'We could not have done it without you'

Sunderland’s proud history in supporting the North East Autism Society and its forerunner dates back more than four decades.

The society, which has today announced a major expansion of its services across the region with the creation of around 250 jobs, was previously known as the Tyne and Wear Autistic Society when it opened its first school in the city back in 1980.

Formed by a passionate band of 20 parents and experts, members had identified a derelict school in Thornhill Park and needed to find £25,000 to buy it.

Steps forward the readers of the Sunderland Echo after the paper launched a fundraising appeal.

Just about every workingmen’s club in Sunderland staged an event: darts, snooker, domino es, talent contests, you name it.

Pigeon fanciers’ associations homed in to help, leek clubs did their bit along with schools and churches.

Speaking last year ahead of the opening of the new Thornhill Park School, NEAS chief executive John Phillips on said: “Forty years ago the people who started this school said they could not have done it without the people of Sunderland and the Sunderland Echo.

“Cricket clubs, social clubs, pigeon fanciers, churches and groups of punks all got involved to play their part."

The Echo last year asked readers to recreate history by helping to raise an identical sum to transform a largely bare play area at the school’s new home in Portland Road, Plains Farm.

A jungle bridge, roundabouts, swings and slides are among the sensory equipment NEAS wishes to purchase. We will reopen this appeal when lockdown restrictions ease.