Autistic and neurodivergent adults

This page has advice and information about the support and advice services available to autistic and neurodivergent adults in Portsmouth. It’s a directory of local and national advice and support services for autism, neurodivergence and mental health which you may find helpful. More local organisations are listed on the HIVE directory.

If you would like to contact any of the services but want some support with communication, please feel free to contact Room One who will be happy to put you in touch.

Local services

Room One

Room One is a new space managed by autistic people, for autistic people in Portsmouth. The space is a one-stop shop for autistic and neurodivergent adults aged over 18 in the PO1 – PO6 area, their family and friends, and the professionals supporting them.

The Room One team can help by providing information, advice and support on topics including referrals, socialising, living independently, and peer support. They can also signpost to other local services if needed. No diagnosis is needed to use Room One’s services.

View the Room One page for more information.

Advice Portsmouth

Advice Portsmouth provides free, independent, impartial and confidence advice to people living in Portsmouth. A team of qualified professionals, staff and volunteers can advise on social welfare, debt, benefits, employment, housing, family and consumer law.

• View the Advice Portsmouth website
• Email: advice.portsmouth@theyoutrust.org.uk
• Phone: 023 9279 4340

Aldingbourne Trust

Supporting people with learning disabilities and / or autism to reach their potential across Sussex and in Portsmouth. Works alongside people to increase skills, live good lives and have great opportunities.

• View the Aldingbourne Trust website
• Email: sarahm@aldingbourne.org
• Phone: 023 9282 2026

Benefits team

Our Benefits team can advise about different types of benefits such as Universal Credit and others. The disability employment advisors can provide support for autistic adults to discuss benefits in a more private, quiet space.

• View our benefits and support pages
• Email: portsmouth.deas@dwp.gov.uk

Citizens Advice Portsmouth

You can contact your local citizens advice bureau for free and confidential advice about benefits, consumer rights, debt, family issues, health, housing, immigration, employment, law and courts and more.

• View the Citizens Advice Portsmouth website
• Phone: 023 9400 6600

Crisis resolution home treatment team (CRHT)

An experience team of health and care professionals who provide safe and effective home-based assessments and treatment for adults experiencing urgent mental health problems. This is for people over 18 who are currently seeing another mental health professional or team within Solent NHS Trust can self-refer by telephone.

• View Solent NHS – Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team’s webpage
• Phone: 0300 123 3924

Enable Ability

An established, independent charity for the care, welfare and advancement of disabled people in Portsmouth and the surrounding area.

• View the Enable Ability website
• Email: enquiries@enableability.org.uk
• Phone: 023 9267 1846

Flow Observatorium

An equality and diversity charity, set up with funding from Arts Council England in 2017, which aims to become a national hub for, and led by, neurodivergent people.

Runs free creative sessions for neurodivergent creatives online and face-to-face in Portsmouth every Wednesday from 12-2pm.

• View the Flow Observatorium website
• Flow Observatorium on Facebook
• Flow Observatorium on Twitter

Gig buddies

A free scheme funded by the council to match a volunteer and adult with a learning disability and / or autism in Portsmouth to attend events together in the city around once a month.

• View the Gig Buddies website
• Email: gigbuddiesportsmouth@aldingbourne.org,
• Country centre: 01243 542 075
• Central office: 01243 544 607

The Harbour

The Harbour has now closed, but you can still get mental health support from lots of other services, such as PositiveMinds and Shout. More information can be found on Health and Care Portsmouth’s website.

The Harbour is an informal, non-judgemental, out-of-hours mental health service for anyone over the age of 18 in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hampshire, who needs short-term support in times of great difficulty or is struggling with poor mental health.

• View The Harbour on Solent Mind
• Phone: 07418 364911 (available every day, including weekends, from 4.30 to 11pm)

Housing

Visit the Housing pages of the council website for information if you are homeless, struggling in your current social housing or have queries or concerns about other housing problems.

• View our housing pages

Portsmouth Carers Service

Portsmouth Carers Service provides a one-stop-shop for people caring for or looking after someone in Portsmouth. It doesn’t matter who you support and why they need that support. It could be a child with additional needs, a relative or a friend – Portsmouth Carers Service is here to support all unpaid/informal carers, caring in postcodes PO1-PO6.

• View the Portsmouth Carers Service website
• Portsmouth Carers Service on Facebook
• Phone: 023 9285 1864

Positive Minds

For anyone over the age of 18 who is experiencing low mood, stress or a mild to moderate health condition such as depression or anxiety. You must have a GP within a PO1-PO6 postcode.

• View Positive Minds on the Solent Mind website
• Email: positiveminds@solentmind.org.uk
• Phone: 023 9282 4795

Recovery College

Whether you use mental health services in Portsmouth or support someone who does, the Solent Recovery College can help you become an expert in managing mental health and empower you to take control of your recovery journey.

• View Recovery College on the Solent Mind website

Safe Haven

The Adults’ Safe Haven is open for face-to-face mental health support at the Wellbeing Hub in Leigh Park. A team of crisis workers, mental health practitioners and drug and alcohol support workers, help provide support and advice to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

• View Adults’ Safe Haven on the East Hants Mind website
• Freephone: 0300 303 1560

Serendipity social groups

Run by Autism Hampshire, Serendipity social groups are for autistic adults to meet in a supportive and non-judgmental setting. Each group is welcoming and encourages new members to join and participate in any way they feel able to.

• View Serendipity Social Groups on Autism Hampshire
• Phone: 01489 880 881

Talking Change

The primary care mental health service for Portsmouth. If you’re struggling with low mood or anxiety, or with a physical condition such as chronic pain or fatigue, we provide talking therapies to help you cope and feel better.

• View the Talking Change website
• Phone: 0300 123 3934

National services

CALM

Standing for the ‘Campaign against living miserably’, CALM is about standing together with anyone who’s struggling in life, no matter who they are, where they’re from, or what they’re going through. They offer advice about issues you might be facing, free, confidential chats with helpline staff online or on the phone, any day of the year.

• View the CALM website
• Helpline: 0800 58 58 58

Samaritans

Do you need mental health help? Samaritans is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call on the phone – the number is free to call.

• Freephone: 116 123
• View the Samaritans website

Shout

Our trained volunteers are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safe place. Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK. It won’t appear on your phone bill. To start a conversation, text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258.

• View the Shout website
• Text ‘Shout’ to: 85258