Autism Charity Deemed Indispensable by Carer

A carer living with an autism spectrum condition has expressed that she “wouldn’t cope” without the “massive lifeline” provided by a charity for her and her family. Linda Leech, residing in Butt Lane, Staffordshire, has utilized the services of Lifeworks, an organization dedicated to assisting individuals with autism spectrum conditions, for 11 years. She informed BBC Radio Stoke that her husband and son also have autism spectrum conditions, and Lifeworks has supported her family with “every single aspect” of their lives. “They help us to get out of the house, they give us advice on what to do and how to cope with life in general,” she said. “They do absolutely everything. Without Lifeworks we wouldn’t cope at all.” Ms. Leech characterized the charity, which is situated in Newcastle-under-Lyme, as a “safe haven,” where she could “feel the warmth” from others. She mentioned frequently struggling with social outings and meeting people, but the charity has assisted her in overcoming feelings of isolation. “You’re all in it together. You all have a natter or a cry or a cup of coffee and share experiences. It helps you to understand what you’re going through,” she said. “You aren’t alone. There are other people like you out there who also need to get together.” Lifeworks recently received a grant of almost £250,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund. According to chief executive Louise Zandian, this funding will sustain the charity for the next three years. The organization currently serves more than 800 clients and 300 carers, with average waiting periods extending to approximately six months. Ms. Zandian stated that the charity’s objective is to enable people to manage daily life through the provision of social activities, life coaching, advocacy, and assistance with accessing health services. “A lot of people are very isolated in their own home in the community. Some have nobody – no family or no friends,” she said. She further commented: “We are trying to make a difference and I think we are.” For updates from BBC Stoke & Staffordshire, follow on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding the BBC’s approach to external linking is available.