SWAN Places
SWAN Places are in-person meet-up groups in locations across Scotland. They are autistic spaces, run by autistic volunteers.
These groups are safe, friendly, informal spaces offering peer support, information, and the opportunity to connect with other autistic women.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
Have a look at your local group to find out more:
SWAN Places: Falkirk
Where & When?
Falkirk Library
Hope Street, Falkirk, FK1 5AU
2nd Tuesday of every month - check our calendar for dates
3.30-5pm
Who can come along?
This free group is led by autistic volunteers for autistic (diagnosed or self-diagnosed) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and information and share thoughts and experiences with a friendly, supportive autistic community.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you’ve got any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
falkirk@swanscotland.org
SWAN Places: Fife
Where & When?
Kirkcaldy Library,
Kirkcaldy Galleries,
War Memorial Gardens,
Kirkcaldy, KY1 1YG
1st Thursday of each month - check our calendar for dates
5.00-6.30pm
Who can come along?
This free group is led by autistic volunteers for autistic (diagnosed or self-diagnosed) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and information and share thoughts and experiences with a friendly, supportive autistic community.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
fife@swanscotland.org
SWAN Places: Glasgow
Where & When?
Glasgow Women's Library
3rd Tuesday of every month - check our calendar for dates
1.30-3pm
Who can come along?
This free group is led by autistic volunteers for autistic (diagnosed or self-diagnosed) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and information and share thoughts and experiences with a friendly, supportive autistic community.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
glasgow@swanscotland.org
SWAN Places: Aberdeen
Where & When?
Jury’s Inn,
Union Square, Aberdeen
1st Saturday of every month - please email or check our calendar to confirm
11:30 - 1pm
Who can come along?
This free group is led by autistic volunteers for autistic (diagnosed or self-identified) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and information and share thoughts and experiences with a friendly, supportive autistic community.
You can build Lego with us, or bring your own Lego, knitting or craft projects to work on. Or simply come along and chat or read a library book.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
aberdeen@swanscotland.org
SWAN Places: Dumfries & Galloway
Where & When?
The Crombie Room at ‘The Usual Place’ Cafe
Academy Street, Dumfries, DG1 1BZ
2nd Friday of each month - check our calendar for dates
10:30am - 12pm
Who can come along?
This FREE group is led by autistic volunteers for autistic (diagnosed or self-identified) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and connect with others through conversation and shared interests.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
SWAN Places: Dundee
Where & When?
Dundee Library
The Wellgate, DD1 1DB
Last Friday of each month - check our calendar for dates
2-4pm
Who can come along?
This free group is led by autistic volunteers and welcomes all autistic (diagnosed or self-identified) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and connect with others through conversation and shared interests.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
dundee@swanscotland.org
SWAN Places: Edinburgh
Where & When?
SANTOSA Cafe
21 Albert St, Edinburgh, EH7 5LH
2nd Sunday of each month - check our calendar for dates
2-4pm
Who can come along?
This FREE group is led by autistic volunteers for autistic (diagnosed or self-diagnosed) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and information and share thoughts and experiences with a friendly, supportive autistic community.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
edinburgh@swanscotland.org
SWAN Places: Stirling
Where & When?
Bridge of Allen Library
3rd Tuesday of every month - check our calendar for dates
5-6:30pm
Who can come along?
This free group is led by autistic volunteers for autistic (diagnosed or self-diagnosed) women and non-binary people over 18.
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and information and share thoughts and experiences with a friendly, supportive autistic community.
You can build Lego with us, or bring your own Lego, knitting or craft projects to work on. Or simply come along and chat or read a library book.
We’ll always make sure you feel welcome in the group, but never force you to chat or join in.
How do I join?
This is a relaxed drop-in, there’s no need to book, you can just come along.
We know that can feel a bit daunting some days, but remember we’re all autistic so we all feel the same, and we promise it'll be worth it!
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get in touch first, just send us an email:
stirling@swanscotland.org
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.
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 and girls 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
Who can come along?
This online group is for all autistic (diagnosed or self-identified) women and non-binary people who are over 18 and living in Scotland.
Where & When?
Online, via Zoom
This group runs at different times throughout the year.
What’s it all about?
This group is for anyone who loves art and crafts, or is interested in giving it a try in the company of a friendly, supportive autistic community.
The group is led by one of our autistic SWAN volunteers, who is also a very talented artist and part of a neurodivergent artists collective. You will receive information and materials in advance of the session, and together you’ll learn how to make simple but beautiful creations!
How do I join?
Please check our calendar or sign up to our Newsletter for updates on when the group is running and how to join.
If you have any questions, please email:
info@swanscotland.org
Online Peer Support Forum
Who can come along?
This online forum is for all autistic (diagnosed or self-identified) women and non-binary people who are over 18 and living in Scotland.
What’s it all about?
SWAN Conversations is a closed Facebook group where you can access peer support and information in a friendly, supportive autistic community.
You’ll be able to chat to other autistic women and non-binary people across Scotland, exchange thoughts and experiences and connect with others through shared interests.
How do I join?
Search ‘Swan Conversations’ in the Facebook search box to find the group and click ‘Join Group’. You will be asked a few membership questions before you join - this is to ensure we keep this closed group a safe space for autistic women and non-binary people in Scotland.
