaces, and to help create environments that are welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

What first brought you to LAGC, and what made you decide to volunteer?

I first came across LAGC through LinkedIn, which encouraged me to find out more about the organisation and its work. Volunteering has always been part of who I am - throughout my life I've volunteered in different settings and for different causes, so giving my time to support others feels very natural. When both my son and I discovered that we are neurodivergent, I felt an even stronger connection to LAGC's mission. I wanted to be part of a community that promotes understanding, acceptance and support.

What do you enjoy most about being part of LAGC?

What I love most is the strong sense of community. There is a real feeling of trust, acceptance and kindness within the cafes. Both the Greenwich and Tooting groups have such a calm, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. People are encouraged to be themselves without judgement, and that creates a space where everyone can feel comfortable, valued and heard.

A memorable moment?

The Tai Chi session was particularly memorable for me. I found it fascinating and surprisingly moving. The way it connected movement, mindfulness, relaxation and self-awareness offered a powerful metaphor for how we relate to our emotions, fears and the world around us. It left me feeling inspired and gave me a lot to think about afterwards.

What would you say to someone thinking about getting involved?

I would absolutely encourage them to give it a try. It's a lovely way to spend time with warm, interesting people who are open to sharing their experiences and learning from one another. Every time I've attended, I've come away having learned something new, had meaningful conversations, and felt a little more connected. It's a genuinely welcoming community where everyone has something valuable to contribute.

Riccardo Pandini

Administration professional & community volunteer

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm Riccardo Pandini, originally from Bergamo, a small city in northern Italy near Milan. I currently work in administration at an office in central London. Outside work I enjoy playing sport, listening to live music and going to the theatre - London offers so many great events - and I also enjoy writing.

What first brought you to LAGC?

One of my closest friends, who lives in Italy, is autistic. I looked into what LAGC offered and thought I'd love to organise for him and his father to have the same back home, or maybe one day even visit us here in London. I began searching online for support and information and, out of several autism charities I contacted, only two replied. Of those, only LAGC was able to answer my many questions quickly, thoroughly and in real detail.

What made you decide to volunteer with us?

I still remember James, who helped me in a very practical way over email. He replied immediately and never dismissed any of my questions, no matter how small. That made me realise two things straight away: his knowledge of the subject, and how much he genuinely cared about sharing it freely. He then invited me to visit the Ealing cafe and meet everyone in person. As soon as I walked in I found a positive atmosphere - Jenny gave me a very warm welcome, explained how the cafe worked, and introduced me to the whole volunteer team.

What do you enjoy most, and what stands out?

Sharing experiences, thoughts and emotions with people who are all completely different from one another, with different cultures and perspectives. It has helped me understand that emotions are unique to each individual and that there is no right or wrong way to experience them. My first meeting with Chris stands out the most - it happened by chance at the Ealing cafe. We started chatting and, after a few exchanges, my partner mentioned I was a volunteer, and he told us he was the founder of the charity. What impressed me most was his simplicity: how genuine, spontaneous and kind he was, as well as his vision of helping others.

What would you say to someone thinking about getting involved?

LAGC is difficult to describe in words. I would encourage anyone interested to take part in one of the many activities we offer free of charge, without needing to formally prove or certify their autistic identity. From my perspective, attending one of the community cafes is the best way to experience the true spirit of the charity.

Thank you, Consuelo and Riccardo, for the kindness, time and energy you bring to LAGC. Every newsletter we shine a spotlight on two of our fantastic volunteers to celebrate the wonderful contribution they make to our community.

Autistic Workplace Support Sessions Continue at Kings Square

Our Autistic Workplace Support Sessions have restarted at Kings Square Community Centre in Islington. These free, autistic-led sessions offer autistic adults a supportive space to think about employment, work, job searching, reasonable adjustments, disclosure, confidence, burnout and workplace experiences.

The June session at the new venue went really well, with one-to-one mentoring and a supportive group discussion. Our July session is now available to book, with a maximum of 15 places so that everyone gets plenty of time with an employment mentor.

Next session: Saturday 25th July 2026, 1pm - 4pm

Venue: Kings Square Community Centre, Islington

Also coming up: Saturday 29th August 2026

If you are an autistic adult and would like support around work, job searching or workplace experiences, please register for an upcoming session.

Strolling with Neurokin: Gentle Outdoor Connection

Strolling with Neurokin continues to offer relaxed walk-and-talk opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent adults. Recent Greenwich activity included a lovely walk from Charlton House towards the Thames Barrier area - a gentle way to get outdoors, connect with others and explore London at a low-pressure pace.

A note on our Ealing route

Our Ealing Strolling with Neurokin route is currently paused while we find someone suitable to design and lead future sessions. We are grateful to everyone who has supported the Ealing walks so far, and we hope to bring this back once the right support is in place.

