Dear AMASE members,

Welcome to the AMASE August newsletter.

We are looking forward to hosting the Edinburgh Autistic Pride Picnic on The Meadows tomorrow, this Saturday, the 8th of August. While Autistic Pride Day itself is on the 18th of June, we are proud of being Autistic all year! We celebrate Autistic Pride a bit later here to avoid confusion and clashes with LGBTQ Pride. Everyone is welcome at the picnic, and it would be great to see you there!

This weekend is also the start of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, whether you’re planning on enjoying the busy festival atmosphere (perhaps in small doses) or avoiding it, especially given the recent Princes Street fire and related transport issues. For those who don't plan on avoiding it entirely, there's a guide for disabled punters here, and Neurodiverse Review will be covering events led by disabled and neurodivergent people. Note also that Edinburgh International Festival, which has its own Access Guide, offers 50% off tickets for all neurodivergent people. 

We have an unusually large number of AMASE events coming up this month! We also have a meeting on Thursday 3rd September at 7pm for members to hear about the work of the Committee and possible ways to get involved, and the AGM on 26th September at 3pm.

Hope to see many of you this Saturday!

The AMASE Committee: Fiona, Leo, Fergus, Olly, Pete, Luis and Jemaine

1. Edinburgh’s Autistic Pride Picnic, 2026-08-08, 2-5pm

2. Edinburgh Health and Social Care review of post diagnostic support focus group, 2026-08-11, 7-8:30pm

3. My Autism Story 22, 2026-08-17, 7-8pm (AMASE members only) 

4. AMASE Book Club #2: A Kind of Spark, 2026-08-21, 7-8:30pm

5. AMASE Bouldering Trip - Alien Bloc, 2026-08-22, 11:30am-2pm

6. AMASE body-doubling session, 2026-08-26, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

7. Meet the Committee, ask questions, get involved, 2026-09-03 September, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

8. AMASE Needle Felting Craft-Along, 2026-09-17, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

9. AMASE AGM (Annual General Meeting) - save the date, 2026-09-26, 3pm 

10. Number 6 Autism One Stop Shop August Calendar

11.  Inclusion Scotland’s webinar - being a disabled Councillor, 2026-08-18, 6-7pm and 2026-08-19, 12-1pm

12.  Neurohub Community hybrid Mental Health conference, 14-16 August, 2026

AMASE events:

1. Edinburgh’s Autistic Pride Picnic, 2026-08-08, 2-5pm

Edinburgh's seventh Autistic Pride Picnic, organised by AMASE, will be held in the Meadows by the Albert Victor sundial, from 2pm to around 5pm on Saturday 8th August. This is an opportunity to celebrate autistic identity and community - to spend some time with autistic people, eat picnic food and have some stimmy fun. There will be an open mic session around 4pm.

Feel free to come with autistic and non-autistic friends, friendly dogs and family. Saturday will be the first weekend of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, so do invite any performers you think may enjoy it!

You can sign up here (not required, but may be useful for receiving reminders or in case of any changes) https://luma.com/a4qyd756

2. Edinburgh Health and Social Care review of post diagnostic support focus group, 2026-08-11, 7-8:30pm

Cat Young, Strategic Planning and Commissioner Officer for Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, is gathering views to help shape a future post-diagnostic support service specification for those that are autistic and/or ADHD, with the idea that future services will be shaped by the experiences, priorities and ideas of the people who use them. 

We appreciate this is short notice, but Cat will be running an additional focus group hosted online by AMASE next Tuesday, the 11th of August at 7-8:30pm on Teams. Questions that will be asked include (1) what support people need after diagnosis, (2) what support is working well already, (3) barriers people face when accessing help and (4) what should future post-diagnostic services look like?

If you would like to come and share your views, you can sign up to attend online here: https://luma.com/sxb22r27 Please note that numbers are limited.

If you are unable to attend in person but would still like to input, you can share your views on those questions in this Post Diagnostic Support feedback form by Friday 14 August. 

3. My Autism Story 22, 2026-08-17, 7-8pm (AMASE members only)

The My Autism Story series, where an AMASE member shares something about their autistic journey, has always been popular. We are very pleased to welcome Jason to speak about his story at our 22nd event on Monday 17 August at 7-8pm on Zoom.

You can find out more about how the session will work and, if you wish, sign up to attend here: https://luma.com/j3ggnfuz 

If you may be interested in speaking about your story at some point, do get in touch by emailing [email protected] or via this form https://forms.gle/961eyBLuujCZWyHj9

4. AMASE Book Club #2: A Kind of Spark, 2026-08-21, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

Following our pilot event in June, we are delighted to announce our second AMASE Book Club event. This will take place on Friday 21st August at 7-8:30pm, and we will be discussing Elle McNicoll’s A Kind of Spark.

If you would like to attend the Book Club, please register here: https://luma.com/ns3t2y68

If you are interested in attending any future Book Club events, you can vote for or suggest future reading materials via this poll: https://forms.gle/QxYqo5bpJyV2P6AGA 

If anyone is interested in helping to host the book club (with our help) please get in touch by email at [email protected].

