Autism Bedfordshire receives £10k grant from Panacea Charitable Trust

Autism Bedfordshire has been awarded a £10,000 grant from Bedford charity The Panacea Charitable Trust.

The independent charity – which supports autistic people and their families – aims to offer skills to autistic adults in Bedford through a range of courses and workshops through the grant.

Topics will include communication, wellbeing and understanding my autism. The services aim to help autistic adults develop their confidence, self-esteem, social skills, and independence.

The 2024 Summer Schemes are a series of week-long activity programmes for autistic children and young people aged three to 17 during the summer holidays. The schemes offer a variety of fun and stimulating activities, such as sports, games, crafts, sensory play, and trips to local attractions. The schemes also provide respite and support for the families of the participants.

Autism Bedfordshire’s adult services director, Sharna Raine, said: “We are extremely grateful to The Panacea Charitable Trust for their generous support. This grant will make a huge difference to the lives of many autistic people and their families in Bedford. It will enable us to continue delivering our vital services that help our beneficiaries to overcome the barriers they face and to achieve their full potential.”

The Panacea Charitable Trust is a UK registered charity that was established in 1926 as The Panacea Society – a religious community based in Bedford.

Today, the charity operates The Panacea Museum, which showcases the history and beliefs of the society, and maintains an archive of books, manuscripts, and papers related to the society and its antecedents. The charity also provides grants for the relief of poverty and sickness and to advance education in Bedford and the surrounding area.

For more information about The Panacea Charitable Trust and their activities, please visit their website here or call 01234 359737.