> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 'The loneliness and isolation has got to stop' - URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-loneliness-and-isolation-has-got-to-stop/ - Published: 2026-09-15T08:48:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-15T08:48:55.000Z - Description: Ivan Ambrose has not left his home in years. His only weekly in-person contact is with family members – and, on occasion, a close friend. That is partly because adult autism support in Ipswich disappears once someone turns 25 – something Ivan is now campaigning to change. - Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams - Tags: Long Reads, Ivan Ambrose, National Autistic Society, Leading Lives Ipswich, Community Impact Ivan, who is autistic, has previously spoken publicly about being housebound and campaigned for autism-friendly communication during the COVID-19 lockdowns. He is now campaigning on a different but related issue: the near-total absence of support services for autistic adults in Ipswich. "I do interact socially by messaging," he says. "The only weekly in-person social interaction I have is with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and my niece and nephew. There are times when one of my close friends may visit me, which is great, but this is not weekly." For Ivan, the effect of that isolation is pretty stark. "The lack of local support services for housebound Autistic adults such as myself is very disappointing. This causes me significant loneliness and makes me feel isolated." ## A gap that starts at 25 Ivan describes support for autistic adults in Ipswich as "extremely sparse." He says a handful of independent organisations exist locally, but none he has found offer home visits or other provision designed for housebound people. "I believe that Essex may have more provision for Autistic adults," he says. The gap, he explains, has a specific shape. "There is a 'drop-off' point at the age of 25 — after this age there are no adult Autism support services in Ipswich. This is particularly evident for those who are housebound." For Ivan, that drop-off runs counter to the basic nature of the condition. "It must be remembered that Autism is a lifelong condition that requires lifelong support," he says. Ivan is campaigning for a National Autistic Society branch to be established in the town, offering what he describes as fully flexible support — group sessions, one-to-one meetings at a branch office, and online groups and one-to-one support for those, like him, who cannot attend in person. ## A mother's perspective Ivan's mother, Jayne, has watched the impact of this gap up close. "To be honest, from my viewpoint, there is little to nothing available in Ipswich," she says. "Autism services throughout the whole of the UK are sporadic, to say the least, with adult support services being virtually non-existent. There is a great need for these in Ipswich." For Jayne, the case is about a basic human need. "Having support services for Autistic adults would enable social interaction for these people, which is so important as they can struggle to make and/or maintain friendships. This is essential for all of us, whether Autistic or Neurotypical. Interaction with people who have similar interests and personalities to ourselves is a basic human need." She points to what a service might practically offer someone in her son's position. "For those who have the additional difficulty of being housebound, adult Autism support services are definitely needed. To be able to interact socially, whether through phone chats, virtual get-togethers and/or being visited at home, would give these people so much connection in life." ## Chasing support Ivan has already begun approaching those he believes could help. He has written to Ipswich MP Jack Abbott, who has since written back proposing a visit to Ivan's home to discuss adult autism support. Two local councillors have responded to Ivan directly, signposting him to Leading Lives Ipswich, which he has since contacted. A third councillor has separately raised the matter with Abbott. Ivan has also approached the National Autistic Society directly. Its UK Branch Engagement Manager, Sarah Morgan, replied to say she was "sorry to hear about the isolation" he had described, adding that National Autistic Society branches are volunteer-led and "develop according to local community need, interest and the availability of volunteers who can establish and run activities." She said a senior officer would be in touch. That officer, Keya Chanda, the charity's Branch Finance Lead and Senior Branch Engagement Officer for Central England, confirmed in a follow-up email that the National Autistic Society "currently has no presence" in Ipswich, and asked whether Ivan might be interested in starting a branch or group there himself. Ivan explained that, as a housebound person, he was not in a position to do so. "I am more than happy to campaign and advocate for a National Autistic Society branch in Ipswich, but I do need other people to step up to the plate for the groundwork and implementation," he told Chanda. Chanda pointed him towards the charity's existing online branches and said she would "have a think about how best we could potentially set something up in Ipswich," asking whether he would be interested in being involved remotely. Ivan, who already attends the charity's monthly LGBT online branch meetings, said he would be happy to be involved in a "remote capacity". ## What comes next Ivan is hoping that adult autism support services in Ipswich, including a National Autistic Society branch, could be in place by 2028\. He wants Jack Abbott and Ipswich Borough Council to work with the charity to make that happen. He is also pressing central government to act on a national level. "Going forward, the Government must now publish and implement the new Autism Strategy," he says. "Understandably, there have been delays with the change of Prime Minister, but we now must have concrete action as a matter of urgency. We urge that the publication and implementation of the new Autism Strategy be brought into force without any further delays." "I would like to sum everything up by saying that in this year of 2026 local provision for Autistic adults must actually exist," he says. "In particular, housebound Autistic adults must no longer be an afterthought. The loneliness and isolation have got to stop." ## The bottom line For Ivan and Jayne Ambrose, this is not an abstract policy gap. It is the shape of daily life – a household where meaningful social contact is rationed to a handful of relatives and the occasional visit from a friend. Ivan's story has already been heard in the House of Lords, but whether Ipswich gains the support services he is campaigning for will depend on decisions still to be made by his MP, a charity that can only go where local volunteers are ready to take it, and a government yet to publish the national strategy he says is overdue. For now, Ivan and his mother are simply asking that housebound autistic adults are no longer left to make that case alone. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£115 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them.