Services & Events
Places and spaces for autistic women, girls and non-binary people
SWAN Places
SWAN Places are in-person social meet-up groups in locations across Scotland. They are autistic spaces, run by autistic volunteers.
These local groups are relaxed and laid-back gatherings for all women and non-binary people who identify as autistic.
They are safe and confidential spaces, facilitated by autistic volunteers.
There is no presentation, no set agenda and no obligation to participate.
You can share, listen, or simply relax among like-minded peers who understand and support one another.
Have a look at your local group below to find out more, and see the calendar for meeting dates.
You can contact our Social Meet-Up Volunteers if you have any questions - you'll find their emails under "How do I join?"
Please read our Guidelines & Rules before you come along to any of our SWAN Places groups, to help ensure they are safe, supportive and friendly spaces.
*Please always check the calendar before you go to a group as very occasionally we may have to change or cancel with short notice (only if unavoidable) and we will post any changes here.
Social Meet-up: Aberdeen
Social Meet-up: Dumfries & Galloway
Social Meet-up: Dundee
Social Meet-up: Edinburgh
Social Meet-up: Falkirk
Social Meet-up: Fife
Social Meet-up: Glasgow
Social Meet-up: Inverness
Social Meet-up: Stirling
Social Meet-up: West Lothian
We’re working on setting up groups in other areas - if you’re interested in volunteering at an existing group, or helping set one up in your area, visit our Volunteer page.
December 2023
West Lothian Meet Up
SWAN Places5 Dec, 17:30
Fife Social Meet Up
SWAN Places7 Dec, 17:00
Edinburgh Social Meet Up
SWAN Places10 Dec, 14:00
Glasgow Social Meet Up
SWAN Places19 Dec, 13:30
Stirling Social Meet Up
SWAN Places19 Dec, 17:00
January 2024
Fife Social Meet Up
SWAN Places4 Jan, 17:00
Glasgow Social Meet Up
SWAN Places16 Jan, 13:30
Stirling Social Meet Up
SWAN Places16 Jan, 17:00
Dundee Social Meet-Up
SWAN Places26 Jan, 14:00
Inverness Social Meet Up
SWAN Places28 Jan, 14:00
Dumfries & Galloway Social Meet Up
SWAN Places29 Jan, 10:30
Edinburgh Social Meet Up
SWAN Places13 Jan, 14:00
SWAN Spaces
SWAN Spaces are regular online groups and events. They are safe, friendly autistic-only spaces, led by autistic staff.
In SWAN Spaces, you are free to participate as little or as much as you feel comfortable - talk, join in the text chat, read the closed captions, stim, bring your pets along, wrap yourself in a cosy blanket, or just watch and listen with your camera on or off.
Friends and allies, families and carers, and professionals and practitioners who do not identify as autistic but want to learn more about autistic women, girls and non-binary people are warmly welcomed to specific events only, where stated in the event description.
All of our online events are held on Zoom and you can book a place via Eventbrite.
Have a look at our SWAN Spaces to find out more:
Art & Craft Group
Autistic Parents’ Space
Edinburgh Online Group
Neuroqueer Social (LGBTQIA+ Group)
Online Peer Support Forum
Post-Diagnosis Groups
Pre-Diagnosis Drop-Ins
Wellbeing Webinars
December 2023
Post Diagnosis Group Week 6
SWAN SpacesOnline - 4 Dec, 11:30 - 13:00
Post Diagnosis Group Week 6
SWAN Spacesonline - 4 Dec, 19:30 - 21:00
Week 6 of 6 week Post Diagnosis Group Course for recently diagnosed autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Pre-Diagnosis Drop In Group
SWAN Spacesonline - 5 Dec, 19:30 - 21:00
Considering if you are Autistic and going through the diagnosis process (SELF or CLINICAL) can be a long difficult and confusing time and it can be hard to find relevant resources and information.
This monthly drop in group is a safe space to explore, ask questions and meet other women and non-binary people at a similar point in their journey.
For more information, see the full details about this group under 'SWAN Spaces' or click below to book.
Neuroqueer Social (LGBTQIA+ Group)
SWAN Spaces7 Dec, 18:30 - 20:00
For more information, see the full details about this group under 'SWAN Spaces' or click below to book.
Autistic Parents' Space
SWAN Spaces7 Dec, 19:30 - 21:00
This is an informal social space for autistic women and non-binary people who are also parents to come together to share the highs and lows of life as an autistic parent (of either NT or ND children)
Edinburgh Group online
SWAN Spaces17 Dec, 15:00
January 2024
Webinar - New Year Self-Care and Winter Recovery
SWAN SpacesOnline - 23 Jan, 17:30 - 19:00
Whether the winter is full of busy festivities or quiet long dark days its important that we take time to think about ourselves!
So we thought we would start the year with a webinar all about some of things that are important to many (not all of us!) for our self care and recovery.
We will be talking about pets, stims, sensory joy, rest and recovery, safe foods and SPINs and much more!
Along with thinking about how we keep on top of some of those fundamentals of self care in a way that works for us and is meaningful to us as individuals
For more information or questions please contact info@swanscotland.org
Booking Opens 1st December
February 2024
Post Diagnosis Group Week 1
SWAN Spacesonline - 5 Feb, 13:00 - 14:30
Week 1 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified women and non-binary people
This group is booked as part of a 6-week course
For more information, see the full details about this group under 'SWAN Spaces' or click below to book.
Post Diagnosis Group Week 1
SWAN Spacesonline - 5 Feb, 19:00 - 21:00
Week 1 of 6 Week Post Diagnosis Group for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
Please note this is a 6-week course.
For more information, see the full details about this course under 'SWAN Spaces' or click below to book.
Pre-Diagnosis Drop In Group
SWAN Spacesonline - 6 Feb, 19:30 - 21:00
Considering if you are Autistic and going through the diagnosis process (SELF or CLINICAL) can be a long difficult and confusing time and it can be hard to find relevant resources and information.
This monthly drop in group is a safe space to explore, ask questions and meet other women and non-binary people at a similar point in their journey.
For more information, see the full details about this group under 'SWAN Spaces' or click below to book.
Post Diagnosis Group Week 2
SWAN Spacesonline - 12 Feb, 13:00 - 14:30
Week 2 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Post Diagnosis Group Week 2
SWAN Spacesonline - 12 Feb, 19:00 - 20:30
Week 2 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Post Diagnosis Group Week 3
SWAN Spacesonline - 18 Feb, 13:00 - 14:30
Week 3 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Post Diagnosis Group Week 3
SWAN Spacesonline - 18 Feb, 19:00 - 20:30
Week 3 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Webinar - Exploring Monotropism With Pete Wharmby
SWAN Spacesonline - 20 Feb, 17:30 - 19:00
Join Pete Wharmby for our monthly wellbeing webinar on 'Exploring Monotropism'
Pete will explore how monotropism shapes the lives of autistic people, using his own experience as a jumping-off point, and look into the huge benefits it can being, and also where we may need to be better understood.
Booking for this webinar will open soon
To be notified of when booking is going to be open please check back here or sign up to our mailing list
Post Diagnosis Group Week 4
SWAN Spacesonline - 26 Feb, 19:00 - 20:30
Week 4 of 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Post Diagnosis Group Week 4
SWAN Spacesonline - 26 Feb, 19:00 - 20:30
Week 4 of our 6 week post diagnosis group for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Autistic Parents' Space
SWAN SpacesOnline - 27 Feb, 19:30 - 21:00
This is an informal social space for autistic women who are also parents to come together to share the highs and lows of life as an autistic parent (of either NT or ND children)
March 2024
Post Diagnosis Group Week 5
SWAN Spacesonline - 4 Mar, 13:00 - 14:30
Week 5 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Post Diagnosis Group Week 5
SWAN Spacesonline - 4 Mar, 19:00 - 20:30
Week 5 of our 6 week Post Diagnosis Group for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Pre-Diagnosis Drop In Group
SWAN Spacesonline - 5 Mar, 19:30 - 21:00
Considering if you are Autistic and going through the diagnosis process (SELF or CLINICAL) can be a long difficult and confusing time and it can be hard to find relevant resources and information.
This monthly drop in group is a safe space to explore, ask questions and meet other women and non-binary people at a similar point in their journey.
For more information, see the full details about this group under 'SWAN Spaces' or click below to book.
Post Diagnosis Group Week 6
SWAN Spacesonline - 11 Mar, 13:00 - 14:30
Week 6 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week course)
Post Diagnosis Group Week 6
SWAN Spacesonline - 11 Mar, 19:00 - 20:30
Week 6 of our 6 week post diagnosis course for recently diagnosed or self identified autistic women and non-binary people
(This group is booked as part of a 6-week block)
Webinar - Autistic Sexuality with Katie Munday (Autistic and Living the Dream)
SWAN Spacesonline - 21 Mar, 17:30 - 19:00
Join our guest speaker Katie Munday (Autistic and Living the Dream) for our monthly wellbeing webinar on Autistic sexuality, relationships and romance (including asexual and aromantic experiences).
This sessions covers interoception, alexithymia, sensory integration, consent and boundary setting. As well as Autistic experiences of BDSM and Kink and sex work.
Booking for this webinar will open early 2024
To be notified of when booking is going to be open please sign up to our mailing list
Katie Munday is an Autistic and queer researcher, trainer and writer on all things Autistic experience with particular interest and expertise in gender and sexual diversity.
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