In the community – November 2018

The winners of our Autism Gold Awards, celebrating the many ways local people and organisations are helping those on the autism spectrum, were announced at our gala ball and awards ceremony at the Shankly hotel in Liverpool last weekend.

The categories awarded were; Community Autism Hero, Champion of Champions, Lifetime Achievement and Staff Excellence.

Find out more here

We are proud to have been chosen by McArthur Glenn Cheshire Oaks this Christmas as their nominated charity!  We will have a presence at their illuminated Christmas tree over the next few months, hosting many bucket collections and chatting about our work to those interested in learning more; please drop by, say hello and check out the inside of the tree.

For further details about the Cheshire Oaks ‘switch on’ event on Wednesday 7 November click here. And if you come along you’ll see our friends Thomas and his mum Melanie officially turning the lights on!

We’re hosting our first-ever Christmas market on Sunday 9 December at Thornton Hough village hall.

We have over 30 local artisan stalls booked in, offering a great selection of products and gift ideas for everyone including perfumes, cakes, photography, books, craft items, soaps, candles and so much more.

And the children will love our festive pony rides, craft activities and autism-friendly Santa’s grotto. Entrance is free, so be sure to put the date in your diary!

Download poster here

Tickets are now on sale for a night of festivities on Friday 14 December from 6:30pm at St George’s United Reformed Church in Thornton Hough. It’s just £6 per person and light refreshments are included. Plus, we have some great local acts performing to entertain the whole family.

Download poster here

Plenty going on in and around Wirral and Liverpool over the next month and all Autism-Friendly! From cinema trips, to visits at the museum, get these dates in your diary.

If you are aware of any other regular autism-friendly events taking place, please get in touch and let us know.

Official LEGOLAND, Windsor  – Tuesday 1^st May 5-8pm.

Total Sensory Space is now open in the Heartlake City area of LEGOLAND Windsor. This unique space is the first dedicated sensory facility of its kind at a theme park and provides a calming environment for guests with additional needs, who may require a quiet moment away from the excitement of the main park.

To find out more click here.

Morrison’s Supermarket, Quiet Hour – Every Saturday 9-10am.

Morrison’s superstores will be hosting a quiet hour from 9 – 10am. During this time, they will have no stock cages on the shop floor, they will also stop all tannoy announcements and music and ensure the scanners are set to silent on the checkouts and self-scan stations. They’ll even dim the lights. Great effort, Morrison’s, we wish you luck!

Cheshire Oaks Autism Friendly shopping – Tuesday 6 November 5-8pm.

Cheshire Oaks are part of our Autism Champions scheme and once a month they host an autism-friendly shopping experience, where lights are dimmed, music turned low, quiet spaces. If you go straight to the visitors centre you can collect a map of the site and an alert card you can use to show a member of staff if you require any assistance.

Hair Attitude, Neston – Monday, 19^th November

Hosting an autism-friendly evening on Monday 19 November at their Neston Salon. Prices are just £5 and all proceeds raised will go to Autism Together. Spaces are limited so please get in touch with them directly to book on 0151 949 5757.

Mattel Play, Liverpool – Wednesday 28th November  – 4:30-6:30pm (£7 per child with 2 carers for free).

Capacity is limited during these sessions to ensure a calm and relaxed experience for all guests. Mattel Play are also one of Autism Together’s Champions and host monthly sessions. They also run quiet sessions every week-day morning from 9:20 -11:20am. The perfect chance to go with the little ones during term time.

Cinema Screenings
Autism-friendly cinema screenings are great for the whole family, the volume is lowered and the lights are raised, there is also no adverts before the film as it goes straight to feature. Most cinemas offer discounted tickets and all cinemas accept CEA Cards.

Vue Cinema, Birkenhead & Cheshire Oaks – showing Hotel Transylvania 3 on Sunday, 25November at 10:15am.

Showcase Cinema, Liverpool – showing Smallfoot on Sunday, 11November at 10am.

FACT Cinema, Liverpool – showing Wonder on Sunday, 11November at 11:30am.

Odeon Cinema, Bromborough & Liverpool – will be showing Smallfoot on Sunday, 11November at 10:15am.

International Slavery Museum in Liverpool will be hosting an autism-friendly session from 10am – 12noon on Sunday 25^th November. The Gallery will be open to the public, but this is a quieter time and noise levels in the galleries will be reduced during this time (autism friendly visual guides are available on the Liverpool Museums website).

Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool will also be hosting an autism-friendly session from 10am – 12noon on Sunday, 25^th November. This is also open to the public, but this is a quieter time and noise levels will be reduced during this time (autism-friendly visual guides are available on the Liverpool Museums website).

Spring City Trampoline Park, Liverpool – they host sessions every Sunday morning from 9am – 10am. A fun session to be enjoyed by the whole family, adults and children; staff have been trained in autism (training not provided by AT) and the environment has been adapted to suit all.

Cheshire Ice Cream Farm – Saturday 1st December

Will now be hosting regular autism-friendly sessions that will take place on the first Saturday of each month. Their next session will be on Saturday, 1st December from 9am – 10am. Families will be able to benefit from a discounted price of £2.50 per child on attractions until 10am.

Looking Glass Ice Cream Parlour, Llandudno – Saturday 8th December and Sunday 9th December

Ice cream with Santa event is taking place on Saturday, 8 December and Sunday, 9December from 10am. This lovely event is a more relaxing time for families of children with autism and their siblings; tickets are just £5 and include a Christmas craft they can take home, meet and greet with Santa, a Christmas story read by Santa, ice cream and toppings of your choice. You will also have the chance to give Santa your letters! To book a place contact 07706 826 297 / or contact them via their Facebook page.

University Careers Fair for Autistic Students – Wednesday 12th December

The City of Liverpool College will be hosting this great event on Wednesday 12 December at The Learning Exchange, Roscoe Street, L1 9DW. This is for students aged 16-18 year olds, that are on the autistic spectrum and have career aspirations to go to university; they can go along and find out about applying for university and what careers there are in the NHS. This will run from 10am – 1pm and for further details please click here.