Collaborative Partnership Supporting Neurodivergent Families

STRM, SAFE and MyOTAS have recently formed a collaborative partnership to strengthen support for neurodivergent families across Essex.

The collaboration brings together existing work to enhance coordinated, place-based support for neurodivergent people and families.

Working together allows us to:

Share learning, insight and resources to strengthen practices across all organisations

Strengthen local and national representation for neurodivergent people whose needs are often overlooked

Continue to co-design and co-deliver projects targeted to the people we support

Refer people between our organisations to improve access to timely and appropriate supporten practices across all organisations

Our focus remains on practical, strengths-based support rooted in lived experience, working alongside and complementary to statutory and commissioned services to improve access, consistency and outcomes for neurodivergent people.

This partnership does not create a new organisation or replace any existing provision. Each charity continues to operate independently, retaining its own governance, safeguarding responsibilities and accountability.

Working in this way adds an additional layer of collaboration, enabling us to operate more strategically and enhance existing support for families.

Following the success of earlier initiatives such as training opportunities and financial wellbeing programmes, we are now jointly delivering specialised projects, including structured employment pathways.

"Working together with MyOTAS and STRM significantly enhances our impact by allowing us to pool resources and share specialised expertise. This synergy avoids duplicating efforts, reduces overheads, and enables the creation of more comprehensive, scaled solutions than we could manage alone. By combining unique strengths like grassroots reach, specialised knowledge, and funding access, we achieve greater efficiency, build public trust, and ultimately deliver a much more powerful and sustainable positive change for our neurodivergent beneficiaries."

Andrea SAFE

“When organisations like MyOTAS, STRM, and SAFE work side by side and share lived experience, we not only amplify voices but also build pathways of hope for families who need it most.”

Maggie STRM

Working with SAFE and STRM makes great sense. We’re like-minded, authentic organisations who genuinely care about improving outcomes for neurodivergent people, and we’re stronger when we do that together.

Paula Myotas