Charities supporting children with additional needs across the Highlands win Partnership of the Year at the Highland Third Sector Interface Awards
The National Autistic Society’s Highland Information Service and Thriving Families won Partnership of the Year at the Highland Third Sector Interface Awards for their work supporting children and young people and families alongside Highland Council and the NHS.
The organisations support families of children and young people with additional support needs - including autism - across the Highlands, providing information, advice, guidance, signposting and services which are desperately needed as NHS Highland deals with an autism assessment crisis.
Latest figures from NHS Highland revealed that around 1700 children and young people across Highland are waiting for assessment for autism or other neurodivergent conditions. Some children and young people have been waiting for years for an assessment.
The support that the National Autistic Society Scotland and Thriving Families provide through the Pines Neurodevelopmental Service has been described as a ‘life-line’ for many families.
Alison Footitt, the National Autistic Society’s Highland information officer said: “We’re delighted that our hard work through the partnership has been recognised by the Highland Third Sector Interface. The support that we provide through the Pines is a life-line for so many families across the Highlands who are struggling to get the help they need for their autistic young people. In addition to an information service, we fund the Pines website which provides information and guidance, empowering people to help themselves and their child.”
Over the past year the Pines website received 140,000 hits, there is also a YouTube channel which has a global reach, and its videos are watched by thousands of individuals.
For more information about the service, please visit www.thepineshighland.com.
