Guernsey autism blue buckets aim to ease Halloween stress

Lorna Higgins-Bare and Antonia Rainbow said they hoped it would create an awareness of the impact of Halloween on children with autism

Guernsey residents are being urged to look out for blue buckets at Halloween as a scheme aimed at helping children with autism is being rolled out.

Those behind the campaign said those with autism could miss out on trick or treating as it could be a "very stressful time".

The hope is islanders will see the blue buckets and understand the child carrying it has autism.

This means they may not want to make eye contact or say thank you.

Antonia Rainbow, from Autism & Me Guernsey and the mother of two children with autism, said: "Halloween can be a really exciting time for children, however, some children with autism actually find it a really scary and difficult time.

The Smile for Georgie Foundation has paid for the buckets that are being distributed to children with autism across the island

"That can be because it's dark when you go out trick or treating, people can have masks on, costumes, they've got to go up to a stranger's house, knock on the door, say trick or treat and then pick a sweet in front of lots of people who might be joining and also shouting trick or treat.

"So there are so many things that could be overwhelming."

She said all children with autism are different so "for one child it might actually be they can't say trick or treat as they are non-verbal, for another child they might not like the feeling of a costume so they're not dressed up".

Lorna Higgins-Bare, from the same group, has a six-year-old son with autism who is non-speaking and said the aim was to raise awareness about autism and "ensure these children are given the opportunity... to participate".

The scheme is big in the United States of America and has been used in some parts of the UK for several years.

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