A support group for parents of children with additional needs is launching this week.

The first St Albans-based meeting of Space – for those caring for children and young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related conditions – will be held tomorrow.

Parents and group facilitators will meet at St Albans Girls’ School, Sandridgebury Lane, monthly on Fridays during term time at from 10am-12noon.

This week, there will be two speakers – Amy Belfield and Kelly Shaw, who are autism support workers.

It was set up by local mums Angela Gaughan, Clare Brillus and Karen Spencer, who also run support groups in eight different areas across Hertfordshire.

Karen said: “We run social events to enable families to have fun relaxed days out together, so the children can make friends and the parents can share their journeys.

“The new monthly group in St Albans will host speakers to enable parents to gain knowledge of support for their children in the area and also support for themselves. We invite ADHD and ASD parents/carers to join our community.”

The new group will be in association with DSPL7 (Delivering Special Provision Locally), who will work with Space to host conferences, workshops and social events for St Albans families.

Seminars at similar meetings in Hertfordshire recently included discussion on sleep issues, sensory massage and sensory toys and they have library books on many issues and talks from key representatives in the special needs field.

Space is a voluntary non-profit organization, established since 2007, and has put on trips to an ice skating rink, Paradise Wildlife Park and Stanborough Lakes, as well as ceramics and singing activities.

More information is available from the Space team via email at spaceherts@gmail.com or visit the website. They are also on Facebook under the name ‘Space’ and have 1,200 members.