A grant from the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) will help Autism Spectrum (Aspect) Far North Coast to hold a fun day for siblings of children with autism.
Aspect Manager, Jodi Rodgers, said that siblings often felt isolated and missed out on opportunities to do things other young people did because of their family situation.
“Brothers and sisters are often ‘unregistered carers’ for their siblings with autism and regularly have to take on responsibilities way beyond those of most children their age,” Jodi said.
“The aim of the fun day is to send a message to siblings that they too are special and that there are other kids their age who also have siblings with autism, so they are not alone.”
Aspect strives to hold the siblings day annually but it was not held last year due to lack of funds. The NRCF through its annual grants round has provided $1000 towards the cost of the 2012 event, to be held later in the year.
In gratefully acknowledging the support of the NRCF, Jodi said that the NRCF funding would allow 10 siblings to participate in the event, to be held at Lake Ainsworth.
Jodi said that an additional $1500 was still required to enable around 40 siblings to participate and she was hopeful that a local individual or organisation would come forward to provide the additional funding.
Aspect supports families and carers of people with autism across the Northern Rivers as well as offering programs and services to help people with autism build confidence and capacity. For more information about Aspect, phone 6628 3660.
The Northern Rivers Community Foundation is an independent organisation that raises funds from within our community and invests them in perpetuity. Interest from the investments goes back to the community in the form of an annual grants round.
With almost $1 million in funds under investment thanks to the generosity of the local community, the NRCF has been able to provide close to $50,000 in grants for projects taking place in our community in 2012.
For more information about the NRCF or to make a donation, please email info@nrcf.org.au or visit www.nrcf.org.au.
Image: Aspect Manager, Jodi Rodgers is pictured outside the Aspect regional office at Alstonville.
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