Your request to join will then be sent to us for approval. Please note: if you do not complete the joining questions, we will be unable to approve your membership of the group so please remember to respond.
Edinburgh Online Group
Who can come along?
This online group is for all autistic (diagnosed or self-identified) women and non-binary people over 18. The group is led by Edinburgh-based, but it is open to anyone living in Scotland.
Where & When?
Online, via Zoom
3rd Sunday of each month
3 - 4pm
What’s it all about?
It's a chance to access peer support and information and share thoughts and experiences with a friendly, supportive autistic community.
As with all SWAN’s online groups, you are welcome to have your camera on or off and you can join in the conversation and use the chat function as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
How do I join?
If you have any questions, or you'd like to attend the group, please email:
edinburgh@swanscotland.org
Post-Diagnosis Groups
Who can come along?
This group session is for all women and non-binary people, over- 18 and living in Scotland, who have recently been diagnosed or self-diagnosed and would like to explore their autistic identity and what that means.
What to expect?
This group is a safe space for you to explore more about your autistic identity, ask questions, listen, learn and connect with others who are newly diagnosed.
Each week we will explore different topics that commonly come up post diagnosis including: understanding yourself; who do you tell and how; masking; burnout; stimming; self-care; ages and life stages and celebrating who you are.
As with all SWAN’s online groups, you are welcome to have your camera on or off and you can join in the conversation and use the chat function as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
Where & When?
Online, via Zoom
This group runs for 5 weeks and is repeated throughout the year.
We alternate days and times to accommodate as many people as possible - please check our calendar or sign up to our Newsletter for updates.
How do I join?
Please sign up to attend via the SWAN Eventbrite page - we limit the numbers to keep these groups small, so everyone can get the most from attending.
We will email you with more detail about the sessions, including accessibility information and the joining link once you have signed up.
Pre-Diagnosis Drop-Ins
Who can come along?
This group session is for all women and non-binary people, over-18 and living in Scotland, who are considering whether they might be autistic, thinking about going for a diagnosis or currently going through the diagnosis process.
What to expect?
Exploring whether you are autistic and going through the diagnostic process (whether self or clinical) can be a long, difficult and confusing time and it can be hard to find relevant, reliable resources and information. This drop-in group is a safe space to explore, ask questions and meet others at a similar point in their journey.
We will explore what it means to be autistic and talk about diagnosis options and the experience of going through the process. There will be a chance for questions and discussion and to look at other resources and supports available.
As with all SWAN’s online groups, you are welcome to have your camera on or off and you can join in the conversation and use the chat function as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
Where & When?
Online, via Zoom
The session is repeated on the 1st Tuesday of each month
7:30-9pm
How do I join?
Please sign up to attend via the SWAN Eventbrite page - we limit the numbers to keep these groups small, so everyone can get the most from attending.
We will email you with more detail about the session, including accessibility information and the joining link once you have signed up.
Wellbeing Webinars
Who can come along?
SWAN Wellbeing Webinars are open to all autistic women and non-binary people (diagnosed, self-identified or exploring whether they may be autistic) who are over 18 and living in Scotland.
SWAN webinars are autistic-only spaces, led by autistic staff.
Friends and allies, families and carers, and professionals and practitioners who do not identify as autistic but want to learn more about autistic women and girls are warmly welcomed to specific webinars only, where stated in the event description - if you’re not sure, please do just ask us before booking.
Where & When?
Online, via Zoom
Usually once a month, on a Thursday evening for 1.5 hours - please check our calendar or sign up to our Newsletter for updates on upcoming webinar topics with full details on times and dates.
What’s it all about?
SWAN Wellbeing Webinars are regular online events exploring topics which relate to our autistic identities, how we support our wellbeing and what brings us joy.
They are an opportunity to connect with others, to listen, learn and exchange information, thoughts and experiences in a safe, friendly, autistic-led space, from the comfort of your own environment.
Previous webinar topics include: managing energy, autism & menopause, autistic joy, surviving and thriving as an autistic parent, writing for wellbeing, autism & ADHD, coping with anxiety, drawing as stimming and student life. We base our webinars on what you tell us you want to hear about, and we always welcome suggestions and requests.
Some webinars are facilitated by SWAN staff, and at others we have an autistic guest speaker. We usually start with a presentation, or a facilitated chat with the speaker, followed by time for questions and informal discussion. Some webinars are based around an activity such as writing or drawing. The format can vary, but we’ll always let you know what to expect before you register.
We aim to make our webinars as accessible as possible - bearing in mind that all our needs and preferences are different - and all our staff and speakers are autistic too. You are free to participate as little or as much as you feel comfortable - talk, join in the text chat or read the closed captions, stim, bring your pets along, or just watch and listen with your camera on or off.
How do I join?
Please sign up to attend via the SWAN Eventbrite page.
Numbers are limited by our Zoom account, and because attendees have told us they prefer slightly smaller groups, so the conversation and text chat are more accessible.
We do increase participant numbers or run webinars more than once where topics are popular or we have a special guest speaker.
Webinars are not available to watch later via recording, unless stated as an option in the event description.
You will receive an email with full details about the webinar you have signed up for, including accessibility information and the joining link once you have registered to attend.
March 2023+
Post Diagnosis Group Week 1
SWAN Spaces30 Mar, 13:00 - 14:30