A PIONEERING autism charity is set to expand into a bigger and better home thanks to a forward-thinking school and a generous mining giant.
For the last 11 years The Toby Henderson Trust has provided vital help and support for hundreds of families of children and young people with autism from its base at The Old Barn at Whitehouse Farm near Morpeth, Northumberland.
Five years ago, the charity faced closure because of spiralling costs and a lack of donations as people battled through the recession, and even today meeting the overheads is a constant battle.
But founder Lesley Henderson – who named it after her autistic son Toby, now 19 – says brighter, more secure times lie ahead, after Hareside Primary School in Cramlington, Northumberland, stepped in to offer an unused building which can be transformed into a new base.
The former caretaker’s building, a 1970s three-room bungalow, needs a lot of work, but that can soon get under way thanks to a £61,100 grant from Rio Tinto’s generous legacy fund.
Following the closure of its Lynemouth Smelter, the firm wanted to help worthy causes in South-East Northumberland that support the local community, so set up the legacy fund which has since had many beneficiaries.
Lesley told of her delight at the plans, which are now going before Northumberland County Council for approval.
“We need a new start and this is the best we could wish for,” said Lesley, of Widdrington Station, Northumberland. “We are incredibly grateful to Rio Tinto too.”
Lesley opened the trust’s centre in November 2001 and since then it has become a nationally-recognised resource for families and professionals, but over the last few years, the trust has felt the need to expand.
The mum-of-four said: “The barn feels like home but it no longer meets our needs and has no outside space which is so important.
“Hareside Primary offered us the old caretaker’s building for a small rent provided we can make it fit for use and they want to work in partnership with us – this will have huge benefits.
“We’ll save around £500 a month.
“The school has already given us a huge flat screen TV, kitchen equipment and a whiteboard.
“They say we can use some of their facilities when the school isn’t using them and because we’re used most after school there’ll be no crossover – and they can use our minibus when it’s not in use.”
An architect has drawn up impressions of how the new, colourful trust building will look after being transformed in three phases.
The £61,100 award from Rio Tinto will fund initial alterations to the existing building to create two playrooms, two observation points, a large group room, a family meeting area, toilets and storage areas.
Around £70,000 is then needed to fund two extensions, creating an area for offices, further toilets and storage and a new glass-fronted entrance with welcome area.
The final dream is to raise £60,000 to fund a hydrotherapy pool.
Joanne Hannay, Regional Economic Development Assistant, Rio Tinto, said: “The fund was set up to benefit the people of South-East Northumberland and what better way to do so than to help sustain a charity that has done so much for so many and we are more than happy to help it continue its amazing work.”
