Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am taking part in KAT's 250 / 400 Challenge and hoping to reach the target of raising £250 for their free Family Support Service.

I have decided to do this because the service has been a wonderful support to me both professionally and personally over a period of around 25 years.

To raise my target funding, I am asking for people to support and either make a small donation to my page, or make a donation in return for some of my son Matthew's art.  Just send me the name of your chosen picture with your address and I will send you a print out by post. (to view gallery, please click on the top right of cover photo - view gallery button).

Over lockdown, our son, Matthew, who was diagnosed with autism aged 3, (now 33!) came home from his supported living, having moved 2 years ago. He stayed with us at home for 17 months. He loves drawing and produced a different picture every single day. I started to make collages from some of his pictures.

He cannot draw anything from imagination so all the
art work is copied from books or from pictures he finds on his i-pad. He loves art as it gives him a great sense of achievement and it's so good for his well - being too - he usually smiling to himself as he draws, taking great care and pride in every single picture.

I have been running support groups for parents of children with ASD over the past 10 years through my work as a special needs teacher and Senco. 

KAT have always played an important part in the success of these groups. Over the years, numerous parents, grandparents and carers have benefited from excellent talks and presentations, increasing awareness and understanding of ASD, as well as providing much needed guidance, advice and lots of useful strategies to try at home.

Recently retired, I set up an Autism Parent Support Group in West Kent in January 2020 prior to the pandemic and subsequent lockdown. The first meeting was in the backroom back of a local Deli. One parent turned up.  However, in February we welcomed over 20 people; this was the start of the What's App Group in March which  now has around around 50 members, all of whom have maintained close contact and supported each other through this extraordinary challenging time of home schooling and transitions back and forth.

We've shared numerous stories of frustration, desperation, patience, sadness and hope as well as celebrating successes. We've learnt so much from each other. There's always someone who has a solution or suggestion.

Zoom sessions have continued to be invaluable during lockdown and beyond, so we continue to be grateful to Wendy Boorman at KAT family support for listening, discussing and providing some brilliant and hugely worthwhile power point presentations and Q&As.  Thank you so much Kent Autistic Trust for all you do. Please help me to raise some funds to help them continue their wonderful care and support for all families touched by Autism.

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