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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£0.5K
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Spending
£1.1K
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.
... [more] [less]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.
... [more] [less]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
