Llay charity gets funding to raise autism awareness
The Your Community, Your Choice fund is supported by the North Wales Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).
The funding partly comes from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the remainder provided by the PCC.
With this funding, Your Space will deliver autism presentations and awareness talks in schools, led by their Autism Champion, Andrew Edwards.
Mr Edwards, who is autistic and has years of experience in raising the profile of autism within various settings, aims to create a better understanding of neurodiversity within schools.
The group discovered that a lack of understanding of neurodiversity among school staff is one of the most significant barriers faced by children.
This can lead to many children becoming school refusers and being negatively influenced by peers, potentially leading them into criminal activity.
Through their project, Your Space aims to upskill all school staff so that autistic individuals are understood and supported to make positive life choices.
On June 17, PCC Andy Dunbobbin visited the charity to learn more about their work and the aims of the initiative.
He said: "I was delighted to visit Your Space and learn about their very worthwhile project to raise awareness of autism in education.
"As Police and Crime Commissioner, I have made equality, diversity and inclusion a core part of my plan for fighting crime in North Wales and that is why a project like Your Space, with its focus on neurodiversity, is so vital for helping support people in the region."
Along with the Assistant Chief Constable of North Wales Police Gareth Evans, Dave Evans from PACT, and local PCSOs Lisa Davies and Catherine Griffiths-Hughes, Mr Dunbobbin was given a tour of the Llay Park Resource Centre facility by the founder of Your Space, Rachel Hancocks, the Autism Champion Andrew Edwards, and the events and communications co-ordinator, Charlotte Roberts.
Ms Hancocks said: "It's really positive that we received this funding through a community vote, which means that people are gaining more awareness of the issues autistic people face and our work is now able to reach further."
PACT chairman Ashley Rogers, recognising the importance of their work, said: "Your Community, Your Choice is all about local people deciding where money should be invested for the good of their neighbourhood.
"Organisations like Your Space do incredible work to help people across our society and I am delighted we have been able to support them in their work."
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Assistant Chief Constable of North Wales Police Gareth Evans added: "It is only right that money seized from criminals should be reinvested to do good in the community.
"That's why I am delighted that money from the Your Community, Your Choice fund has gone to help Your Space and its focus on supporting people with autism in society."
Over the past 12 years, Your Community, Your Choice has awarded almost £660,000 to 214 projects working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods.
To find out more about Your Space, visit: yourspacewales.co.uk.
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