June 2026 newsletter

Hello everyone,

Welcome to our June newsletter. We have a really exciting month ahead - our brand new Tooting Community Cafe launches this Sunday, our Autistic Workplace Support Sessions are restarting in a new home, and we are celebrating an extraordinary fundraising achievement by one of our community members. We are also proud to be sponsoring this year's Autistic Pride in Hyde Park.

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

Our New Tooting Community Cafe Launches This Sunday

We are delighted to be launching our new LAGC Tooting Community Cafe on Sunday 14th June, 1pm - 3pm, at the Tooting Grove Community Clubhouse.

Launch date: Sunday 14th June 2026, then the second Sunday of every month thereafter

Time: 1pm - 3pm

Venue: Tooting Grove Community Clubhouse

Cost: Completely free · no registration required

As always, our community cafes are relaxed, welcoming spaces for autistic and neurodivergent adults, family members, friends and allies to meet others, have a chat, enjoy a hot or cold drink and a snack, and feel part of a supportive local community. There is no pressure to socialise in any particular way - you are welcome to join in as much or as little as feels comfortable. Feel free to drop in at any time and stay for as long as you like.

🌱 Launch-day activity

For the launch session we are pleased to have Nicky Fawcitt leading a short tai chi session at around 2pm in the venue's garden space - a gentle, accessible wellbeing activity for anyone who would like to take part.

🎁 Free launch raffle

We will also be holding a free raffle on the day, with three lucky winners each receiving a £10 Amazon voucher. Like everything we do, it is completely free to enter.

Whether you are already connected with LAGC or coming along for the first time, you would be very welcome. We would love to see this new Tooting cafe become another warm and inclusive space for the local autistic and neurodivergent community.

📣 Please help us spread the word! We are trying to get this new cafe known across the local community, so do share it with anyone who might benefit.

Autistic Workplace Support Session - Saturday 27th June

Our Autistic Workplace Support Sessions are back! The next session takes place on Saturday 27th June 2026, from 1pm to 4pm, at our new venue: Kings Square Community Centre in Islington.

These free, autistic-led sessions are for autistic adults who would like support with work, employment, job searching, workplace issues or future career planning. They are open to autistic adults who are:

• currently in work
• looking for work
• wanting advice on their CV or future career direction
• needing support around reasonable adjustments
• thinking about changing jobs or exploring future options
• looking for a safe space to discuss work-related experiences with other autistic adults

For this session we are limiting places to a maximum of 15 people, so that attendees can have more time with an employment mentor.

1pm - 2:30pm · One-to-one mentoring

Speak privately with an autistic employment mentor about job searching, career advice, workplace issues, reasonable adjustments, burnout, disclosure, confidence at work, or anything else connected to employment.

2:45pm - 4pm · Group discussion

A supportive, confidential group discussion about work and related experiences. You can speak, listen, write things down, or contribute anonymously if that feels easier.

What to expect:

Free tea, coffee and snacks · comfortable seating · sensory items available · a low-demand environment · a supportive autistic-led team.

Places are limited, so please register in advance:

Sean Kennedy Completes the London to Brighton 100km Ultra Challenge

A heartfelt thank you to Sean Kennedy, who completed the gruelling London to Brighton 100km Ultra Challenge to raise funds for London Autism Group Charity. Sean finished in 22 hours and 32 minutes - despite getting lost, adding extra distance, and developing shin splints late in the route - and raised an amazing £679, every penny of which goes straight into delivering our many initiatives. Thank you, Sean!

£679

Raised for LAGC

100km

Distance covered

22h 32m

Finishing time

Chris Papadopoulos sat down with Sean to talk about the challenge, why he chose to support LAGC, and what resilience means to him as an AuDHD adult. Here is what he told us.

What made you decide to take on the challenge for LAGC?

I had run for a few charities including Mind and CALM on previous runs, and it felt like a natural progression to raise funds for a charity that is closer to home.

What was the hardest part of the day, and what helped you keep going?

At 75km I got lost after following another running group - it was about 2km onto a different course when a member of that group, coming the other way, pointed it out. I frustratedly thanked her, turned back and picked up the pace to make up time. I went too hard and got shin splints at 85km. By then it was pitch dark and I was questioning myself, as lots of people were passing me and I wasn't sure I would make the 24-hour cut-off. Thankfully, I limped home in 22 hours and 32 minutes.

Were there any especially memorable, funny or emotional moments?

I got on the night bus early in the morning and lost my phone. I was panicking because I needed it to find my way, so I asked the driver if he had seen me drop it - no joy. I returned to my seat, metaphorically shitting myself, and then heard my alarm go off. It seemed to be coming from the passenger behind me. He was asleep, so I woke him up and demanded my phone. Embarrassingly, he got out his own phone, which had Russian writing, and I realised from his reaction that he spoke no English and certainly had not taken my phone. I apologised and went back to my seat. It was only when I got off the bus that I found my phone - it had slipped into the secret back pocket of my bag. Ouch - and such relief!

As an AuDHD adult, how do you find strength or resilience during times of self-doubt or difficulty?

Good question, Chris. I find that after several consecutive difficult challenges I struggle the most afterwards, rather than during the intensity. So I journal, meditate, tell someone about the struggle I went through, and go for a walk outside, preferably in nature. I acknowledge that I have something to learn from the experience, and if the struggle persists I will ask some prayer intercessors to pray for me.

What does LAGC mean to you personally?

