Our History
Here our Rick tells us about the history of Bromborough pool and our involvement
John Brady refused to pay his rates as he felt like his autistic son was not supported by his local council. So he joined with a group of determined parents and founded The Wirral Society for Autistic Children.
Princess Anne officially opened Raby Hall.
Our name changes to Wirral Autistic Society.
Bromborough Pool Garden Centre was opened. Formerly known as Raby Hall Garden Centre, it provides opportunities for adults with autism to learn new skills and interact with the community.
Along with flowers and plants, the garden centre also sells benches and planters made by our woodworking group.
Our narrowboat ‘Raby Enterprise’ was donated by Cammell Laird in 1994. Built by the ship workers’ apprentices, the canal boat allows people we support to experience life on the waterways of Cheshire.
The Raby Enterprise is still in regular use, particularly in helping people we support achieve ASDAN awards.
Giles Shirley Hall is named after the donor, entrepreneur Dame Stephanie Shirley and is used by our performing arts groups.
The sculpture outside, by the artist Charlotte Mayer, is called ‘Caring Hands’.
Our Head Office moved to Oak House, in Bromborough.
In 2011, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, opened The Ferns on the 2nd of March, our first respite centre.
Port Sunlight River Park opened in 2014. It was transformed from a closed landfill site to a 28-hectare park with an array of walkways, wildlife, wildflowers and a wetlands area.
The Land Trust has appointed Autism Together to manage the River Park and our Health & Wellbeing team helps to maintain it.
We change our name to Autism Together in 2015.
Gallagher House art centre opened in 2017, along with our Hardknott Road site which houses our woodwork and ceramics sessions.
Also in 2017 we achieved the Guinness World Record for trampolining by a team, with 8 staff bouncing non-stop for 25 hours.
The Mayor of Wirral opened our refurbished sensory swimming pool.