5. AMASE Bouldering Trip - Alien Bloc, 2026-08-22, 11:30am-2pm

Due to the AMASE Edinburgh Autistic Pride picnic on 8 August, this month we will be having one informal bouldering session, rather than meeting fortnightly as usual. We will be at Alien Bloc, in Canonmills on Saturday 22nd August, from 11:30-2pm. No experience required. Entry is £13.50 (£11.80 concession) plus £3.50 shoe hire if needed.

If you're thinking of coming, do let us know by signing up on Luma at https://luma.com/evsri4hl - there is also a #bouldering channel on Discord if you have any questions!

6. Next AMASE body-doubling session, 2026-08-26, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

Our next body-doubling session is on Wednesday 26th August, 7-8:30pm on Zoom. For those who aren't familiar, the idea is that many people (perhaps especially neurodivergent people) find it easier to get down to tasks they struggle to start, or are not looking forward to, in the presence of other people who are also getting on with things. If that sounds like it might be helpful to you too, why not come along? 

More and more organisations are running body-doubling sessions throughout each month, which is great. Our body-doubling sessions are typically small, with different members attending each month. Those that have attended have found them to be useful for completing tasks such as household chores, responding to emails or making a meal.

You can see information on how the session will run, and sign up if you would like to attend here: https://luma.com/0bz22zw1

7. Meet the Committee, ask questions, get involved, 2026-09-03 September, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

With AMASE’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) not far away (see item 9 below), the AMASE Committee thought it would be a good idea to hold an informal ‘Get to Know more about AMASE’ event for members. Come and join us on Thursday, 3rd September at 7-8:30pm on Zoom to find out more about what we do, how AMASE works and potentially how you could be involved. There will also be time to ask us any questions.

If you are interested in coming please sign up here https://luma.com/mdb6e0jg.

8. AMASE Needle Felting Craft-Along, 2026-09-17, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

​​On Thursday 17th September, we are running a felting Craft-Along session from 7-8:30pm over Zoom for AMASE members. AMASE member Ileana will use a beginner-friendly craft kit to demonstrate how to needle felt a baby sea turtle! 

Please note that if you don’t have your own felting needles and felt you will need to buy your own kit. We will however be able to subsidise this cost if price is a barrier to participating. For more information, including how the session will be run see here: https://luma.com/1mfuh6td 

9. AMASE Annual General Meeting, 2026-09-26, 3-4:30pm

We would like to invite all members to our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place online on Saturday 26th September from 3-4:30pm. Only full members will be allowed to vote. Please use the following link to register: https://luma.com/bsz49vlh 

Members have previously approved AMASE incorporating into a Community Interest Company. Whilst progress has been fairly slow, at the AGM we will consider a revised draft Constitution for incorporation. The Chair will also report on the year's activities, and the Treasurer will present the annual accounts for consideration. Papers on these will be sent to members before the AGM date.

There will then be an election/re-election of the AMASE Committee and its Officers (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer). If you may be interested in these roles, or in joining the Committee, please contact at [email protected] or find us on Discord. Do consider coming along to the members meeting on 3rd September to find out more. The formalities of the AGM will be followed by a general discussion about developments and future direction. 

Other events:

10. Number 6 Autism One Stop Shop August Calendar

The Number 6 One Stop Shop calendar, listing groups and activities they will be running in August can be seen here:

https://autisminitiatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/August-Calendar-2026.pdf

as well as their Summer Activities calendar: https://autisminitiatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/August-2026-Summmer-Activities-Calendar-.pdf

Other

11. Inclusion Scotland’s webinar - being a disabled Councillor, 18 August, 6-7pm and 19 August 12-1pm

Disabled people are underrepresented in local government, but their experiences, knowledge and perspective can help shape the decisions that affect communities across Scotland.

Join Inclusion Scotland, COSLA and the Improvement Service online for a free one-hour webinar to find out what it's really like to be a councillor and how you can take the first steps towards standing for election in 2027. It will cover what the role of councillor involves, why disabled representation matters, practical support available and a conversation with Cllr Janine Rennie and Cllr Katie Pragnell Lees about their experiences. There are two options for dates and times.

To sign up for Tuesday 18 August, 6pm to 7pm, see https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/R1CC57_WRNqNkbt20YR9AA#/registration  

To sign up for Wednesday 19 August, 12pm to 1pm, see https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1GFQLqRsSsChWL9VBNHoUQ#/registration 

12. NeuroHub Mental Health Conference, 14-16 August, 2026

This is a three day hybrid mental health conference run by NeuroHub in partnership with Autistic Inclusive Meets, running from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th August. NeuroHub’s rooted core belief is that neurodivergent voices should lead the conversations about neurodivergent lives and the conference centres lived experience, alongside research and education created by neurodivergent people. The conference is for neurodivergent people themselves, families and other supporters, other allies and practitioners.

There are a range of ticket options, which allow access to live and recorded talks. For further details about the conference including details of speakers see https://neurohubcommunity.org/2026-autistic-mental-health-conference/ 

Previous AMASE newsletters can be viewed here: https://sendfox.com/amase/feed 

To automatically receive updates about AMASE Events published on Luma follow this link: https://luma.com/amase 

AMASE is a volunteer run organisation and currently receives no funding. If you feel financially able to do so, please consider making a small donation to AMASE via PayPal Donate. Thank you to the supporter who is raising funds for AMASE with Kiltwalk and for the donations we have received to date.