We can provide support at home, in the community or at one of our bases - Grape Street, located in South Leeds, and New Mabgate, in Armley.

Our Vocational and Community Services (VACS) operate during the daytime for 5 days a week, 51 weeks of the year. Everyone comes to VACS on a 1:1 staffing basis, although we have many group and social activities people can take part in. 

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Facilities

Our bases include communal areas and workshop rooms, but we're all about getting people out into the world, so most of our work takes place in the community. Both our bases include: 

• outdoor areas
• communal areas
• individual workshop rooms
• toilets/changing facilities
• life skills areas
• sensory rooms
• quiet areas

Find Out More About Our Bases

Support

The people use VACS for all sorts of reasons: accessing meaningful activities, help with health and wellbeing, learning new skills, help with communication, emotional or practical support, support around staying safe, getting out and meeting people...whatever your goals in life, we'll try to support you to reach them.

The plans we make are always flexible, and you can change things at any time. If you’re part of VACS, you’re in control. To find out more, please use the button below to read our guide to understanding what support means when you come to Leeds Autism Services. 

What is Support? - an easy-read guide 

Activities

People often ask us what activities we can offer, but we prefer to hear what people want to achieve, and then work out how we are going to do it!

If you find it difficult to think of activities you'd like to do, we can help you to come up with ideas based on your interests and support you to budget so your activities are affordable. 

Here are some examples of the activities that are popular at VACS:

Computing	Gardening	Travel Skills
Arts & Crafts	Cooking	Community Access
Going to College	Work Experience	Sensory
Sporting Activities	Music	Communication Skills

The images are taken from the Easy On The I - Image Bank www.easyonthei-leeds.nhs.uk/

Providing Specialist Support 

Although we support autistic people with a diverse range of needs and abilities, we specialise in helping those with complex needs, and people who may be deemed at risk in some way. 

We pride ourselves on our ethical approach to safety planning, and always aim to reduce any restrictions placed on an individual, help them to take control of their own lives, and connect them with their communities. 

We use a range of interventions to assist with this, including total communication approaches, sensory formulation, austim specific Positive Behaviour Support, intensive interaction, and self-management strategies.  

We are equipped to work effectively with people who have may have other diagnoses such as ADHD / ADD, learning disabilities, epilepsy, or mental health problems.  

You can find out more about how we make a positive impact on people's lives by reading our 2020 - 2022 Impact Report. Our next Impact Report is due to be published late 2024 / early 2025. 

Read Our Latest Impact Report

Autism Accreditation 

Leeds Autism Services are accredited by the National Autistic Society.

The Autism Accreditation Programme is the UK’s only autism-specific quality assurance programme of support and development for all those providing services to autistic people.

Achieving accreditation proves that an organisation is committed to understanding autism and setting the standard for autism practice. It is a way for organisations to show they offer excellent support to autistic children and adults.

Find out more about Autism Accreditation

Accessing Our Services

Most people get help from their local authority to pay for our services, but you can refer yourself if you wish to fund your own placement or use direct payments. Use the button below to find out more about how to access our VACS service. 

How to access VACS

Get In Touch

If you have any questions, or would like to find out more, please use the button below to drop us a line. 

We can arrange a call or a visit to discuss things, and would be more than happy to arrange a time to show you round our bases. 

Contact us