A national peer support programme for families and supporters of autistic people has expanded across England, with UCL PALS Associate Professor Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou playing a central role in its development and delivery.
Dr Pavlopoulou, Director of the Group for Research in Relationships And Neurodiversity (GRRAND) at UCL, led the successful bid for Autism Central – a programme now delivered by Anna Freud and funded by NHS England. She currently chairs the programme, which supports thousands of families each month through accessible, neurodiversity-informed learning and peer support.
The programme offers a combination of one-to-one and group sessions, designed to help families, carers and wider support networks better understand autism and feel more confident in supporting autistic individuals across the lifespan.
Dr Pavlopoulou’s experience-sensitive work with both autistic and non-autistic family members across the country sits at the heart of the programme. Her approach emphasises lived experience, co-production and practical strategies, helping to create more supportive and connected environments for autistic people.
As Dr Pavlopoulou highlights, many people supporting autistic individuals can feel isolated and unsure where to turn. This national peer education programme reflects her commitment to providing practical, compassionate and research-informed support that makes a meaningful difference.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr Pavlopoulou said:
Too often, people supporting autistic loved ones are left feeling alone while trying to navigate systems that can be hard to access and understand. Autism Central is here for the whole support network - from parents and partners to siblings, friends and carers - offering accessible, neurodiversity-informed support grounded in lived experience and research, so people feel more informed, more confident and less alone.
The programme has expanded significantly, now offering thousands of support sessions each year, including both individual and group formats. Sessions are led by peer guides with lived or family experience of autism, ensuring support is grounded in real-world understanding as well as research evidence.
For many families, this approach is already making a tangible difference. One parent involved in the programme described it as “a spark of hope”, highlighting how peer-led sessions provided new perspectives, practical strategies and a sense of connection during a challenging period.
Autism Central is free to access and available online and by phone, with plans to expand in-person support. The programme supports families and networks of autistic people both with and without a formal diagnosis, helping to address gaps in access to timely support.
Dr Pavlopoulou has also recently contributed to wider public discussion on autism support, including appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, helping to bring these issues to a broader audience.
