Money for district groups helping kids with autism and ADHD, and to learn about the outdoors

All five of North Herts Council’s community forums (Letchworth, Hitchin, Southern Rural, Baldock and Royston) have recently collectively awarded a total of £8,565 to Angels Support Group to support their online and face-to-face service helping families of autistic children and children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). 

Four community forums (Letchworth, Hitchin, Southern Rural and Baldock) also collectively awarded a total of £9,083 to Groundwork East for a growing and cooking scheme and wild play sessions focusing on outdoor learning in Knebworth.

Angels Support Group is an experience-led charity based in Hitchin which aims to make the world a better place for autistic children and young people and/or children and young people with ADHD, so they can meet their maximum potential in life. Funding will be used towards their online support groups and workshops for families across the district, which take place regularly during the day and in the evening, as well as their one-to-one service providing individualised support via phone calls, emails and meetings, some with professionals and at schools for instance.

Angels Support Group said: “These community grants will help us continue to support local families in North Hertfordshire at a time when there is a huge demand for our work but we are operating within a challenging fundraising climate. We are extremely grateful to the councillors for supporting us so we can reach and support the many families that need us. The families we support describe us as a ‘life-line’ and it means a lot to our families to know they are supported by their local communities.“

Groundwork East’s ‘Grow It, Cook It, Share It’ course will take place at a community facility in each area – Letchworth, Hitchin and Baldock – teaching families how to grow their own fruit and vegetables through supervised gardening, and prepare healthy meals through simple cooking sessions. By working together on practical tasks and sharing food together, families will have the chance to develop their confidence, build friendships and support networks that will last beyond the formal learning environment.

The council’s Southern Rural community forum agreed to help fund Groundwork’s wild play sessions within the woodlands surrounding Knebworth House, focusing on the benefits of outdoor play - encouraging families to get outside to learn and improve both their physical and mental wellbeing.

Groundwork East said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these funds so we can offer some fantastic learning opportunities to local families. Evidence shows that being outside, playing and learning can hugely improve overall wellbeing. Our team is very excited to get started!”