Helping Families Breathe Again
Respite Services
Take a Break: Explore our short-term respite services for caregivers.
Enriching Activities
Discover & Learn: Explore our diverse activities tailored for autistic individuals.
Support For All
Quality services are available to all, regardless of their financial standing.
Breathing Space
We understand the relentless commitment, responsibility and emotional strain that can come with caring for a child or adult with severe autism and additional needs.
As family carers ourselves, we know that even a few hours of support can make an enormous difference.
That is why AutAid is developing Breathing Space, an initiative designed to provide practical relief and respite for exhausted family carers through a trusted network of trained support workers.
Sometimes a family carer does not need a week away.
Sometimes they simply need a few hours to rest, attend an appointment, spend time with another child, catch up on sleep or simply recharge.
Because sometimes the greatest gift we can give a family carer is not advice or sympathy.
It’s time.
Breathing Space is the first major initiative being developed by AutAid and is expected to begin rolling out from late 2026.
As the initiative grows, it will help lay the foundations for AutAid’s wider vision of dedicated Day Centre Respite Services, currently planned to begin opening from Spring 2028.
Together, we can ensure that family carers feel supported, valued and never alone.
Our Mission
At the heart of AutAid is the belief that no family carer should have to carry the weight of caring alone.
We understand that caring for a child or adult with severe autism and additional needs can be both rewarding and demanding, often leaving little time for carers to look after themselves.
That is why AutAid is developing Breathing Space, a practical support initiative designed to provide family carers with trusted respite and time to recharge.
As Breathing Space grows, it will help lay the foundations for our wider vision of Day Centre Respite Services and family support programmes across Ireland.
Our Team
Our team is growing daily and is still very much in its infancy. We will have a harmonious blend of volunteers and professional staff adeptly trained to understand the intricacies and needs of every individual. Passion and commitment from all involved are the backbone of AutAid’s ethos. But we urgently need more help in all areas, from the board to every other area of a busy not-for-profit. If you think you could help in any capacity, please get in touch.
Short-Term Respite
It’s crucial to remember that your well-being is paramount as a carer. To ensure this, we will provide up to six hours of expert care at a time. This ensures that your loved one isn’t just supervised but actively engaged and catered to in a stimulating environment.
Activities & Facilities
From sensory rooms to therapeutic art workshops, our centres will be equipped with a wide range of activities designed specifically to foster personal growth, ignite creativity, and ensure joy for all our participants.
Means-Tested Support
We ardently believe that quality care should be accessible to all. Hence, our means-tested service ensures that every family, regardless of their financial standing, can benefit from the offerings of AutAid.
Understanding the Challenge
The journey of caring for autistic individuals is one of unparalleled love but is often accompanied by fatigue, stress, and emotional drain. At AutAid, we recognise this profound challenge.
We know that every mealtime, every public outing, and every social interaction can be a monumental task. That’s why we’re here: we will provide a haven, a brief escape, a few hours to decompress and to remind you that you’re not alone in this journey.
AutAid Timeline
AutAid Timeline
2024
AutAid is currently in the process of launching its services across Ireland, with plans to establish day-centre respite services in four locations by the end of 2024.
2026
AutAid is currently in the process of launching its Breathing Space service across Ireland, with plans to establish the beginning of the the staffed infrastructure by by Winter 2026. Exact locations will be based on demand. If you are interetsed in accessing this service register here
2028-2029
We plan to establish day-centre respite services in four locations by spring of 2028. Exact locations still to be finalised.In 2029, we aim to inaugurate twelve additional centres throughout the country. Realising this vision will require monumental effort, including diverse fundraising strategies and government support.
2025
In 2025, we aim to inaugurate twelve additional centres throughout the nation. Realising this vision will require monumental effort, including diverse fundraising strategies and government support.
2026
By 2026, our goal is to ensure every county has at least one AutAid centre, and then we will begin to develop residential short-term respite services for children and adults with autism.
2030
By 2030, our goal is to ensure every county has at least one AutAid centre, and then we will begin to develop residential short-term respite services for children and adults that access our service.
With our unwavering drive and commitment.
we are confident in making this vision a reality. AutAid is poised to make a significant difference in the lives of many, one community at a time.
AutAid Timeline
2026
AutAid is currently in the process of launching its Breathing Space services across Ireland.
2028
In 2028, we aim to inaugurate our first four Drop-In centres.
2029
In 2029, we aim to inaugurate twelve additional centres throughout the nation. Realising this vision will require monumental effort, including diverse fundraising strategies and government support.
2030
By 2030, our goal is to ensure every county has at least one AutAid centre, and then we will begin to develop residential short-term respite services for children and adults with autism.
