Project aims to help people overcome challenges
Au t i s t i c a d u l t s in Renfrewshire will benefit from a new befriending programme.
The Person to Person project, delivered by The National Autistic Society Scotland, will help around 250 autistic people to overcome challenges and meet goals over the next five years, thanks to support from The Big Lottery Fund’s Improving Lives fund.
The charity is training a team of volunteers to support the project – and it wants Renfrewshire residents to get involved.
The initiative offers a face-toface and virtual service for people with autism to access the help and support they need to move forward with an area or issue in their life.
Patricia Callery, 52, was supported by the Person to Person project in 2013 because she wanted a friend.
The Paisley woman is affected by the developmental disability that impacts a person’s social and communicative skills.
Patricia said she wanted to use the service to help her get out of the house more.
“It gave me something to look forward to,” she said.
She and her mentor Margaret would go out for lunch, visit museums and go swimming at Govanhill baths.
Patricia, who is a fan of arts and crafts, said she would recommend the service.
She added: “If someone was considering volunteering, they would need to have good communication skills.
“It’s a good way to meet new people.”
People who volunteer with Person to Person will receive training, which covers autism awareness, safeguarding and setting boundaries, as well as regular support and reviews.
Volunteer mentors will also help autistic people in Renfrewshire to identify the local cafés, venues and other public spaces that they would use more often if they were ‘autismfriendly’.
The National Autistic Society Scotland will then give these businesses pointers on increasing their accessibility and helping to reduce the social isolation that affects two thirds of people living in Scotland.
Jenny Paterson, director of The National Autistic Society Scotland, said the cash boost will allow the society to develop and expand the project for the benefit of the local community.
She told: “Thanks to funds raised by National Lottery players, we are able to train a team of volunteers to mentor autistic people in Renfrewshire face- to- face, by phone or by email.
“Together, they will overcome challenges and meet goals, such as taking part in social activities, facing problems at work, or dealing with complicated banking and housing issues.”
To find out more about volunteering with The National Autistic Society Scotland, email PersontoPerson@nas.org.uk