Ambitious about Autism has been awarded a £528,000 grant over three years to fund its new myVoice project to encourage youth participation. Starting on 1 August 2014, the innovative myVoice project will put young people with autism at the centre of influencing the services they access.
The grant – from the Department of Health’s Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund – will support myVoice to focus on three strands of work with young people with autism to:
- develop an online peer-to-peer support for young people with autism and to co-produce information on a range of topics they have identified as important
- influence their local services by volunteering to be part of organisations’ governing bodies
- assess and review their local health, social care and education services and feed back their comments.
Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, said:
“We are delighted that the Department of Health is generously funding our myVoice project. Through the project, young volunteers with autism will be able to have a direct influence on the services they access.”
Minister for Care and Support Norman Lamb MP said:
“These projects play a crucial role in supporting people, their families and carers. They are examples of just some of the excellent and innovative work going on throughout the country in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector – all of which help to create and support strong and resilient communities.”
Ambitious about Autism is the national charity for children and young people with autism. The charity provides services, raises awareness and understanding, and campaigns to make the ordinary possible for children and young people with autism. Find out more at www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
