Aspens provides care and support to help people living with disabilities, complex needs and autism to live life to its full potential.

Our highly trained, expert teams of staff offer friendly, expert guidance to assist people in navigating life’s journey and to help them discover all its possibilities.

From helping children to develop the skills they’ll need to live independently as adults, to helping adults search for a job and be independent, contributing members of their communities, Aspens is here.

We offer services which help over 700 people and their families across the south east of England including bases in Kent, East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, West Sussex and London Borough of Bexley.

Why we exist

Approximately 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability*, and more than 700,000 have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition*.

With the NHS near breaking point in the face of increasing regulation and costs, the pressure on social care providers is immense. There simply isn’t the funding available to provide care for everybody who needs it – that’s where Aspens comes in.

*Office for National Statistics (2019), Estimates of the Population for the UK, England and Wales, and Public Health England (2016), Learning Disabilities Observatory, People with Learning Disabilities in England (2015).

Our history

Aspens was created in 2017 from the merger of two long-established charities – Autism Sussex, based near Hastings, and Pepenbury, based near Tunbridge Wells. Bringing together the knowledge, expertise and highly experienced workforces of these two charities has made it possible for our new, larger organisation to offer more than 100 years’ experience and expertise to people living with learning disabilities, complex needs and autism, and to their families and carers.

Our services

Aspens offers a wide range of services, delivering lifelong support to families across the south east of England.

Our highly trained staff provide a personalised service focused on an individual’s own needs. Their bespoke support and advice gives families and carers confidence to care for the people who benefit from our services with as much or as little support as they need from us.

An essential part of what we do is helping those we serve to be part of their local community and to become contributing members of society.

Day services 

Residential services 

Supported Living 

Community Outreach

Children's Services 

Family Support Services

Family Specialist Support Services

Positive Behaviour Support