AutAid Facilities Rollout
What we aim to achieve through AutAid is undoubtedly a monumental undertaking. However, our mission is to support monumental people.
Every day, across Ireland, family carers quietly carry extraordinary responsibilities. They provide love, care, protection and support to children and adults with severe autism and additional needs, often with little opportunity to rest themselves. While caring can be incredibly rewarding, it can also be physically, emotionally and financially demanding. AutAid exists because we believe carers deserve support too.
Our vision is to develop a range of practical support services that improve the lives of both individuals with autism and additional needs and the families who care for them. The first step on that journey is Breathing Space.
Breathing Space is an AutAid initiative designed to provide practical respite and support for family carers. Through a trusted network of trained carers and support workers, families will be able to access short periods of support when they need it most. Depending on individual circumstances, a Breathing Space carer may visit the family home or arrange to meet in another mutually convenient location.
The concept is simple. Many family carers do not necessarily need a week away. Sometimes they simply need a few hours to attend an appointment, catch up on sleep, spend time with another child, enjoy a coffee with a friend or take a much-needed break from the constant demands of caring. Our aim is to begin establishing the staffing infrastructure and operational framework for Breathing Space from late 2026, with locations and availability guided by demand and the needs identified through our family registration programme.
As Breathing Space develops, it will help lay the foundations for the next stage of AutAid’s growth. Beginning in Spring 2028, we aim to establish our first four regional Day Centre Respite Services, strategically located to provide support across as much of Ireland as possible. Further centres will then be developed throughout 2028 and 2029, focusing on areas of greatest need and demand.
Looking further ahead, our long-term ambition is that every county in Ireland will have access to AutAid support services. As the organisation matures and resources allow, we will begin planning and developing Residential Respite Services, providing longer periods of support for children and adults with severe autism and additional needs while offering families valuable time to rest and recharge.
Achieving this vision will require the support of communities, businesses, volunteers, fundraisers, healthcare professionals and donors throughout Ireland. AutAid will be funded through a combination of private donations, corporate sponsorship, fundraising initiatives, grants and state support. We are actively seeking families to register their interest in Breathing Space, volunteers across a range of skill sets, corporate partners, community fundraisers and individuals who share our belief that family carers deserve meaningful support.
If everyone contributes a little, together we can achieve a lot. With determination, compassion and the support of people who believe in what we are trying to achieve, we can create something that genuinely changes lives and gives family carers across Ireland something many of them desperately need – a little breathing space.
FAQs
What is AutAid's Mission?
At the heart of AutAid lies the understanding that caring for an autistic individual is not just physically demanding but emotionally exhaustive. We aim to support this challenging journey by offering inviting drop-in centres, where we will provide autistic children and adults with a space to learn, explore, and interact whilst offering their families and carers some well-deserved respite.
Who Can Participate In AutAid's Programme?
AutAid facilities are typically designed for autistic children and adults. However, we welcome anyone with special needs tat require the type of assistance AutAid can offer. We tailor our activities to meet each individual’s unique needs and interests. While these activities are taking place, carers can get some well-deserved respite.
How Can I Apply For Means-Tested Support?
To apply for means-tested support, please contact our team through the provided channels. We will guide you through the assessment and support process.
How Can I Get Involved With AutAid As A Volunteer?
We welcome volunteers who share our mission. Visit the “Get Involved” section on our website to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to apply.
Is AutAid Not For Profit, And How Much Does It Cost?
AutAid is a registered not-for-profit company with registration number 765744 we will likely apply for charity status after approximately 12-18 months of operation. We are dedicated to serving the autism community with Breathing Space, day centre respite services and ultimately providing long-term residential respite services. While we feel our service should be available to everyone regardless of their financial standing, we also believe that people who can pay for our heavily subsidised service should do. This makes the service a better long-term prospect, more viable in the short term and generally a better business model.
What Types Of Activities Are Offered At AutAid?
AutAid will offer a variety of activities, including art, music, sensory play, social skills building, and outdoor play, tailored to meet the diverse needs of our participants.
Contact Us
Leave us a message and we’ll get back to you usually within 24 hours.
Contact Us
hello@autaid.ie
t. 085 1099 280
Contact Page
© 2026 All rights reserved. AutAid is A registered not for profit company limited by guarantee with the registration number 765744.
Our Primary Purpose
At AutAid, we deeply understand the relentless commitment and overwhelming challenges faced by parents and carers of autistic children and adults. Our primary goal is to provide a sanctuary of rest and rejuvenation for caregivers and their loved ones. We anticipate opening our first four centres before the end of 2027, with many more following soon after. in the interim we will be launcing our Breathing Space initivae that will offer help much sooner. Please contact us to stay updated with our progress, or sign up to our newsletter using the form below. Thank You, The AutAid Team.