A local charity is on the hunt for a 5,000ft2 site to buy and convert into a dedicated autism centre that will bring all related services under one roof.
Autism Jersey has been working towards its goal of creating a dedicated autism centre in the island for several years.
The charity’s new chairman Nick Hutchinson explained that the aim is to bring all autism-related services under one roof – including diagnostic, advisory, care and support.
“We’ve come close before, but nothing’s quite worked,” he said.
“It’s not about a shiny new building. It’s about creating a place that enables better services.
“If we can find the right location, we can bring services together and expand what we do.”
Autism Jersey is focused on finding a 5,000ft2 site to buy and convert to do just that.
“The money we’ve raised is ring-fenced,” said Mr Hutchinson said. “It can’t be spent on
anything else.”
He explained that the new space would include counselling rooms, a children’s area, and a lifeskills zone – “somewhere people can learn how to live in a flat, how to cook, that sort of thing”.
Mr Hutchinson added: “Our vision is that we bring our autistic services in.
“We’ve been at the centre of that already. And if we were able to say, ‘We can all live together,’ that would be good.”
You can read a fuller interview with Mr Hutchinson in Saturday’s JEP…
