Call for islanders to support Autism Guernsey after loss of funding

The charity is facing having to scrap its children’s services from the new year after losing annual funding of £30,000 which it had received from BBC Children in Need over the past eight years. The funder rejected the local charity’s latest application for support due, it said, to budget cuts.

Yesterday a Just Giving page, found at www.justgiving.com/page/ag, was launched by a parent supporter of the charity.

Hannah, who did not want to give her surname, said that she had been supported by Autism Guernsey for a number of years with her two sons, now aged 8 and 14.

‘Autism Guernsey have been a massive help to our family for the past 10-11 years, they have given so much to us and now we should help to give something back,’ she said.

‘These children need all the help and support as it is hugely beneficial for their emotional wellbeing. With autism, children find it quite hard to socialise but they find their tribe in these social clubs – certainly my son’s friendship group has been made through Autism Guernsey.’

Hannah voiced her disappointment that Children in Need could no longer provide financial backing but was hopeful that Guernsey could pull together to support the charity.

Autism Guernsey chairman David Harry said the team was very grateful for Hannah’s efforts, which by yesterday afternoon had generated some £400.

‘She has absolutely committed and we are very grateful that she is doing this as a parent, as she can speak so eloquently as to what it is like and what needs to be done for the children in Guernsey,’ Mr Harry said.

‘It’s been evident that the public are supportive in that we need to put in place necessary mechanisms to ensure children services carry on after 1 January.’

Mr Harry confirmed Autism Guernsey had also met with the States commissioning officer regarding a more sustainable agreement to provide children and adult services.

A Health & Social Care Committee spokesman said that work would continue over the next few weeks in partnership with the charity.

‘While always disappointing when it’s not possible for charity funding to continue, we are grateful to Children in Need UK for the support it has provided to the Bailiwick via Autism Guernsey over the last eight years,’ he said.

‘Officers at HSC are working closely with Autism Guernsey to explore what can be done to mitigate the impact on children, adults and families from the loss of this funding.’

Mr Harry said another meeting should take place by the end of next week.