Autism Guernsey's Children Services will cease in December after the BBC's Children in Need has rejected the local charity's application for the continuation of its current funding.
Julia Watts, Autism Guernsey's Services Manager says that over the lifetime of the project she has had a close working relationship with Children in Need. However she was devastated to receive this news.
The call for services provided by Autism Guernsey has increased during the past 10 years, especially since Covid and diagnostic services becoming available.
There has always been the ongoing pressure of how we can sustain what we currently provide for children and their families and carers. Failure to secure this annual grant will have a huge negative impact on the charity and our ability to continue helping those who currently rely upon us.
Autism Guernsey recieves over 1,000 contacts per year and is currently supporting 131 children between the ages of five and seventeen , together with an additional 260 plus parents and carers also making up the extended charity caseload.
David Harry, newly appointed chairman of Autism Guernsey, says that since the charity's inception there has never been any States funding and the charity has relied totally on Third Sector grants, fund raising events and donations.
'Although we are incredibly gratetful for the support that we have received, the problem with the way Autism Guernsey is funded means that the services are simply not sustainable as we rely entirely on Third sector support'.
Currently the charity provides social clubs for different age groups including artwork with an art worker; one to one outreach; a sensory group supported by Autism Guernsey's Occupational Therapist, National Autistic Society accrediated programmes for parents, a Better Sleep programme and popular Summer and Christmas activities.
A significant impact of withdrawing these services will be the personal effect it will have on autistic children remaining in isolation, as they will lose social connections resulting in poor mental health and wellbeing.
A parent whose child is supported by Autism Guernsey says the charity stepped up when she felt let down by States Departments and she is deeply upset by the news of the potential closure of the service.
'The charity has always been there for us, from one to one support for myself as a mum and for my autistic son. The invaluable courses they put on helped me leam to navigate the overwhelming world of being a mum to an autistic child and my son has attended the 'Amazing Club' for a number of years. It was a safe space for children like him and did wonders for his mental health. It was, and still is, the only place where he can socialise happily. I haven't told him the news yet but I know he will take it very badly.'
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