FOUNDATION SUPPORTS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

Sunderland AFC’s official charity, the Foundation of Light, is backing World Autism Awareness Day (2^nd April), highlighting its work with children, young people and adults with autism across the North East. Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong developmental condition which can affect communication, social interaction and produce restrictive, repetitive routines of behaviour. Part of the award-winning ScS Making Moves programme, in the 2019/20 season the Foundation worked with over 2,000 children, young people and adults with a range of disabilities encouraging and supporting them to grow as individuals and become more influential parts of the community. Making Moves has been especially developed to help to develop gross motor skills, balance, coordination as well as encourage teamwork, communication and growing confidence through a variety of weekly and holiday-time sessions. To show their support for World Autism Awareness Day, the charity’s home, the Beacon of Light, will be lit up in blue. Earlier this month, young people in the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks programme learnt more about autism and created puzzle ribbon badges, which is the universal sign of autism awareness; the puzzle pattern reflecting the complexity of the autism spectrum, with different colours and shapes representing the diversity of people and families living with the condition. Kevin Darke, Foundation of Light’s Inclusion Coordinator said: “Autism is often misdiagnosed and there are many forms.

We work with people who have different needs and requirements, with the aim of creating a fun and safe environment for them to play, learn and make friends.

“I am proud to lead the ScS Making Moves project and see the difference our work makes to families across the North East.” The Foundation has released daily challenges for people and families to get involved with on Facebook, to help try to build a structure or generate an activity during the lockdown period.