New social group for autistic adults to launch in Wolverhampton

The Wolverhampton Autism Group, which is the brainchild of the city's Gazebo Theatre in Education, will offer free support to residents affected by the condition.

It will officially launch on Tuesday, when people across the globe mark World Autism Awareness Day.

Gazebo chief executive Pamela Cole-Hudson said: "We are proud to launch the new Wolverhampton Autism Group and, in addition to providing support and appropriate social opportunities to local people, we hope it will raise awareness of the experiences of people affected by autism and encourage employers and others to recognise value and ensure equal opportunities for all.

"Over the next six months, we intend to demonstrate the effectiveness of the group and the positive impact it is having on people's lives so that we can attract further funding and support for it to continue in the longer term."

The idea for the group came after Joey Rist, who is involved with Gazebo, struggled to find support services and anywhere to socialise comfortably.

He worked with a mentor and managed to win funding from the National Lottery Awards For All to launch the group.

Prospective members of the group have since offered their ideas, suggesting a number of activities and trips.

Ms Cole-Hudson added: "Joey identified at the outset that an important objective of the group should be to provide pathways for its members into leadership roles.

“With this in mind, the group will be facilitated by experienced professionals from Gazebo, working alongside Joey and other volunteers who are themselves affected by autism.

"As a result, we hope they will gain the skills themselves to facilitate groups, and Joey already has exciting aspirations to grow Wolverhampton Autism Group into something that can be replicated elsewhere in the future."

The free weekly group, which will gather on Tuesdays from 6pm to 8pm, will be open to over 18s affected by autism, either diagnosed or undiagnosed.

It will officially launch at The Gazebo Hub, in Bilston's Wellington Road, from 6pm on Tuesday.

David Watts, Wolverhampton Council's director of adult services, added: "We are delighted that Gazebo Theatre in Education is launching this new social group, which will provide vital support to adults with autism.

"It is great that it has come about thanks to the drive and determination of people with autism, and that they will be playing such an important role in the group going forward."