skip to main content
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
Text size:

Spectrum Women's Autism Group

  • Status

    Received: on time

  • Income

    £0.5K

  • Spending

    £1.1K

Charity no. 106799 Date registered. 16/11/2017

Public benefits

The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include reduction in isolation, improved mental health, increased awareness of autism both for the members and wider community, mutual support in managing a disability and development of skills which can help with gaining employment. These benefits are evidenced through the feedback from members and

the increasing numbers of women joining. This purpose may cause harm by bringing up issues which may have been traumatic for the members, but the charity has the support of a consultant chartered psychologist who is a specialist in autism in females. The charity’s beneficiaries are autistic women, over the age of 16, living in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and their families, carers, friends and wider community. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is the support and possible payment of the trustees and this is incidental and necessary, because the charity is peer run, so by providing supports to others they will also benefit the trustees and by providing payment is furthering the aims of supporting autistic women.

What your organisation does

Spectrum Women's Autism Group is run by and for autistic women. We have monthly meetings, except July and August, at which we have a range of activities including art and crafts, talks, guest speakers, role plays, and other activities as guided by the members, while also providing an opportunity for discussion around issues. We would organise a

range of social activities, including picnics, visits to art galleries and museums, theatre trips, meals out, etc. depending on what the group want to do. We have an art group, which provides an informal, relaxed setting to meet up and do some art work and chat. This group also meets up in various locations for photography and art sessions. We also provide online support through a secret moderated Facebook group. In the past we have had a series of poetry writing workshops with the facilitation provided by Community Arts Partnership, and as a result have published a collection of poems. There are plans to continue with a writing group and to start a book club. These provide a means for socialisation but also to express emotions and address issues. We organised and ran a conference ran by and for autistic women in Newry in 2015 and we are planning on organising another conference which will be open to all to increase awareness of autism in females.

The charity’s classifications

  • The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage

Who the charity helps

  • Learning disabilities
  • Mental health
  • Sensory disabilities
  • Women

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Counselling/support
  • Disability
  • Gender

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 August 2024

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 01 July 2023

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 01 July 2019

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charitable purposes

Spectrum Women’s Autism Group is established to promote the relief of Autistic women and their Family and Carers resident in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through the following: (i) to promote acceptance and awareness of female presentations of Autism within the general public, relevant professionals and organisations in the private, voluntary and statutory sectors. (ii) the provision of help, guidance and information to Autistic women members and the promotion of a network of support among such women with the aim of improving their quality of life and increasing their social networks. (iii) provision of recreational activities and the promotion of the provision of appropriate recreational facilities to overcome isolation.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name

SWAG Previously called Spectrum Centre Women's Group
  • 4 Trustees
  • 0 Employees
  • 0 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Spectrum Women's Autism Group, Co Spectrum Centre, 14 Northland Row, Dungannon, BT71 6AP

Trustee board

Trustee
Dr Margaret Elizabeth Copeland
Mrs Clare Amanda Mccleary
Mrs Donna Weiniger
Ms Hayley Louise Campbell

List of regions

  • In Ireland
  • In Northern Ireland