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Autism Berkshire, the working name for the Berkshire Autistic Society, is the latest charity to receive a £1,000 grant from the John Sykes Foundation’s Covid-19 Relief Fund.
The charity is the county’s leading autism charity and provides advice and support services, including a helpline, workshops and courses for parents/carers of autistic children and young people, a welfare benefits advice service, plus social and leisure activities.
John Sykes, Founder and Chair of Trustees of the John Sykes Foundation, visited Jane Stanford-Beale, CEO and the team at Autism Berkshire at their offices in Reading to present the cheque for £1,000, to supplement two family fun days at the new Prospect Park Pavilion to enable families to benefit from its improved play and activity facilities.
“Prior to the Covid pandemic, we often received requests for more activities for autistic children during school holidays,” Ms Stanford-Beale said.
“These requests have started to come in again this year, as families feel more confident about going out and about, but they want places to go that offer a supportive environment, where their children feel happy and safe.
“One party, with a Hallowe’en theme, would be held during the half-term holiday at the end of October, with a Christmas party in December.”
She said the charity hires staff from the borough council’s Reading Play service to supervise activities for children in the indoor ropes walk and climbing wall.
There would also be activities such as art and crafts, overseen by our staff and volunteers, in the meeting room area, along with light refreshments.
Lockdowns and other restrictions on social contact due to Covid in the past two years left many families and children feeling isolated for extended periods. This effect was heightened for autistic children, who often struggle to make and keep friends anyway, and some have found it very challenging to readjust to life outside the family home again.
“By providing these parties and associated activities, we aim to improve the physical and mental health of the children – and their parents/carers’ wellbeing, by offering them opportunities to meet and socialise with others who have similar experiences – and reduce the risk of problems for individuals potentially escalating and requiring costly interventions by health and/or social care services,” Ms Stanford-Beale said.
“As autism affects each individual differently, it is difficult to say that ‘if we do this, a particular outcome will follow’, but we know from families we work with that simple interventions, such as children and young people taking part in trampolining sessions that we run in Bracknell, can have a range of benefits.
“These include reducing anxiety and increasing confidence, simply through children forging friendships and improving social skills and understanding. In a number of cases in recent months, children who had stopped attending school are now back in class.
“We also know how much value the families we help place on having autism-friendly activities, where they feel their children can be themselves, without the risk of being judged by others who do not understand autism and their children’s behaviour.”
John Sykes said the foundation was delighted to be supporting Autism Berkshire by giving a Covid-19 Relief Fund Grant, and they appreciated the time spent learning how the team combine expertise and excellence in education with policy and campaigning to create real change for young people with Autism really shows true commitment.
“One in 100 people in the UK are autistic,” he said. “Without understanding, acceptance and the right support at the right time, there are lifetime consequences for the quality of life for autistic children and young people and their families.
“The Foundation hope that the children, and families enjoy the two family fun days that have been planned at Prospect Park.”
For more information on Autism Berkshire including the Thames Valley Autism Alert Card Scheme and the 197 Club, a fortnightly social group for autistic adults who live in Reading please visit their website www.autismberkshire.org.uk
If you work or belong to a local charity or organisation and would like to know more or apply for one of the John Sykes Foundation’s grants, please visit www.johnsykesfoundation.org
