Support whilst seeking a diagnosis: Lucie and the Millbrook Meteors

18th July 2025

Lucie was 26 when she first started seeking a diagnosis, this is her experience of how she found support through Autism Hampshire, her friends and family, and the Millbrook Meteors.

When Lucie Channell first got involved with the Millbrook Meteors - a pan-disability football team in Southampton - she had just begun her own journey toward an autism diagnosis.

She reached out to Autism Hampshire’s Information, Advice and Guidance team where Lucie received regular phone support as she navigated the long and uncertain process of diagnosis - which for her took around 18 months from GP referral to appointment.

“I personally found the support from Autism Hampshire so incredibly beneficial in the early days - because how are you supposed to navigate an autism diagnosis at 26/27 years old?” said Lucie.

“I didn’t really know what I was doing. I just messaged and said: Hi, I’m Lucie, I’m potentially seeking a diagnosis – can you offer any support?

“There was so much I didn’t know, or wasn’t sure about. She signposted me to groups that were available for women my age, going through the same thing.

“It really opened my eyes - there’s actually a lot of support out there.”

Today, Lucie is a volunteer football coach with the Millbrook Meteors. She joined shortly after her diagnosis and has found confidence, connection, and a way to give back.

“Once I got the diagnosis, it felt like I didn’t have to mask as much anymore,” she said. “As soon as I started doing that, people noticed... they said my confidence just grew.”

Lucie now supports young players with a range of disabilities, including autism, anxiety, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities.

Her experience, and the support she received from Autism Hampshire and others, is something she now passes on.

“I never thought I’d be playing football - let alone coaching it,” Lucie said. “Every child has their own strengths and abilities, and we celebrate them here.

“If there’s anything they need help with, we’ll always find a way around it. No one is pushed away.”

Click here to find out more about Autism Hampshire’s Information, Advice and Guidance team.

Or for more information on the Millbrook Meteors, visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550949470153. 

Transcript:

Hi, I'm Lucie Channell
and I am a volunteer coach with the Milbrook Meteors
which is a pan disability team here in Millbrook
I got into the club
and it was shortly after my
my personal diagnosis so I was like
you know what, maybe it would be good for me
but then also I can help give back to
the children that attend that group
so that was a couple of years ago now
obviously the process to getting that diagnosis was
was a long one
it was like an 18 month wait from letter to doctor
to actual appointment
so I reached out to Autism Hampshire
and I just out of curiosity
messaged and said
Hi, I'm Lucie, I'm potentially seeking a diagnosis
I don't really know what I am doing
can you offer any support?
And I think I had probably a weekly phone call
and she was really helpful
because there was so much like
I didn't know or I wasn't sure about
she sign posted me to
different groups that were available for
girls and women my age and
in my situation that were also going
through the same thing so it
it was... it was quite an eye opener
to see that there is
actually so much support out there
for people going through a diagnosis
or not sure if they even have autism
but yeah it was
it was quite a journey
I know that obviously
a lot of people were diagnosed
at different points in their life
but to have that revelation
that late in my personal life was quite shock
I was... I was working in early year settings
through my diagnosis, they were extremely supportive
and then
I've now left the field and I
I'm
I've got a new job where it's the same sort of support
I got my support from my ladies here
once I got the diagnosis
it was almost like I don't have to
to mask as much anymore
and I think as soon as I started doing that, unmasking,
I mean I
I don't, I can't speak for everybody
but a lot of people said my confidence just grew
so we cater and support children with a
variety of different needs
so we... it could be anything from a physical disability
such as cerebral palsy
learning disabilities
or even anxiety disorders
we offer almost like a
a process for them to introduce themselves to the game
and what it means to be part of a team
you're not confined to the meteors
you... you build up that
that confidence and that resilience to then
be able to go off and do other things
which they would probably have never dreamt about
doing before
like I never thought I'd be playing football let alone
coaching football
every child has their own strength and abilities
and we celebrate them here
and if there's anything that they need support
with we will make sure that we find a way around it
there's... no one is pushed away here