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| Autism group is 'a safe space for kids and parents’ | Autism group is 'a safe space for kids and parents’ |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pamela Baxter started the group four years ago | Pamela Baxter started the group four years ago |
| After Pamela Baxter’s daughter Poppy was diagnosed with autism, it initially felt like a lonely situation for her family. | After Pamela Baxter’s daughter Poppy was diagnosed with autism, it initially felt like a lonely situation for her family. |
| “We just felt like there was nowhere for us to go socially or things like that, where Poppy and I felt comfortable, certainly not where we lived,” she said. | “We just felt like there was nowhere for us to go socially or things like that, where Poppy and I felt comfortable, certainly not where we lived,” she said. |
| Pamela decided to take matters into her own hands and set up a group in Cookstown, County Tyrone, for children with autism and their families. | Pamela decided to take matters into her own hands and set up a group in Cookstown, County Tyrone, for children with autism and their families. |
| It has now been chosen as one of the recipients of BBC Children in Need’s Big Sky grant programme, which helps with running costs and activities. | |
| The group hosts a number of activities for the young people | |
| “It’s been four years now and it’s been amazing, it’s primarily a social space for kids to enhance their socials skills and have fun with everything from dance to arts and sports," she said. | “It’s been four years now and it’s been amazing, it’s primarily a social space for kids to enhance their socials skills and have fun with everything from dance to arts and sports," she said. |
| “But it’s really become a safe space for parents to share their stories and rely on each other as well.” | “But it’s really become a safe space for parents to share their stories and rely on each other as well.” |
| Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a range of conditions which affect how a person communicates and interacts with the world around them, as well as their interests and behaviour. | Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a range of conditions which affect how a person communicates and interacts with the world around them, as well as their interests and behaviour. |
| Lesley, one of the parents who attends AUsome Kids, said it had been a “safe haven” for both her and her daughter Lilly-Jane. | |
| “Before we just found that a lot of places can be overwhelming for Lilly-Jane, too much noise, too many crowds, but she feels so comfortable at AUsome Kids, there’s no pressure on her," she said. | “Before we just found that a lot of places can be overwhelming for Lilly-Jane, too much noise, too many crowds, but she feels so comfortable at AUsome Kids, there’s no pressure on her," she said. |
| “There can be a lot of doubt and uncertainty when your child receives a diagnosis , so to get relate to other parents going through the same journey, there’s no judgement, it just means a lot.” | “There can be a lot of doubt and uncertainty when your child receives a diagnosis , so to get relate to other parents going through the same journey, there’s no judgement, it just means a lot.” |
| Cathal and his son Ruairí have been coming to the group’s activities for a number of years. | Cathal and his son Ruairí have been coming to the group’s activities for a number of years. |
| “It’s been a game-changer for Ruairí, whenever he is in this environment, he becomes so upbeat and that carries through for a few days," Cathal said. | “It’s been a game-changer for Ruairí, whenever he is in this environment, he becomes so upbeat and that carries through for a few days," Cathal said. |
| "So as a parent that it is just amazing to see, it has helped our son so much.” | "So as a parent that it is just amazing to see, it has helped our son so much.” |
| AuSome Kids got funding from BBC Children in Need | |
| Cathal and his son Ruairí have been coming to the group’s activities for a number of years. | |
| “It’s been a game-changer for Ruairí, whenever he is in this environment, he becomes so upbeat and that carries through for a few days," Cathal said. | |
| "So as a parent that it is just amazing to see, it has helped our son so much.” | |
| Cathal says the group has been "a game-changer" for his son | Cathal says the group has been "a game-changer" for his son |
| "The group was started to try and stop other parents feeling that loneliness that I did at the start," Ms Baxter said. | "The group was started to try and stop other parents feeling that loneliness that I did at the start," Ms Baxter said. |
| “Having other parents around you means that if you’re having a bad day or a bad week, no one is going to judge you, we’re here for each other.” | “Having other parents around you means that if you’re having a bad day or a bad week, no one is going to judge you, we’re here for each other.” |
| A special programme featuring local fundraising stories and highlights from the Children in Need Appeal Show will air on Saturday 16 November at 15:55 GMT on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. | A special programme featuring local fundraising stories and highlights from the Children in Need Appeal Show will air on Saturday 16 November at 15:55 GMT on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. |
| For further information on BBC Children in Need and how to get involved can be found at bbc.co.uk/pudsey, external. | For further information on BBC Children in Need and how to get involved can be found at bbc.co.uk/pudsey, external. |