Sponsors: Living Autism

Winner Debbie Marshall

Since 2009, Debbie has not stopped giving her endless time to the Autism community, helping many autistic individuals and families in Lincolnshire. She has given so much to other organisations, support groups, the council, and HNS without asking for any help back.

Debbie has worked with organisations Linkage, Lincoln college, Strut in the community, RAF Methringham, Specsavers and a local prison. Debbie has worked over the last year with Tesco raising awareness, the continued work she does around awareness is so important to her: changing people’s opinions, attitudes and understanding with regards to Autism.

In the summer of 2015 Debbie was thrilled to be chosen to carry the flag at the Magna Carter party at Lincoln Castle. She was chosen by Lincolnshire Co-operative because of the work she did in the community, the last 9 years she has been delivering Autism training to new police recruits.

Sponsors: Mastrum

Winner – Emily Maxfield

Emily is 20 years older than her brother Kristian who has Autism and struggles daily with his social skills and behaviour. Emily has been there for him since Day 1, fighting his corner and encouraging him with the many challenges he has faced.

Emily’s mum has had many health problems through the years resulting in many hospitals stays and more recently a Breast Cancer diagnosis. Emily on each occasion has taken care of her mum and been the surrogate mum to Kristian, she has done this alongside her own family, work, and charity work commitments.

Emily has been involved in every aspect of Kristian’s life from diagnosis to school choices, filling in forms to EHC planning and dealing with health care and education professionals on his behalf.

Emily helped Kristian raise over £1000 for the children’s air ambulance who she volunteers for which really boosted his confidence and lead him to being nominated for an award by the air ambulance service. We are very proud of Emily; she is the best daughter and sister anyone could ask for.

Sponsors: Sara Eden productions

 Winner – Samantha Grierson

Sam is a successful businesswoman, she is Gay, a Wife, a mom, and Autistic, more recently diagnosed with ADHD. Sam is also now recognised and successful play write, her latest published work featured Miriam Margoyles playing the main character with Autism. Sam is a fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride woman, she came out at 16 years old and has campaigned for gay rights ever since. When diagnosed with Autism in 2019, Sam not only wanted to raise awareness but to do it through humour, diversity, and entertainment.

Sam has published 4 audio plays and a screenplay. Sam is both championing and raising awareness of later life adult autism and ADHD and has received grateful responses from readers and listeners who have struggled with late diagnoses themselves. Sam has received praise from the Autistic broadcasters on The Autism Show, The Squarepeg podcast and BBC Wales Art show.

Sponsors: Recite Me

Winner Somerset School

The school has gone from strength to strength in upskilling themselves to make sure they are the most inclusive they can be for their ASD students.

They are a specialist unit for SMEH and Autism, their staff go above and beyond to ensure the students leave with life skills and coping mechanisms to make their independent lives and careers more manageable with the challenges they face daily.

The staff work amazingly as a team, they have a thrive and pace intervention programme that ensures students lead their education and relationships at school which helps them relax and feeling like the are in a safe place. Hollie Hutchings truly believes Somerset School go above and beyond for their students and values.

Sponsors: Talem Law

Winner Teach Rex

Teach Rex believes every child deserves spectacular opportunities and memorable experiences. This is at the core of everything they do. Teach Rex uses current Ofsted guidelines. The workshops are designed for all children of all abilities and are differentiated from Nursery to Year 6., providing children with a range of opportunities. Teach Rex provides creative learning workshops with the power to ignite young minds and imaginations.

Each session transports children to a world of dinosaurs and dragons enabling pupils to experience something truly magical. As a business and experience of teaching primary they understand children with ASD, little things can be massive victories and they want to celebrate this. They want their shows to be a place that families can be comfortable in a non-judgmental environment with staff that not only understand but are incredibly experienced.

Sponsors: Born Anxious

 Winner Kent Autistic Trust

Kent Autistic Trust’s free family support service helps over five thousand autistic individuals, families, parents, and carers in Kent each year with advice, support, and help to become part of an online community network. They have women’s groups and social skills groups which aim to provide support for each other through difficult times, build friendships and have the opportunity to discuss the individual challenges they face.

They provide training and workshops plus behaviour strategies to organisations, professionals, schools, and groups. Since Covid struck they have seen a 25% increase in the need for support, the service is free and their two family support offices continue to work to full capacity, still doing their jobs with passion, enthusiasm and putting in 150% to help those who need it.

Sponsors: Includability

 Winner: Sutton EHCP Crisis

Sutton EHCP Crisis Campaign Group was founded by Hayley Harding and led alongside Michelle Hewson, Dr Alan Courtney, Mark Gill and Daniela Friend. The group was formed after they realised that it was a common problem in Sutton that parents were not getting access to the support that their children needed. These five individuals have all worked tirelessly to publicly highlight the failings of Sutton Council to provide lawful EHC Needs, Assessments and Plans.

They have stood up to local councillors by presenting petitions and asking questions at public meetings plus creating an online community that now has over 300 members to provide support and knowledge for families who have been let down.

As a result of their campaign persistence the following achievements have been made; The number of appeal applications to the SEND tribunal in Sutton increased by 50% in 2019, Their campaign has been mentioned at PMQs last year by MP Paul Scully and during the SEND debate this year by MP Elliot Colburn… and many more.