Autism reprieve
Holyrood steps in to offer financial support
Motivated mums and dads are rallying to the cause to save Perth Autism Support after being plunged into uncertainty last week.
Yesterday their efforts were boosted by news that PAS has secured Scottish Government funding to see its services through the next quarter.
Angie Ferguson, chief executive said: “We are delighted at the quick response from the Scottish Government to ensure our families can access services again immediately and this support allows us time to work with Perth and Kinross Council to ensure continued sustainability after the next quarter.”
On Thursday night, it told users that vital services were being suspended from Friday because of the cash crisis, leading to a large show of support.
And since then a petition, offers of donations and just giving charity page have been set up, while a number of Big County businesses have offered to help out.
The petition, which will be delivered to NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Council, calls for funding support for PAS. Yesterday more than 3300 people had signed it.
And Gemma Mills from Crieff, who has two sons with autism and has been supported by PAS, started a justgiving page.
She explained: “Helping with school meetings, advice, chats. Fun and clubs that my boys can go to where the staff are trained and fully understand Autism, without this organisation my boys have no out of school activities to attend, we as a family have no support or anywhere to turn for advice. This scares me.”
The page had raised more than £1800 on Monday afternoon.
Perth’s Caledonian Bar is also urging its customers to chip in and donate.
On social media staff at the High Street hostelry wrote that it is organising a musical event this Friday and is looking for musicians to play .