As we gear up for 2025, we have exciting news for our community: Aupeer is back! After a six-month pause to reflect on the future and how we can continue to offer this service whilst supporting our own wellbeing, we are pleased to announce that our peer support groups will start again in January.
Charlotte, who founded Aupeer three years ago, deserves a monumental shout-out. Her leadership has been instrumental in establishing a safe space for peer support, and fostering connections among autistic adults. Thanks to her hard work, Aupeer has transformed into a vibrant community that many rely on for both support and friendship. Many of you know and love Charlotte, and she remains very much involved and at the heart of Aupeer. After three years of hard work, she will be taking a break from facilitating and the daily running or the organisation, and will stay on in a less visible role as a director and mentor to Anna.
During our break, we took time to assess how we run the organisation and how we can continue to offer peer support. Now, we are more prepared than ever to get back in action!
New Leadership
With Charlotte taking a step back from facilitating, we are pleased to announce that Anna will be stepping in to oversee facilitation and manage the daily operations of Aupeer. Anna comes with a wealth of lived experience, starting her journey with us as a peer, and then a facilitator. She shares our commitment to providing meaningful support to autistic adults. She is excited and motivated to lead this next phase of Aupeer's journey.
Anna envisions maintaining our welcoming and inclusive environment where every member feels valued, heard, and empowered, with a desire to grow Aupeer further, and introduce more groups, enabling more people to access peer support.
Changes on the Horizon
While change can sometimes feel challenging, it's crucial for us to continue. To maintain our service to you, we have made the difficult decision to implement a small subscription fee for participation. This change will allow us to grow Aupeer, and focus our time and resources on what's important. Supporting you.
We recognise that costs can impact our members differently, which is why we are actively exploring options for sponsored places to assist those facing financial difficulties. Our goal is simple: ensure that anyone who wants to participate can do so, regardless of their financial situation.
How to Get Involved
Keep an eye out for details on how to sign up! We are regularly updating the website and we will soon provide information about the subscription process to make sure everyone has the information they need to join us. If you have previously been a member of our groups, you will have already been offered your space. For those on the waiting list, thank you for your patience! When you sign up with us, your place on the list will be unaffected and we will offer you a space in the group as soon as it becomes available. We hope that with changes to our new way of working, waiting times will be reduced and more groups will eventually open up.
Whether you’re returning to Aupeer, or joining us for the first time, we are excited to welcome you to our supportive community!
Our groups will not only provide much-needed peer support but also opportunities for enjoyment and meaningful interactions. We are all about fostering friendships that last beyond the group meetings.
Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements as we share more news. Your patience and understanding during our break has been greatly appreciated!
Thank You for Your Support
Before concluding, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support. Your understanding during our hiatus has allowed us precious time to reflect and improve what we do, ensuring that we will come back with renewed focus and excitement.
The journey with Aupeer has always centred on community, connection, and compassion. As we step into this new chapter, we are eager to create even more impactful moments together. Every voice matters in our community, and your involvement benefits us all.
Looking Forward to the Future
As our relaunch approaches, we hope that you can join us.
Your involvement keeps Aupeer alive, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead. Together, let’s foster a space of understanding, support, and community. Let's make 2025 a fantastic year!
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