'We were teetering on the edge,' says charity boss

Cheryl Simpson is one of the Macclesfield-based Space4Autism charity's founders

A charity which "saves lives" by supporting autistic people and their families has been "teetering on the edge" for the first time in its 20-year history due to financial pressures, its founder has said.

Space4Autism runs activities and clubs for children and adults, as well as running a site in Macclesfield town centre with a sensory space and community café.

Chief executive Cheryl Simpson started the charity in Cheshire after her son was diagnosed with autism.

She told the BBC she knew people "who are here today" because of the support it provides.

'Utility bills have tripled'

Space4Autism, which has annual running costs of £600,000, receives public donations, grants from charitable trusts and foundations, and some council funding.

But Ms Simpson said she was hugely concerned by rising costs and increased competition for funding.

"We were teetering on the edge a couple of months ago," she told the BBC.

"We've been running for 19 years [and] never had a problem with funding - we've always been able to find the funding."

The Space4Autism boss explained that while her charity "get a relief on business rates... every other cost we pay".

Ms Simpson said: "Our utilities have tripled - all the costs are going up like it does with a business."

She also highlighted rising salary costs and said she had signed a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, calling for charities to be given relief on their employers' National Insurance Contributions.

"There's so many charities I talk to out there," said Ms Simpson. "The landscape has never been like this."

Laura Bereford's son Joel is a regular at Space4Autism

People supported by Space4Autism said its services were vital.

Laura Bereford's son Joel, who recently turned 18, has been supported by the charity for a decade.

As well as being autistic, Joel - who is non-verbal - has a learning disability, epilepsy and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Space4Autism has been an important "constant" in Joel's life, his mum explained.

"He's enjoyed seeing the same peer group as he's grown up.

"When you're having a bad day, you can come in and speak to other people who are in the same circumstances and just have a bit of a rant over a coffee.

"Joel will go in the sensory room and blow off some steam."

Laura said Joel's move from children's to adult services had been "really challenging" and that she did not know what she would have done without the charity's support.

"It really is a hub for community, but for the families as well.

"It's a shame that they're having to struggle so much just to keep the doors open."

Matthew's son George has been visiting Space4Autism for 10 years

Matthew, whose son George was diagnosed with autism when he was 24 months old, said his family had also been coming to Space4Autism for about a decade.

He explained that their trips were a real "highlight" in their calendar.

"For a lot of the children that come here sometimes it's their only source of social interaction," said Matthew. "And it provides respite care."

He said he would love more financial support to be given to charities like Space4Autism.

"It comes to a point that there's only so much fundraising the local community can do," he said.

"Should the NHS or the government be stepping in and providing some support for charities like this because they're valuable?"

Macclesfield councillor Emma Gilman is a Space4Autism member

Macclesfield's deputy mayor, Councillor Emma Gilman, is a member of the charity, along with her teenage son.

"Lack of funding and then increased National Insurance Contributions for employers is leaving Space in a really precarious position," she said.

"As a town council we do everything we possibly can - we provide community grants - but a couple of thousands of pounds is a drop in the ocean.

"I think it's really important that we share the message that funding has been cut, other charities as well as Space are really struggling.

"But they provide an invaluable service so we need to work really hard to keep them."

The charity's Macclesfield site has a sensory room to help people with autism

Since 2010, there has been a £13.2bn fall in council funding to charities, according to research from Nottingham Business School.

A social sector consultancy and think tank said 70% of charity leaders were concerned about funding.

NPC's head of policy and external affairs Leah Davis said: "Costs have increased quite a lot for charities, and they've also found that the cost-of-living crisis and youth mental health crisis means they've got much more demand for their services.

"The sector is very resilient - it is used to having to deliver a lot and really good services with not much money - but I do think the crunch that it's facing at the moment means that, certainly for some parts of the sector, it is a worrying time."

'Someone is listening'

Back in Macclesfield, Ms Simpson said: "Parents just sometimes want to come in and have a cry because they've had such a terrible morning.

"Where would they go to do that? What would their mental health be like? And that's just the parents.

"For the adults that come in - we are saving lives, literally, saving lives.

"There are some people who are here today that I know that that's what we've done through our counselling and through just being that drop-in where they can just come in and have a cup of tea and someone is listening."