THE JOHN Sykes Foundation has given further support to a charity helping young people with special needs.
Parenting Special Children has seen a £2,000 contribution from the foundation towards its Auticulate programme, including fund matching from the Big Give Campaign.
The programmes helps those with autism and ADHD to attend mainstream schools as well as giving them a space to connect with one another and access resources at a bi-weekly sessions.
The sessions also foster social and life skills through education programmes, group discussions, peer-mentoring, and practical experiences.
It comes after John Sykes was invited to join one of the sessions which was also attended by the parents of Olly Stephens, Stuart and Amanda Stephens.
The foundation sought to engage with participants as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting young people.
Amanda and Stuart Stephens attended as part of their work on one of the pillars of Olly’s Legacy, which is supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Mr Sykes said: “The Auticulate Group plays an essential role in supporting young people with autism and ADHD as they grow, and we are honoured to contribute to this mission.
“Thank you for inviting us to join in with the group’s session and witness the vibrancy of the young people.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to empower young minds and promote inclusion and self-expression.
“Our contribution to the Auticulate Group is more than just financial support, it’s an investment in the growth and well-being of our youth.”
Amanda and Stuart Stephens said: “What an evening– We really loved being a part of the session with the chance to meet the children.
“Our hearts went out to them, all so original, truly themselves in the safe space your team has created.
We saw reminders of Olly and for that we are forever thankful– please keep doing what you do Ruth, you and your team, what you have created, is amazing, so vital for children and parents and full of love.”
Ruth Pearse said: “I am always blown away at how brave these young people are every day and it is a privilege to be able to hear their stories and how they navigate life and support them as much as we can.”
“Thank you to John and the Foundation for your ongoing support for Parenting Special Children, your funding is really significant for these young people.
“Amanda and Stuart thank you for your ongoing love and support–we are creating a safe place for young people to share and we really appreciate all that you do in memory of Olly to make a difference to so many young people.”
More details for organisations looking to apply to the John Sykes Foundation Youth Fund are available via: johnsykesfoundation.org/reading-youth-fund
