Wirral Autistic Society
From small beginnings in 1968, Wirral Autistic Society has grown and developed its services for people with autism and their families. It now provides residential care, community and vocational services, respite care, supported living and domiciliary care and family support and is highly regarded nationwide as a high quality service provider.
Recent successes include our new Take a Break respite service, which is now delivered in a 6 bedded, purpose-built, autism-specific unit called The Ferns in the grounds of Raby Hall, which was officially opened by HRH The Countess of Wessex on 2 March 2011. The service is going from strength to strength and provides a much needed resource for so many families across the North West, enabling them to have a short break from caring for a family member with autism.
Another of our projects is our Step into Work programme, through which we aim to provide the support, guidance and training necessary to help people with autism get real jobs. Many employers have no idea how capable, dependable, honest and reliable people with autism can be, in the right job with the right support.
A central part of our plan is the recent redevelopment of our existing garden centre in Bromborough Pool Village, which, thanks to a grant of £323,000 from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund, now has a shop and cafe and is open to the general public all year round. This new facility will help us provide real job opportunities and training to unemployed people with Asperger’s Syndrome and autism and will help them gain real jobs in the community.
Through our Step into Work programme, we are aiming to support 32 people per year into either full time or part time employment or voluntary work in horticulture, catering, retail and office work.
Since 1990, the Society has used their own 62’ long narrowboat to provide day trips and educational opportunities for service users along the network of local canals, as the tranquillity and peaceful environment hold many benefits for the physical and mental wellbeing of people with autism. However, the boat is in real need of a major overhaul inside and out, which will cost in the region of £25,000. Works will include a new engine, replacement of copper pipework with plastic, rust treatment on the interior of the hull, a new deck and renewal of interior seating and fittings. This will enable our clients to safely enjoy this facility for many years to come.
Contact us
Head Office:
2 Grisedale Road
Old Hall Estate
Bromborough
Wirral CH62 3QA
Tel: 0151 334 7510
e-mail: admin@wirral.autistic.org
REG CHARITY No: 1007878 COMPANY No: 2658268
