Highlights of the Quarter

From our hugely successful Walk for Acceptance to an inspirational NHS worker’s pledge to run the Great North Run – here’s our highlights of the quarter…

Free toolkits are a huge success

As part of our Autism Acceptance Week campaign we created a series of free toolkits aimed at primary schools, secondary schools and businesses wanting to be more inclusive – and these were downloaded by more than 300 people.

The toolkits feature useful information about autism and neurodiversity, with guidance on reasonable adjustments that can be made to help pupils or employees. There are also educational videos, lesson plans, and a range of classroom sessions and activities.

Download our free toolkits here

Hundreds walk in support of autism acceptance

Almost 300 people took part in our annual Walk for Acceptance in April, which marked the end of our calendar of events to mark Autism Acceptance Month.

“It’s always brilliant to see so many people stepping out in support of the work that NEAS does and helping to champion our message of autism acceptance,” said Jon Appleton, Community and Events Fundraising Officer at NEAS.

As well as completing the one-mile route around the park, families also took part in a warm-up led by staff from Everyone Active’s Hetton Community Pool & Wellness Centre, enjoyed a visit from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and had their photographs taken with our mascot Snowdrop the Spikeshuffler.

Click here to read the full story

Tees businesses raise £5,640 for NEAS

Generous Tees businesses raised a brilliant £5,640 in support of NEAS after the inaugural Tees Business Awards event last month.

NEAS was the chosen charity mainly due to the involvement of our patrons, who all played a key role on the night.

Globally renowned Tees artist Mackenzie Thorpe was the keynote speaker, North-east TV royalty Pam Royle and journalist Peter Barron co-hosted the event, while Tees Business non-executive director Bob Cuffe delivered an emotional speech.

Click here to read the full story

James Cook Hospital awarded gold standard

The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, became the first healthcare setting in the North-east to receive our Gold Autism Acceptance Award in recognition of its commitment to improving the experience of autistic and neurodivergent children.

Isabella Wright, six, is one of the young patients who has benefitted from the changes – which are all tailored to the individual - and mum Jacqui said she “can’t praise the hospital enough”.

Click here to read the full story

NHS worker takes on Couch to South Shields challenge

Jenny Dell has pledged to tackle her first Great North Run in support of NEAS after successfully completing our Couch to 5k training programme.

Jenny, who is autistic and works as a health care assistant at Darlington Memorial Hospital, responded to our call to get fit for 2023 by going from ‘Couch to 5k’ in just over 8 weeks.

She hit her 5k target just in April, and has decided to carry on training to run the Great North Run on September 10, and raise money for the Society. Well done, Jenny!

Click here to sign up for Couch to South Shields