LAGC means I can go to a place where I don't need to explain myself. I can sit quietly and do something solitary while being around people who understand that I might need some space that day - or I can socialise without needing to perform to be accepted. That is such a lifeline, as I live in a world that wants me to perform for it, and I don't respond well to that pressure. But if you take the pressure off me, then I can respond in a way that allows me to give something back that is meaningful to me.

How did you feel afterwards?

Relieved and grateful that I was able to complete the 100km challenge and raise funds for such a worthwhile cause. I'm not very good at asking for donations and I was quite a way off the £500 target, so in the last few days before the run I decided to be bolder - and it paid off. That is an ADHD trait; I do tend to leave difficult things to the very last minute! I'm pleased that through sponsorship I am bringing LAGC and the subject of autism more closely to people's awareness. It is still misunderstood in many quarters, so it is great that I can do my little bit to counteract that.

What would you say to another neurodivergent person who wants to do something brave but doubts themselves?

I would write it down and set a timeframe for the goal. Take the goal in bite-sized chunks and have a programme where you write down specific smaller goals that move you closer to the big one. You will have days with little inspiration, so it is important to find balance and ways of being gentle with yourself - treating yourself after you have done that hard session. It may take years or even decades, but you will get there in the end, and when you do you will experience so much relief and joy that you will become a more fulfilled human being. The hard work is worth it!

You can follow Sean on Instagram: @sean77kennedy

🏃 Fancy fundraising for us?

If you - or someone you know - would like to fundraise for London Autism Group Charity, we would be incredibly grateful. Every penny goes straight back into supporting our community. We have our own JustGiving page, so it is really easy to get started.

11th Annual Autistic Pride in Hyde Park

We are proud to be sponsoring and supporting this year's Autistic Pride in Hyde Park - a wonderful, welcoming celebration run by autistic people, for autistic people. Do come along and stand proud with the community!

Date: Sunday 12th July 2026, 1pm - 5pm

Where: Near the Italian Gardens, Hyde Park (look for the Autistic Pride flag!)

Nearest tube: Lancaster Gate (Central Line)

Buses: Routes 94 & 148, stops LC & LK (Lancaster Gate Station)

GPS: 51.509484, -0.176985 (please use Google Maps)

what3words: ///files.tigers.noble

Our Community at the Women's FA Cup Final

We were thrilled to be offered 10 tickets to the Women's FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 31st May 2026. Our heartfelt thanks go to Wembley Community Club for their wonderful generosity in offering this opportunity to London Autism Group Charity.

We raffled the tickets out to our community, and the lucky winners had a fantastic time soaking up the atmosphere at Wembley. On the pitch, Manchester City beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 to lift the trophy in front of a huge crowd - a brilliant occasion to be part of.

Opportunities like these mean so much to our community, and we are very grateful to everyone who helps make them possible.

Strolling with Neurokin

Our most recent City of London stroll went really well - these gentle, accessible and neuroaffirming walk-and-talk sessions are a lovely way to get outdoors, connect with others and explore London at a relaxed pace.

📍 This Sunday: Greenwich stroll

Join us this Sunday 14th June at 11am for our next stroll in Greenwich. Spaces are limited, so please sign up ahead.

Fridays at Farringdon

A reminder about our wonderful Fridays at Farringdon initiative - a welcoming, low-demand space at the Pan Macmillan headquarters where you can drop in to work, study, relax or simply connect with others in a comfortable, understanding environment. As with all of our initiatives and events, it is always free.

Now open for registration

Spaces for Friday 12th, 19th and 26th June are open for booking.

For this Friday (12th) and the 19th, we have access to the wonderful Loft space - a particularly beautiful and calming room with fantastic panoramic London views.

The Autism Podcast

A new episode of our charity's The Autism Podcast is now available. Co-hosts Dr Sophia Christophi and Simeon Thomson interview Vijay Panchal on neurodivergent art, cultural stigma, navigating trauma, and much more.

You can take a listen by searching for The Autism Podcast through most podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts. We also have a dedicated Instagram account for the podcast - give us a follow @the_autism_podcast.

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, including Greenwich and now Tooting
• Our university peer-support sessions for autistic students
• Monthly Activity Days for autistic adults
• Our Autistic Adult Women's Group
• Autistic identity support, autistic-led mental health support, and our befriending scheme
• Training, consultancy and commissioned engagement work

What's On for the Rest of June

Here is everything else happening 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

Autistic Women's Lunch

12pm - 1pm, before the Activity Day · booking required

Activity Day for Autistic Adults

1pm - 4pm · Holy Sepulchre Church, Holborn Viaduct, EC1A 2DQ

Ealing Seaside Trip · Fully booked

Thank you to everyone who signed up - this trip is now full!

Strolling with Neurokin: Greenwich

11am - 1:10pm · spaces limited, please sign up

Tooting Community Cafe — Launch! 🎉

1pm - 3pm · Tooting Grove Community Clubhouse

Southgate Community Cafe

1pm - 3pm · St Andrew's Church, Chase Side, Southgate, N14 5PP

Fridays at Farringdon

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

Strolling with Neurokin: Ealing

11:15am - 1:15pm · spaces limited, please sign up

Old Street Community Cafe

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

Fridays at Farringdon

11am - 4pm · Pan Macmillan HQ, Farringdon

Autistic Workplace Support Session

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

South Woodford Community Cafe

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

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.

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.