Useful contacts

In Control was founded in 2003 and pioneered the concepts of self-directed support and individual budgets (now called personal budgets).

In Control now works with many of the local councils in England to advise them about self-directed support and personal budgets. There is a lot of information and advice on the In Control website, and you can download tools to help you plan your support and manage your money.

In Control Support Centre
Carillon House
Chapel Lane
Wythall
West Midlands B47 6JX
Support line: 01564 821650
Website: www.in-control.org.uk

The National Brokerage Network can help you find a broker in your area, and information about the cost of hiring a broker.

The National Brokerage Network
3 The Courtyard
Windhill
Bishops Stortford
Herts CM23 2ND
Tel: 01279 504735
Email: info@nationalbrokeragenetwork.org.uk

Examples of the support you can buy

You are allowed to be creative with your personal budget, because everybody needs different support in order to live their lives well.

The Department of Health has made a list of examples to help you work out what you could include in your plan. A broker or your family/supporters can also give you some ideas.

The examples from the Department of Health are split into categories which are called 'permissible uses'. These are:

  • support in the home (eg hiring a personal assistant to help with everyday life skills such as gardening and cooking)
  • support for social inclusion (eg money to join an online dating agency so you can meet people)
  • supporting people to access work (eg paying for driving lessons)
  • supporting general well-being (eg paying for gym membership)
  • other support (eg trying out a new activity such as horse riding, rock climbing or canoeing).


Further reading

Think Local Act Personal is a group of organisations that work for changes in adult social care, including giving people more choice and control over the support they receive. Visit: www.thinklocalactpersonal.org.uk

You'll find the following useful information on our website. You can also call our Autism Helpline on 0808 800 4104 to ask for printed copies (open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm).