WIRRAL CHARITY NEEDS YOUR HELP TO BUILD AN AUTISM SENSORY GARDEN

A charity in Wirral is appealing for people to help them create a sensory garden for people with autism, through a national fundraising campaign this December.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge runs from December 1st to 8th and Autism Together has set itself the challenge of raising at least £5,000 to help build an all-weather sensory garden and cycle track at its site in Raby.

Chloe Jones, Fundraising Officer for Autism Together, said:

“Many people with autism experience a great sense of comfort and calm from being outdoors. We want to create an all-weather area where the people we support can relax, surrounded by sensory items that will interest and stimulate them.

“During this year’s Big Give campaign we’re asking you to support our fundraising and help bring our exciting plans to life.

“The garden will be split into covered pods with different sensory zones to explore including a musical area, a tactile seating area with coloured windows, plus bucket swings and trampolines too.

“The plans also cover an all-weather cycle track on the adjacent field, to allow people living on our Raby site to ride bikes, safely, throughout the year.”

The Big Give uses match funding to help double the impact of the money people give during the weeklong campaign.

The Julia & Hans Rausing Trust has agreed to match fund £1,250 of the donations made to the charity throughout the week.

Chloe continued:

“If you were considering making a donation to a local charity this Christmas, it would be wonderful if you could support our campaign and give an early Christmas present to the people with autism we support.

“If our fundraising target is not reached or if it’s exceeded, donations will be used to support other work at Autism Together.”

The charity will be sharing more information and updates during the Big Give week through its Facebook page, including video content, interviews, walkthroughs and images to help bring the plans to life.

Autism Together has operations across Wirral, West Cheshire and North Wales, supporting people of all ages on the autism spectrum, with around 1,000 staff providing residential, supported living and day services to over 400 individuals.

You can visit Autism Together’s Big Give page for more details or to make a donation, via this link: www.bit.ly/ATBigGive

For further information about Autism Together’s fundraising challenge as part of The Big Give this December, please contact Lisa or Chloe at Autism Together via email: fundraising@autismtogether.co.uk or call 0151 482 3136 or visit Facebook: facebook.com/AutismTogetherUK

Autism Together is a charity and service provider supporting over 400 people on the autism spectrum. Founded in Wirral in 1968 by a group of concerned parents, the organisation now employs over 1,000 staff and has operations in North Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire.

• We offer specialist services for families and children, residential care and supported living.
• We have our own garden centre, park, farm, canal boat, a rock-rap band and a choir.
• The people we support can learn diverse skills in activities such as swimming, cycling, trampoline, rock climbing, painting, sculpting and much more.
• We act as a voice for people on the autism spectrum in the North West and are campaigning for Liverpool to be the UK's leading autism-friendly city and for 'mate crime' (the bullying and manipulation of vulnerable people) to be recognised in law.
• In the last five years we’ve won more than a dozen awards for our excellent services for people on the autism spectrum.

Pictured - Design image showing what the sensory garden at Raby will look like, once complete – image credit: ©Timotay