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Gold award for autism acceptance marks new era for education centre
An education centre dedicated to supporting young people is celebrating the launch of new era after being presented with a gold award by the North East Autism Society (NEAS).
SCNE – Support Create, Nurture and Education – has built on already strong foundations to qualify for the Gold Autism Acceptance Award.
The Newcastle organisation, which has recently rebranded from its original name of Sporting Chance, has widened its scope to become a multi-agency, filling gaps in provision for young people.
It was founded by Jamie Cairns, who has 15 years of experience in the disability sector, and employs social workers, specialist teachers, and speech and language therapists under one roof.
“Our aim is to remove as many barriers as possible and to support young people in as many ways as we can,” said Jamie, who has an autistic teenage daughter and is the governor of a special school.
“The NEAS accreditation is part of a new era for us and provides a stronger platform for us to promote our services, so that young people and their carers can see that we provide a high standard of care. I’m really proud of what’s been achieved.”
SCNE has developed a range of community projects, including after-school clubs and holiday provision, and a lot of its work involves supporting autistic children.
The route to the gold standard started around five months ago with an assessment of what was already in place and making enhancements, including the introduction of a visual storyboard to give young people a clearer understanding of what to expect.
“There is always something you can change to make it better, and the storyboard is a good example of that. It’s something with implemented straight away,” added Jamie.
“I would highly recommend working with NEAS because it’s a reminder of what’s already in place and what tweaks can be made. Going through the process has been refreshing.”
Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager for NEAS, said: “When SCNE approached us about undertaking the award, it was clear to see that they were really committed to making their sessions more inclusive for everyone.
“They already supported many members of the autistic community but were keen to refine their approach. We worked together to increase the staff’s knowledge of what it means to be autistic and thought about how the environment could be more accommodating.
“It has been a pleasure to work with an organisation that wants to continue to enhance its support for autistic and neurodivergent people.”
SCNE’s latest project is to create a therapy farm to support disabled and autistic people.
If you would like to find out more about SCNE, their new website is under construction and can be found at www.scne.org.uk
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