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Autism Support Kilkeel recently organised a fun day for its members thanks to Power NI’s Brighter Communities fund.
Running for over eleven years, Autism Support Kilkeel supports many families across Newry, Mourne and Down from their centre in Kilkeel.
Founded by Louise Park and Olive Donnan, the organisation runs hundreds of events and programmes throughout the year, from equine and music therapies to sporting events, which support both children with autism and their families.
Autism Support Kilkeel was set up by a group of parents with the aim of providing a free support and information service for families and carers with a family member having or suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Michael Shiels, chair of Autism Support Kilkeel, says that events like this make a real difference for the families they support.
“We had a fantastic day thanks to the funding from Power NI. We wanted to host a cross community, integrated afternoon of fun, which was a much-needed day out following the challenges that came with the pandemic for our young people and their families.
“We were delighted to have a whole array of entertainment at the fun day, a magician, bouncy castle, face painters, balloon modellers and food vans, all of which we were able to book thanks to the generosity of Power NI and their Brighter Communities fund.”
Power NI’s Brighter Communities programme was first introduced back in April 2018 and since then has supported a huge variety of bespoke groups, clubs, charities and community organisations across Northern Ireland.
Each month or at specific key times, community groups and individuals are invited to submit applications on how they would use £1000 to roll out innovative and creative projects to change and improve their local community for the better. Brighter Communities has helped groups ranging from wheelchair basketball, beekeepers, vintage cyclists and young cheerleaders to street soccer, dragon racers, Early Years and stroke recovery groups.
Since its establishment in 2018, the Brighter Communities initiative has donated £40,000 to community groups across Northern Ireland.
Ashleigh O’Neill from Power NI added: “We’re delighted to have played a part in this event, which was a huge success and a fun day for all. We’re glad that our funding allowed the families from Autism Support Kilkeel to come together and enjoy some of the great entertainment that the day had to offer. Congratulations from Power NI!”
The Brighter Communities funding was first established by Power NI in 2018 and has since helped numerous charities and groups including Special Olympics athletes, stroke recovery groups and wheelchair basketball players.
