East Belfast residents will Stay Out for 24 hours this weekend to support autism services in their area.
Members of Helping Hands Autism Support in Dundonald will be sleeping out in their local Asda car park this weekend in an effort to raise funds for its resource centre along with raising awareness around the condition on World Autism Day on April 2.
The charity was set up by a group of "mum's on a mission" in 2008 who found that there was a lack of support for children with autism in East Belfast and decided they were going to do something to address it.
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In 2017, Helping Hands opened Northern Ireland's first autism resource centre in Dundonald, with the support of the National Lottery Space and Place programme, with it now supporting 113 children every week.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Caroline Birch of Helping Hands said: "Helping hands was formed in 2008 for families in East Belfast who were searching for some kind of support for their children who were diagnosed with Autism. We found nothing in our local area that would help with the daily life of living with a child with autism, so we decided to form our own charity. We were mums on a mission!
"In 2017 we opened up Northern Ireland’s first Autism Resource Centre in Dundonald and every year we are fundraising to support the centre, families and the amazing kids and young people we support by providing friendship youth groups 7 times per week and support 113 kids a week.
"The 24 hour Stay Out at Asda in Dundonald, from 6pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday, will help us raise those vital funds for the centre and also give us a chance to raise acceptance and awareness of Autism on World Autism Awareness Day -2nd April.
"We love it when families come to see us and have a chat about their kids and if we can give some advice, guidance or even ideas on how to help their children we will."
The event and the charity have been supported by many local families and businesses with other events taking place in the area on the day to spread awareness about autism.
Caroline continued: "We would like to thank all local businesses who have been amazing over the lockdown period by helping us and our families, and especially Asda Dundonald staff, management and community champion Sharon Mccune who is taking part in the stay out with us on Friday.
"Also there are lots of our parents also taking part in raising acceptance and awareness of autism on Saturday at Hanwood Spar, Dundonald Village Spar and Coordinors Spar on Comber Road. If any parents want some guidance and advice they can call their too or contact our Facebook pages."
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