Autism Initiatives UK has been awarded £35,000 by Postcode Community Trust

This wonderful windfall presented at social enterprise A Great Little Place will help support young autistic people with work placements.

The social enterprise team has been working alongside seven education establishments in the area and operating three social enterprises in Southport since 2010, which have supported more than 150 young people, with 21 currently engaged in the work placements.

“This funding is critical for a charity like ours as we can train and employ specialist full-time support workers thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery,” said Jon Gordon, Head of Enterprise at Autism Initiatives. “The more support workers we have, the more young people we can support.  Our specialist staff are pivotal in being the conduit between the family, the education establishment, and the enterprise workplace to create a tailored plan that enables the individual to build confidence and self-esteem which can support engagement with and complete of education and enter the working world successfully.”

The charity’s social enterprises include a cafe in the heart of an arts venue, an outdoor growing and veg box scheme, and bike maintenance and repair shop.

“Bringing a young autistic person into one of our social enterprises is not a light touch job”, added Jon. “We spend time with everyone involved, assess the young person’s needs, agree a plan with them and familiarize them with their new working environment and colleagues.  But when you see some of the people who we’ve supported now in full time employment, in long-term relationships, and buying their own houses, it reinforces why social enterprises like ours are so important to our fellow community members.”