New Stour & Avon, August 27, 2021
Young adults aspiring to independence A Christchurch-based charity is marking six months of providing independent living for young adults with autism. Autism Wessex opened the house in Southbourne to give independence and create new friendships for the highly marginalised group. Aspire was opened by Inclusion Housing in March, with Autism Wessex providing care to the people living there. The modern house comprises three self-contained studio apartments, four en suite bedrooms and communal areas and is designed specifically for adults with autism. It enables them to live independently, with privacy, freedom and social interaction and their own tenancy agreements – alongside appropriate care
from the staff team who help with things such as cooking, cleaning, housework, personal care, shopping and community activities. Xavier, 18, was living with family before moving into Aspire in June. He said: “I’m enjoying being independent and I’m not really struggling so far. I’ve surprised myself.
“The team are there if I need them day or night. “Eventually I want to get a full-time job so I can upgrade my phone, my internet and get a new bike.” Brandon, also 18, was living in foster care before moving into Aspire. He said: “Knowing I have support if I need it is good. I’d also like to get a job and
that now feels possible.” Some of the staff team at Aspire are also exploring new challenges. Support worker Phil Donaldson said: “As soon as I started, I made a connection with one of the people we support who likes gaming and I’m learning a lot about autism and how complex it can be. I’ve surprised myself with what I’m achieving.” Another support worker Sian Saunders said: “My dad has a form of autism and I have always been able to recognise it and calm him down. I’m also around the same age as most of the young people here and I think they relate to me because of that. “There is lots of training available and we have had workshops in everything from first aid to safeguarding and epilepsy.”
MPs’ round-up
Afghans claiming refugee status must be given priority The speed with which the government collapsed and the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan is both a shock and a disaster. As the full consequences are yet to be seen, we can only pray that the Taliban show more respect for human life than they have hitherto. The emergency debate in the House of Commons was both sombre and compelling. It was a privilege to be able to listen in a packed Chamber to colleagues from across the House with experience of service in Afghanistan. Their conclusion was that the premature withdrawal of all support for the Afghan army was both reckless and wrong. It has irreparably damaged the credibility of ‘the West’ in our ability to defend and promote our values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. It has also created a power 14
Christchurch & East Dorset: Chris Chope vacuum which Russia, China and Iran will exploit. Where, for example, does this leave the citizens of Hong Kong, Ukraine and Taiwan? The chaos in Afghanistan has shown NATO, with its series of grave, strategic and tactical errors, to be a toothless tiger. Why did our Government not insist that the United States properly consult its allies including the Afghan
government before giving up its support role? Were the likely consequences even considered? Where does this leave the UK/USA special relationship? Constituents are right to be worried about those who remain in Afghanistan at risk of Taliban reprisals. Our Government needs to prioritise claims for refugee status on their merits so that those at immediate risk inside Afghanistan are helped first. There is now a strong humanitarian argument for putting a total stop to crossChannel migration by insisting that those already in France are given refuge there. This will enable us to increase our capacity to take refugees direct from Afghanistan. n The need for governments to ‘get a grip’ also extends to local government and to Dorset Council. The farce over
the new cycle lane in Wimborne between Leigh Road and Canford Bottom could have been avoided. I expressed concern about the traffic implications to the lead councillor, Ray Bryan, as long ago as last November. Twelve weeks later I received a response which asserted that the road ‘is currently far wider than it needs to be which can encourage faster road speeds and inappropriate overtaking. ‘A reduction in width to the level proposed will have limited impact on its ability to accommodate traffic. This corridor will still function as one of the main vehicular routes into Wimborne from the A31’. Let us hope that our councillors explain why the outcome is so different to what was forecast and what remedial action is to be taken to rectify the matter.
