Funding a 'continuous battle', says Worcester autism charity
ASPIE, which is based in Worcester's city centre, holds weekly drop-in sessions with around 60 members attending them, where people with high functioning autism can meet up in a 'stress-free environment'
Funding to keep services going remains a 'constant challenge' says a Worcester autism charity.
ASPIE was set-up in 2011 by Sarah Micklewright who was diagnosed in 1998 with what was known at the time as Asperger syndrome but is now referred to as high functioning autism and as part of the autism spectrum.
She wanted to use her first-hand experiences of living on the autism spectrum to create a 'stress-free environment in which adults with autism can socialise'.
After Sarah died in 2014 aged 38, her mum Julia and aunt Liz took up the running of it so the support stayed in place.
Julia says it costs 'around a £100,000 a year to run' and it remains a 'continuous battle' for them to keep the funding to maintain their services.
"With more and more people seeking a (autism) diagnosis we are sort of buckling under the weight of the need for what it is that we provide," she said.
"Sometimes funding has to take a back seat, but it is essential as the most essential thing that we need is a permanent premises.
"Through that we can hold everybody together and give them a warm and welcoming place where they can learn to achieve the social inclusion that they long for."
The charity, which is celebrating its 14th birthday this year, has a range of support and activities in place at its base in Vesta Tilley House, holding two weekly drop-in sessions with about 60 members attending weekly.
It founded its own football team in 2015, alongside having a number of different games rooms, a drama group and art class, as well as also helping members being able to access counsellors if they need to and careers advice.
Julia says over the years they've supported people across the region and even had contact from all over the country, she fears without the charity in place there would a 'gap' and it would leave members feeling 'devastated'.
"Before coming to us most people who get in touch have been sort of spending most of their time alone in their bedrooms, playing computer games, perhaps doing that all through the night and being isolated during the daytime," she said.
"They come to the realisation that they can't spend the rest of their lives at home and that they want the same things everybody else has.
"When they come to ASPIE, they can relax and be themselves, join in the activities if they want to, that enables them to reduce anxiety, same time, same place, same people, rebuild their confidence and self-esteem which enables them to achieve what it is that they are looking for."
The centre holds its weekly sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays and also currently has an art exhibition created by members which is making its way around the city.