About us
We provide a welcoming space for autistic individuals and their relatives.
About us
We provide a welcoming space for autistic individuals and their relatives.
Here to Help is a suicide prevention and awareness project focused on supporting autistic individuals and people with learning disabilities. The project works to reduce risk and increase understanding by creating safer, more inclusive environments where people feel able to express themselves and access support.
Through co-designed accessible resources, professional training, drop-in sessions, and community engagement, Here to Help aims to improve emotional recognition, strengthen support networks, and equip professionals and families with practical knowledge to better support autistic people.
Here to Help is a community led project delivered by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in autism, mental health and suicide prevention. We work alongside autistic individuals, families, carers and professionals to ensure our work is informed by lived experience and evidence based practice.
Our approach is collaborative, inclusive and focused on creating meaningful change by improving understanding, building safer spaces and strengthening support for autistic people and those who support them.
Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Meryem Cetinkaya
Project Manager - Here to Help
With over ten years of experience as a psychological counsellor, Meryem has worked closely with individuals at risk, supporting their mental health and wellbeing. She holds master’s degrees in Women’s Studies and Applied Psychology, which inform her inclusive and intersectional approach. In recent years, Meryem has specialised in disability support, providing academic and wellbeing assistance to neurodivergent and disabled students in higher education. She currently leads the Here to Help project, a focused initiative dedicated to improving mental health outcomes and suicide prevention for autistic individuals and those with learning disabilities.
Cheryl Cullen
Project Officer - Here to Help
Cheryl is a psychotherapeutic counsellor with a background in social care, supporting people affected by drug and alcohol use as well as children and adults facing mental health challenges. Over the years, Cheryl has developed a compassionate, down-to-earth approach, grounded in respect for each person’s unique experience. Well suited to the project officer role supporting autistic individuals, Cheryl is comfortable discussing difficult topics openly and honestly, such as the impact of suicide on family, friends, and work, always striving to communicate with clarity, thoughtfulness, and support. She is enthusiastic about her new role at SJOG and looks forward to complementing the important work already underway.
Ashley Wilson
Head of Quality and Development
Ashley is head of quality and development at SJOG and has been a vital part of the Here to Help project from its inception through to today. With extensive experience in management, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), and supporting complex needs services across the charity, she plays a key role in shaping the project’s direction and impact. Ashley’s expertise in training, implementation and behavioural analysis ensures that best practices are embedded throughout the work. Her commitment to person-centred, proactive support is central to delivering meaningful, high-quality outcomes for those the project serves.