Who’s Who and What’s Here

Julia is the mother of Sarah (who founded ASPIE) and without whom we could not function. She works tirelessly to attract funding to allow us to open every week and liaises with all sorts of other people and organisations to put ASPIE firmly on the map and attract new members.

Our Treasurers and she’s the creative one that comes up with the ASPIE merchandise! It is thanks to her that we have the ASPIE calendars (check out the one in the office) and she even has an ASPIE bag. In addition to her creative talents she is the treasurer of our award winning football team ASPIE AVENGERS.

Our counsellors/psychotherapists play an important role in helping members address their issues promptly to reduce anxiety and benefit from aspie friendly coping mechanisms. Individual and group work improves social and communication skills, increases understanding of the neurotypical word and what comes naturally to neurotypicals and not to aspies, what it’s OK to say and do and what isn’t and so much more. People on the spectrum cannot be counselled in the same way as those not on the spectrum. Our immediate in-house autism specific counselling, pre and post diagnosis and for a range of other debilitating issues helps avert depression and crisis. Our autism counsellling, not seemingly available elsewhere, is in much demand and we have been joined by Justine, specially chosen for her autism expertisebut who is also an art therapist. This brings an extra dimension to ASPIE as several members are talented artists but also for those members who find it difficult to describe feelings and emotions (alexithemia) and struggle with interpreting tone of voice and facial expressions. For them, the comfort of working with Justine will alleviate their anxiety, enabling her to help them with adverse childhood experiences. To date we have held exhibitions at The Hive, the Swan Theatre and St Andrews Methodist Church. The next will be at TheCube in Malvern in February 2026, moving to No 8 in Pershore in May.

Jordan

Brings new energy to improve health and fitness for mental and physical wellbeing. As well as mentoring and supporting members he coaches our football team, ASPIE AVENGERS, who play in the Worcester Ability Counts and Sandwell Inclusion leagues and have won both leagues twice and many other accolades.

This room can hold say 30 people, and is ideal for our Group Art Therapy, Drama Group, Members’ Meetings etc. There is a small adjoining kitchen which makes it ideal for hiring out to other organisations to help support our services.

A large area for socialising, games and pool, Snooker. Also big enough for our little cyber-cafe. All the machines are connected to the internet so you can update your status or tweet about how much you love us – or play solitaire; it’s entirely up to you!

Handy quiet spaces, these rooms are much in demand for counselling and mentoring, sessions with Jane, Justine or Richard..

This room makes a great escape for anyone feeling ‘peopled out’ and needing to retreat for a while. We purposely don’t use this room for any workshops or activities so that it is always available as a bolt hole. To make this room as friendly and relaxing as possible we ask that members are respectful of each other by keeping the conversation volume to a minimum, not taking food in or playing the stereo too loud.

A very popular area with a wide choice of games!

This cosy little room houses an array of entertainment. You will find our books and jigsaws which you are welcome to borrow, the keyboards and guitars. Ideal for peer support for those preferring a small space.