Views sought for city's new autism hub

The new hub will open in the former Aphrodite clothing store

A service that is opening a hub to support neurodivergent people is asking the community to help shape its future.

AutismAble, a non-profit organisation, will operate from the former Aphrodite clothing store in Vine Place, Sunderland.

Founder Sarah Farrell-Forster said she hoped it would build links with other organisations to support them to become more inclusive by offering supported work placements and employment opportunities.

"We want to ensure we reflect the voices of Sunderland's neurodiverse community," she said.

Mrs Farrell-Forster, from Sunderland, founded AutismAble in 2015 in South Tyneside, in response to "the lack of social opportunities" for adults with autism or learning differences.

The organisation currently has two hubs in South Shields and this will be its first in Sunderland.

Mrs Farrell-Forster said it would allow people to connect, develop social skills and take part in activities and training.

There are plans to open a coffee bar and shop on the ground floor

Mrs Farrell-Forster, who also set up Sea Change six years ago in South Shields to offer jobs to people with disabilities, said she hoped to create more employment opportunities, and develop a volunteer programme in the near future.

The ground floor will house a coffee bar and shop, with the aim that members of the service work there, while the first and second floors will feature training rooms and youth activity spaces, as well as a state-of-the-art media studio.

An open event, to collect views on what the neurodiverse community in Sunderland needs, will be held at Sunderland Museum on Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 BST.

"Our planned timetable so far includes employability training, photography and film-making, a supported independent travel group, arts and crafts activities, and wellbeing sessions for young people aged 13 and over, and adults," Mrs Farrell-Forster said.