Brightfire CIC is a non-profit, Autistic led community interest company, providing mental health and wellbeing support for Autistic adults.
Our Values
Connect
Embrace
Empower
Our Mission
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To create spaces for Autistic connection.
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To support Autistic people to embrace their Autistic identity.
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To empower Autistic people to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Our Story
Brightfire CIC was founded by Brigid McGrath (she/her), an Autistic Art Therapist. Following the discovery that she was Autistic late in life Brigid made it her mission to learn as much as she could about Autism, and combine her experience as a mental health professional with her knowledge and understanding of life as an Autistic person.
Our Ethos
As Autistic people we believe it is important to design our lives in a way which suits us. We know what it is like to manage the challenges of living in a world where we are in a minority. We aim to create opportunities to inspire and empower each other to value our authentic and unique selves. Inclusivity for all is core to to what we do. Brightfire has an Advisory board of Autistic people with a range of different backgrounds and life experiences. We are a Neurodiversity Affirming organisation, which means we value people equally regardless of how their brain operates. We believe that Autistic people are ‘different not less’.
We hope to make our little corner of the world a better place for Autistic folk.
Testimonials
I feel as though I received emotional support from Brigid whilst learning ways to help improve my life physically and mentally.
It felt as if everything was perfectly catered to me. The information and things I learnt were extremely valuable and easy for me to understand.
This whole experience has had, and will more so have, a huge positive impact on my whole life going forward.
I was able to talk about what I wanted to speak about and learn about things that I wanted to learn more about. I felt heard and accepted.
Our View of Autism
If you ‘Google’ autism you will find lots of information which is informed by the ‘medical model’ of autism: the idea that autism is something ‘wrong’ with a person. This is a view that we do not support at Brightfire CIC.
Instead, the resources you will find here are ‘neurodiversity affirming’, which means they accept all neurotypes as equally valid. Being autistic can bring with it challenges, but also strengths. Autistic people can thrive if they are in the right environment, understand their specific needs and have coping strategies in place to manage individual challenges.
Testimonials
What We Offer
Brightfire CIC offer the following services in Herefordshire
Art Therapy & mental health & wellbeing groups for Autistic adults
Individual support through the NHS funded Herefordshire & Worcestershire Community Autism Support Service
Social
connection
groups
Consultancy
Brightfire CIC works in partnership with charities and commercial businesses both locally and internationally. We offer consultancy to organizations to help them to improve and develop their services for Autistic Adults. Please contact us if we can support your organization through our consultancy work and staff training.
Latest News
Brightfire CIC have partnered with Autism West Midlands to deliver a new NHS funded Community Autism Support Service for Herefordshire & Worcestershire.
Brightfire are delivering one-to-one sessions for Autistic adults in Herefordshire. Session are free, and can be accessed by self-referral. For more information on this service click below.
One-to-one Support
