Can anyone suggest anyway I could get some support?

[Katedaniels]

I have severe depression, am on medication, having counselling. Ds1 has asd.

We have no family support. NC with my family due to emotionally abusive childhood.

DH's family live far away. Mil was a great support, at least on the phone, till we told her about ds1's issues. Now we rarely talk on the phone as she spends all her time trying to prove that he is fine!

We can't afford to pay someone to come in and do anything and I can't find any other way of getting support.

What I really want is some kind of mother figure who will come in occasionally and take over for a couple of hours, or say, I can see you are stressed, let me pick the kids up today and feed them.

I know this is not realistic. I just can't think of anything that is. There is no homestart in my area (budget cuts!) and I can't think of anything else.

Any ideas? (Straws firmly clutched)

Where are you?

I would love to do this for someone. My children have grown up now so I miss little ones and I love helping people. From memory isn't there somewhere children can adopt a grandparent. An elderly local person who can play with the children and be like a grandparent if they don't have any of their own. Or maybe I am imaging that one

where are you? I have been CRB checked and work as a HCP. I would be happy to help :)

You could check whether you would be entitled to claim DLA for your son and use the money to pay for a carer type person to watch him?

We are in bromley in kent.

Mairyholes, we get dla but it's currently all going on the fight to get ds1 support at school.

Msdj I have googled about adopting a grandparent but the only one I found seemed like it was very small and only does one area at a time.

Home start is a charity with volunteers all over the UK.. Someone comes in for a couple of hours once a week to help with childcare, housework or just a cup of tea & a chat.

Rainbowfeet, not in my area, budget cuts!

Are you restricted in how much you can go out? Would the Home Library Service appeal? They bring books (or anything else you might want e.g. CDs and things) from the library once a month and will stay and chat. I realise it's not quite what you're looking for, but at least it's available in your area (you don't have to be an older person to use it although most are). You could also try MIND if you haven't already.
www.blmind.org.uk/bromley-services-2/support-mothers/

I don't know anything about this group but I always think it looks very friendly when I drive by - I like the idea of a drop in cafe anyone can go to.

www.gpcg.org.uk/?p=weeklytimetable

Phineyj, thank you, both good suggestions. I will look into both of them.

Thank you very much to the ladies who said they would love to help. Don't suppose you live in kent?

arena.yourlondonlibrary.net/web/bromley/home-library-service

Also, if your life would be helped by any stuff (I realise you are mainly after a different sort of help) these people may be able to help - they do help with stuff for older DC, despite the name:
www.babypacks.org.uk

Phineyji thank you very much for the links, will checkout all of them.

I'm in Yorkshire but I do know what it's like with no one around. Hope the links you've been given help.

Onesleeptillwembly Thank you, am really struggling. But am going to checkout all those links today.

A children's centre?

The Bromley children project

The burgess autistic trust may be able to signpost you to other services as well.

I know none of those are what you asked for, but they might be worth checking out.