Our activities over the years:

A number of events have taken place locally over the years, in addition to our monthly autism support group meetings and social activities. This will give you an idea of some of the activities we get involved in:

• 2006/2007: we hosted NAS help! programmes in Eastleigh, run by the NAS help! team - excellent days with over 60 people attending each one.
• Since 2006: we have had a stand at the Hampshire Special Needs Information Days.
• 2006: the Branch Chair attended the launch of the Make school make sense education campaign at the Houses of Parliament.
• 2006: our Resource Library was launched.
• Since 2006: we have run a series of social skills courses benefiting almost 100 children and young people.
• 2006–2013: we hosted NAS help!2 programmes and family seminars in Eastleigh, run by the NAS help! team.
• 2008: we joined forces with three other NAS branches to launch the NAS I Exist campaign in Hampshire.
• 2011, 2017 and 2023: we organised seminars at Guildhall Winchester featuring Professor Tony Attwood, one of the world's leading experts in autism, each attended by over 400 delegates.
• 2014: we began jointly hosting a monthly local initiative with Eastleigh Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Paediatric Services (Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy) and the Primary Behaviour Service (Education). As a result of this group, CAMHS have now commissioned similar groups across Hampshire facilitated by Autism Hampshire.
• 2015: we launched our monthly LEGO club and the branch reached its 10th anniversary
• 2019: we held an Autism Seminar with Sarah Hendrickx attracting an audience of over 120 people.

Additionally, on the social front, we have enjoyed parents' skittles evenings, a Family Fun Day at Fairthorne Manor (for over 90 members), Quiz Nights, a cruise on SS Shieldhall, exclusive evenings at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, boat trips on the River Hamble/Southampton Water, subsidised visits to Marwell Zoo (including exclusive sessions at the zoo's Christmas Wonderland event) and to shows at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre. Our Southampton social groups also run a variety of social events throughout the year.

Our Branch was formed from a small support group set up in March 2004 for parents of children with autism and Asperger syndrome in mainstream schools. The group attracted a lot of interest from parents and soon we were also running our monthly family youth club. We were soon welcoming anyone who was affected by autism whether children, adults, parents or professionals, so called upon the National Autistic Society for assistance.

• In January 2005 we became the Eastleigh and Winchester Branch of the National Autistic Society.
• In October 2008 we became the South Hampshire Branch and were pleased to welcome the Asperger Support and Social Group, based in Southampton, as part of the branch.
• In 2016 we were winners of the Farooqi Award for Diversity and Inclusion, awarded to those who have made a positive contribution to diversity and inclusion in the Borough of Eastleigh.
• At the end of 2019, out of 116 NAS branches across the UK, we were runner-up in the NAS Branch of the Year awards.
• In 2020 we celebrated our 15th anniversary as a Branch of the National Autistic Society.
• Following the Covid-19 pandemic we were able to restart all our activities in 2022.

We now have over 800 members and offer a wide range of support and activities. Branch information is regularly being circulated to more than 1000 families and professionals.

Although we are based in the Eastleigh/Winchester/Southampton area, we welcome anyone for whom our group may be a helpful resource.

The branch is represented on the Hampshire Autism Partnership Board (HAPB) and we actively campaign for improved understanding and support for autistic children, young people and adults, and their families. We are also represented on and provide support to Hampshire Autism Voice (the parent, carers and autistic persons' group of the HAPB). We are a leading partner of the Autism Ambassador Scheme for Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight.

We now regularly offer Introduction to Autism talks to local community groups and businesses to raise awareness and understanding of autism.

We have approved Branch policies for Child and Adult Protection, and Equal Opportunities.

We are always pleased to hear from anyone interested in attending our meetings and from existing members with ideas for events, fund raising, etc.

At present the committee are David, Rachel, Gillian, Ian, Lisa, Caroline, Julie, Jenni, Yvonne and Tracey. We would welcome any other volunteers to join us, either as committee members or as occasional helpers. Please do get in touch if you are able to help.