If you would be interested in helping lead or support gentle, neurodivergent-friendly walks in your local area, we would love to hear from you.

A Great Couple of Days at the Autism & ADHD Show

We had a great couple of days at the Autism & ADHD Show, engaging with the autistic community, meeting allies old and new, and explaining the full range of our services to the public.

Thank you to the Autism & ADHD Show, and to Joseph, Nargis and Jeff, for making it possible.

And a big thank you to our amazing volunteers, who represented the charity so well.

Free Copies of "Literally: A Joyful Guide to the Ups and Downs of Being Autistic"

We are delighted to be giving away free copies of the wonderful book "Literally: A Joyful Guide to the Ups and Downs of Being Autistic" by Ella Willis. These copies were kindly donated by Pan Macmillan, the publisher, and we are giving them out across our community cafes - completely free - to anyone who would like one.

This Saturday at Greenwich

At our Greenwich Community Cafe on Saturday 18th July we have 8 copies to give away, free, to people who would like one.

150 Free Vodafone SIM Cards Available

We are pleased to share that the charity has been awarded 150 free Vodafone SIM cards through their charities.connected programme, and we would love to get these to members of our community who could benefit.

Each SIM includes:

• 40GB data per month
• Unlimited UK calls
• Unlimited UK texts
• Free for 6 months from activation

The SIMs come with a new phone number and are activated by putting them into an unlocked, compatible phone (they need to be activated within 18 months of us receiving them). After the free 6 months there is no obligation to continue - you can simply let the SIM expire, or keep it going by topping up with a Vodafone Big Value Bundle.

We will be giving these out at our community cafes, so please come along to a cafe if you would like one. You are also welcome to email us at contact@londonautismgroupcharity.org.

Help Us Learn - Your Feedback Matters

We always want to keep our feedback channel open. Your input helps us understand what is working well, what we can improve, and how our services are impacting the community. We would be incredibly grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete any or all of the following surveys.

General Feedback

Share any constructive feedback, ideas, or testimonials. Completely anonymous.

Wellbeing Survey

Help us measure our impact on your wellbeing. Anonymous, 3-5 minutes.

Impact Survey

Tell us what's working well and what we could improve. Not anonymous.

Thank you for helping us grow and improve. Every response makes a real difference.

Other things still running and growing

Alongside the updates above, we are continuing to run and develop a wide range of other support and community activity, including:

• Our Community Cafes across London - Greenwich, Southgate, Ealing, Grays, Old Street, South Woodford and now Tooting
• Strolling with Neurokin gentle walk-and-talk sessions
• Monthly Activity Days and a growing range of inclusive activities - watercolour, music therapy, tai chi and animal therapy
• University peer-support sessions for autistic students and our Autistic Adult Women's Group
• Autistic identity support, autistic-led mental health support, and our befriending scheme
• The Autism Podcast
• Training, consultancy and commissioned engagement work

What's On for the Rest of July

Here is what is coming up across our community this month - all free and everyone welcome. Come along to as many as you like!

Fridays at Farringdon

11am - 4pm · the Loft, Pan Macmillan HQ

Greenwich Community Cafe

11am - 1pm · St Alfege's Church Hall, SE10 8NA

Old Street Community Cafe

11am - 1pm · Vibast Community Centre, 167 Old St, EC1V 9NH

Fridays at Farringdon · gentle yoga

11am - 4pm · the Loft, Pan Macmillan HQ · yoga booking required

Autistic Workplace Support Session

1pm - 4pm · Kings Square Community Centre, Islington · register ahead

South Woodford Community Cafe · music therapy

1pm - 3pm · St Mary's, Woodford, 207 High Rd, E18 2PA

Fridays at Farringdon · gentle yoga

11am - 4pm · the Loft, Pan Macmillan HQ · yoga booking required

A Heartfelt Thank You

We are incredibly grateful to our funders, volunteers, supporters, partners and friends. You make everything we do possible.

Our volunteers are the heart of everything we do. Their generosity in giving their time and energy so freely, driven purely by a desire to help others, is what makes our work possible. We simply could not do any of this without you - thank you.

A special thank you this month to Alana, who has been helping strengthen our social media so that stories and updates from across the charity can be shared more widely, and to everyone helping behind the scenes with the funding applications, planning and admin that keep our services free and sustainable.

If you would be interested in becoming a volunteer yourself, we would love to hear from you - please email contact@londonautismgroupcharity.org to express your interest.

Stay connected with us

Thank you for being part of our community and for supporting our work.

If you are interested in anything you have read about in this newsletter and either wish to support us or access our services, please email us at: contact@londonautismgroupcharity.org.