Should there be such a thing as an autistic union?

Might be worth if  this does go forwards to create a trial of sorts I think you'd have to poll members here on which of the big cities folks are closest to, or at least say what city is nearest to you and see if others in the same or similar distance would be interested in getting it started with some irl  logistics, finding a place for you to set up etc.

'on a monthly basis' as in they get to use them once a month or as in they get to use it for a month?

our local council allows a couple of the empty shops in my town to be used as pop-up shops or for local groups to use as a 'high street presence' on a monthly basis (I think for free) so the properties are being used. So local councils might be able to provide a temporary space for groups to form, libraries (if you're lucky enough to still have one) might be willing to help too.

Incidentally you’re right this model isn’t practical for  rural  areas. Delivery of basically all services to rural areas except for A few essential services like post office and GP surgeries now involves people travelling into cities and I’m afraid that’s probably going to hold true for autistic people as well

I can only really speak for church organisations and when I floated an idea similar to this it was politely ignored. That said mental health services in my area cannot even find the space to put people who are sectioned. They are actually sending individuals across the country because they do not have mental health beds for them. I doubt they have much free space for running groups.

and anyway the point is not to have one meeting for neuro diverse people. it’s to give neuro diverse people and particularly autistic people the chance to set up numerous groups focused around a range of special interests which will help them socialise. One monthly meeting just isn’t going to cut it.

One way you might go about trying to find a venue without having to actually spend money to lease or buy one, is to reach an arrangement with a sympathetic charity in the local area. if such a charity has a sizable amount of office space including One or more conference rooms it’s probably only in use from 9 to 5. If you could come to an arrangement whereby your organisation could have use of the conference rooms from six onwards provided you were responsible for keeping them in a good condition, you could effectively treat it like your own venue. But it does mean this organisation has to trust your volunteers enough to give them a key.

What about groups for neurodivergents in already existing venues organised by already existing organised structure with their own funding. Like schools and universities for kids and students. For adults it could be organised by the church, health/mental facilities, LGBTQ community or an organisation for human rights. It could be organised as a monthly meeting simply, so basically any owner of a multifunctional space can start an event like that. Well those events in different places could be done by the "union" that you are suggesting but it would solve the logistics as a start. Otherwise, I see it as any other organisation that is funded by donations and partly by other bodies, as the mentioned above، so you can't predict the size or scale or where you could have this venue. I can predict that in smaller cities or rural areas, which make big part of a country, this second option wouldn't be easy to do.

it's an interesting thought and I for one would welcome an organisation that helps ALL autistic people no matter where they fall on the spectrum. All of the charities and organisations that I have come across who say they are for autistic people seem very much focused on those with moderate to high additional support needs or with comorbid, limiting conditions. I am not discriminating, these services are very much needed for them and I support them wholeheartedly, but I just feel that anyone who is capable of living a more independent life but who still struggles day to day falls through the net somewhat.

What you seem to be suggesting would be running a kind of reverse booking agency. Whereas the average booking agency would book a venue on your behalf and you would pay slightly more for the Service of having them make the booking arrangements for you The charitable booking agency would make a considerable loss by massively under charging you for the fees for the booking of the venue. I think doing things that way it would very soon end up being cheaper to just lease a building

I’m not sure I can think of any examples of groups that subsidise the use of a venue but don’t themselves own or Lease a venue. If a core part of your charitable model is going to be providing space at a subsidy or for free I doubt there is a cost-effective way to do it that doesn’t involve having a venue.

if you think about other organisations that offer a similar service, student unions, working men’s clubs, some old private members clubs, they all tend to own / lease their own property.

I think acquiring buildings like that takes a lot of funding.  What you need to do is start small groups in places like church halls or other cheap facilities, which you can build up and each member makes contributions to cover costs.  

Things like this grow organically.  It all starts with one person with a vision but it takes time and effort.  If it's something that you want and believe in, then maybe you could be the one to take the first steps to get it going.  

I think so yes. There's literally nothing out there for us and a union would be a start in the right direction, hopefully resulting in more support as well in the end.

Dropping this reply literally as I go upstairs so I'll rember to check back in tomorrow afetr sleep and such.