Pupils ‘who don’t get invited to parties’ throw their own bash

A GROUP of schoolchildren with autism raised more than £4,000 to organise a pirate-themed boat trip – after they said they never get invited to parties.

The children aged 11 to 16 set off on a boat trip in Cardiff Bay dressed as pirates after raising £4,100 in just a week.

The class are from the HQ at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School in Beddau, which is a special unit for children with autism.

Teacher Margaret Sussat, who helped set up the HQ, said: “We raised more than £4,000 in a week.

“We had the autism awareness week and so we organised a week worth of activities.”

This included collecting donations at Cardiff City Stadium during the match against Ipswich Town.

Ms Sussat added: “We did a sponsored walk through Pontypridd and we were asked to speak at an awareness event.

“I have worked with children on the autistic spectrum for many years, but during that week I realised how amazing they truly are. They always spoke from the heart about what it’s like when you have autism.”

According to the National Autistic Society, autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people see the world and interact with others.

Ms Sussat said: “After we raised all of the money we asked the class how they wanted to spend it all. They said to us no-one wants to invite us to parties so we thought about having our own.

“When we started looking at exactly what they wanted they said a river boat, and I really didn’t think that we would find one.

PUZZLE TIME

“But we did, and it’s normally one used for hen and stag dos.”

The 14 party-goers and seven staff members set off from Cardiff Bay for a trip around Flat Holm and Steep Holm in the Bristol Channel.

Along the journey one of the children entertained their classmates with a DJ set.

Ms Sussat said: “One of the children is really interested in music and DJing. He can’t read and he can’t write, but he is really into this and it’s about helping them with their own talents.”

Officially titled the Communications Disorder Unit, Ms Sussat said the children prefer to call it the HQ.

Ms Sussat said: “The kids named it that because they didn’t like the word disorder. You wouldn’t call the French lesson the ‘I can’t speak French lesson,’ would you?”

Ms Sussat said there is still money left over after the boat party, with the children in charge of the remaining amount.

Ms Sussat said: “The party is the first big spend, but the children absolutely love Lego and Lego figures. So we are buying some Lego figurine moulds that we will fill with things like chocolate, ice, that sort of thing and help mix it into the curriculum.”