A VOLUNTEER service has boosted support for people with autism by granting a five-figure sum to deserving projects across Denbighshire.

The Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC), the Ruthin-based partner of Third Sector Support Wales, has divided £10,000 between six support groups in the county as part of its autism awareness campaign.

The campaign, which launched in October, aims to raise awareness of autism in Denbighshire through activity days and funding for voluntary and community groups dedicated to adults with the condition.

The DVSC gained the funds to distribute to the autism groups after receiving £25,000 from the Integrated Autism Service launched by the Welsh Government in 2017.

The funding is part of the government’s effort to improve support for autistic individuals across the age range and their families and carers.

The Denbighshire groups that won the grants administered by DVSC, which ranged from £1,500 to £3,000, are:

• Karma Wellbeing, who provide vibro-acoustic sound wave therapy sessions to help young adults with autism spectrum disorder, and to parents and siblings, as well as adult and young carers.

• Denbigh Men’s Shed, who offer an informed, inclusive community space in which individuals from the autism community can engage in creative activities, learn new skills, socialise and enhance their well-being. The group also provides a range of supported therapeutic sessions in arts and crafts, woodworking, furniture design, gardening and landscaping.

• STAND North Wales, who provide two-hour workshops consisting of craft activities in which young adults can participate in activities such as glass painting, ceramic painting and canvas art.

• Bedford Street Community Company, who will run two courses that will be specifically for those on the Autism spectrum who wish to improve their employability, with specific assistance tailored to participants requirements. This could include; CV’s application forms, interview techniques, building confidence and tackling barriers to employment.

• Llanbedr Village Hall Management Committee, who will be running a series of craft related workshops to adults with autism. These will include printing, ceramics, digital arts and lots more. The workshops will offer the clients a sense of achievement and pride in a friendly warm environment, working at their own pace in an easy to understand manner.

• Pentredwr Community Association, who will run a twice monthly autism friendly “maker day” in which anyone can make use of the space the old school provides for hobbies and projects, including painting and model making and playing board games.

Helen Wilkinson, DVSC’s chief executive, said: “We were inundated with applications of a very high standard from some fantastic local voluntary and community groups and third sector organisations. It would have been lovely to have funded all of them but unfortunately it was a fixed funding lot.”

The DVSC is also co-producing and co-delivering its Enhanced Autism Awareness Taster Sessions, which aim to help participants to truly understand the perspective of people with an autism diagnosis.

To find out more about or contact the groups or the DVSC, visit their respective websites and Facebook/Twitter pages.