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Barking & Dagenham

Sycamore Trust UK provides a wide range of services for Barking & Dagenham families for whom autism is part of daily life. Search here for details of the services available for the autistic community in B&D.

EPEC at the Sycamore Trust

Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) is a peer led parenting course delivered at the Sycamore Trust to help support parents and carers living in Barking and Dagenham on their parenting journey.

The aim of the course is to equip parents/carers with practical parenting skills and meet others locally with the same age children going through the same challenges. Sessions are informal and provide parents and carers with a safe space to share and learn together.

  • Being a parent
  • Understanding children’s behaviour
  • Feelings, change and meltdowns
  • Communication and play.

The course will give you the tools to use at home to support yourself and your child.

We currently have two courses available to book onto.

Contact More info

  • Who is it for?

    Parents/carers living in Barking and Dagenham with a child 4 or under who is autistic or experiencing social communication differences.

  • When?

    Thursdays for 10 weeks.

    10am – 12.30pm
    Thursday 24th September – Thursday 3rd December

    No session during half term 29th October

  • Where?

    Sycamore Trust UK offices, 27-28 Woodward Road. RM9 4SJ.

    Please note there are no creche facilities available.

Get in contact for more information and an application form

Email

Autism Family Service

Strengthening family wellbeing through understanding and support.

Support with:

  • Understanding autism
  • The pathway to diagnosis
  • Positive strategies for social communication
  • Supporting behaviour and sensory needs
  • Navigating the SEND system (including education and EHCPs)
  • Signposting to local services and professionals
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Autism Support Group

Join us for coffee and a chat and the chance to meet other parents and carers for whom autism is a part of everyday life.

10am – 12pm

  • Friday 11th Sept 2026
  • Friday 23rd Oct 2026
  • Friday 13th Nov 2026
  • Friday 4th Dec 2026
  • Friday 15th Jan 2027
  • Friday 12th Feb 2027
  • Friday 19th March 2027
  • Friday 30th April 2027
  • Friday 21st May 2027
  • Friday 11th June 2027
  • Friday 9th July 2027

Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund

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BookA place

Employment Project

Are you a member of the Barking & Dagenham autistic community? Are you unemployed, over 16 and looking for support to access employment opportunities? Then, we may be able to help!

The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham and Sycamore Trust UK have joined forces to provide employment support and advice to autistic residents across the Borough and, through employer engagement, increase the number of employment opportunities for the autistic community.

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Girls Group

Thanks to funding received from Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy B&D, we can offer social activities for girls living in Barking & Dagenham over the next 12 months.

Those eligible will have a higher-functioning autism diagnosis (or have been referred for autism assessment) and be aged 11 to 17-years-old.

To find out more, click below to contact Matt Dyde, our Adult and Youth Service Manager.

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Connecting Through Play

Connecting Through Play is for children under 3 with social communication differences.

There is a maximum of 8 children with their parent/carer. Two members of staff with a wealth of experience facilitate the group.

The session runs for 1 hour 15 minutes. We set out a variety of activities for the children to explore. These include cause and effect toys, sensory and messy play activities. Everything we do is through play and having as much fun as possible.

We close the session with singing and a goodbye song. We are there to help and support you to meet your child’s individual needs.

Connecting Through Play takes place twice a week, on a Monday at our building in Dagenham and on Tuesday at the Al Madina Mosque in Barking.

The Mosque is close to Barking Station and buses 169, 266 and EL1 stop right outside. There is also some off street parking!

In Dagenham, the 62 stops right outside our building. We also have a small car park.

Sessions are completely free. Call 020 8517 9317 or email.

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Barking & Dagenham Helpline

If you live in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and you are the parent or carer of a child aged 0-6 with social communications differences, we have a new helpline available every Monday.

We can help your child with toilet training, sleep, feeding, diet and nursery or school applications. As parents ourselves, we have lots of ideas for play to enjoy spending time with your child. By phone or email, our friendly team can help identify the best resources for you.

020 8517 9317

Monday 9am to 4pm

Excluding Bank Holidays

Contact Helpline

SPARK

Supporting Play, Attachment, Regulation & Communication for Kids

A free ten-week parenting programme taking place at Sycamore Trust UK, 27-29 Woodward Road, Dagenham RM9 4SJ.

Who is it for?

Parents and carers of children under 5 with:

  • social communication differences
  • an autism diagnosis, or who are waiting for an autism assessment

Dates

  • Group workshops start Tuesday 22nd September
  • One-to-one sessions start Wednesday 23rd September

Free ten week parenting programme

ContactMore info