Space to Gather

Our Space to Gather groups offer a warm, safe and supportive environment for families who care for a loved one with a learning disability, including autism and other disabilities. These sessions are designed to help families connect with one another, share experiences, and access reliable information and resources on a wide range of topics.

You can join us in person at various locations across Essex. If attending in person isn’t possible, we also offer online Space to Gather sessions, making it easier for families to stay connected and supported wherever they are.

During our sessions, we provide refreshments (and of course, biscuits). We also regularly invite guest speakers such as social workers, learning disability liaison nurses, and other professionals who can offer guidance and answer questions. If there is a particular service or professional you would like us to invite, please let us know.

Our key aims are:

Empowering families: Ensuring carers have the tools, resources and information they need to feel confident, resilient and empowered to advocate for their loved ones.

Amplifying lived experience: Making sure the voices and experiences of families shape and influence future services, opportunities and support for people with a learning disability — including autism and other disabilities — across Essex.

See below the current various locations in Essex that our groups are held every other month. Read further for upcoming dates.

If you can’t join us in person, we still want to make sure you feel connected and supported. Our Space to Gather Online sessions will continue on Zoom, giving family carers a friendly place to meet from home. We’ve made a small change to our schedule — we’ll now be meeting on Thursday and Sunday evenings.

We’ve been reviewing our Space to Gather meetings — looking at attendance, themes, and locations. From January 2026, we’re making some changes to help more families take part and feel supported.

For all our families across Essex we have traditionally held meetings in Chelmsford with its central location and good transport links. We have for many years used the welcoming space at Central Baptist Church. We’ll continue to meet here, but with a refreshed focus:

Carer Wellbeing will be at the heart of our gatherings

You’ll still have the chance to share your voice, find resources, and connect with others who share experiences of caring for a family member with a learning disability.

We are partnering with a wide range of service providers across Essex to strengthen our reach and connect with even more families in their local communities. By working together, we can offer support in a greater number of locations and make it easier for families to access the information, guidance, and opportunities that matter to them.

This partnership approach also means families benefit from a more joined‑up experience — with services sharing knowledge, reducing duplication, and ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.

💡 Do you know a venue in your area where carers already gather? We’d love to hear your ideas for us to work with local partners to and inform families!