Confidence classes or meet-ups for anxious autistic teenage girls?

[ThisChicUser]

My daughter is 13 she is waiting for a diagnosis of autism. She is very anxious and shy. She's really struggling to make friends was wondering if anyone knows any confidence classes or any meet up for similar anxious teenagers?
thankyou

Do you mean online? If not you will need to specify an area.

Have a look at https://daisychainproject.co.uk/ and see if it’s active in your local area.

Manchester area (sorry new to this)

she enjoys anime and had online friends but she keeps telling me how much she wants real friends and to not be lonely.

thanks for any advice x

As an alternative you could call social services. Not for any intervention but they will know of local groups/services they can signpost you to.

I would suggest cadets of some sort. Army/navy/Red Cross/ police.

friend of mine’s dd had great success with police. Completely turned her around. I did Red Cross which had the added benefit of first aid, as well as rescue techniques, and volunteering at gigs…

the structure and rule based activities mean it works for ND, and many of them are there because traditional friendship activities aren’t working for them. You can also follow through at Uni so ready made friend group.

i knew one lad that took it all the way, army cadets, OTC at uni, the sandhurst. He’s now some high ranking officer somewhere.

altenatively try a less common hobby like archery, shooting- we have a gym that does kids CrossFit type fitness which has a good social side.

Loneliness is so hard to watch as a parent. If she's into anime, you should look for groups or clubs around that interest. Sometimes it's much easier to make friends when there's a shared hobby rather than the pressure of socialising itself.

Another vote for cadets