Over the past five years, Autism Initiatives has called upon local fundraisers to join the annual campaign, which enables them to add value to vital support for autistic people and their families and increase autism understanding and acceptance. The school has raised an impressive £1,587 so far and walked a collective 2,113,708 steps.
Formby High School’s SENDCO Samantha Warwick said:
“Formby High School is a highly inclusive school with an excellent reputation for the support we offer our students with additional needs. Central to our ethos is the acceptance of each student and their individual needs, values and beliefs.
“We believe that by bringing Walk for Autism to the forefront, we are able to develop an understanding of autism within our school community leading to enhanced acceptance of autism and other neuro-diversities.”
The students felt strongly about their participation with pupil Ethan adding: “I think Walk for Autism is important because people need to realise that there are many people around with autism – autism isn’t a disability it’s a gift that should be understood more.”
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Autism Initiatives’ founding, when Liverpool mum Pat Minshull opened a school in Southport for children with autism after struggling to find the right support for her son Peter. Through tireless fundraising and the help of local MP Harold Wilson, Pat tapped into the kindness and compassion of her community to help build a brighter future, not just for her son, but for many more autistic people.
Head of Enterprise at Autism Initiatives Jon Gordon said:
“We want to thank Formby High School for their tremendous efforts. This fundraising campaign is one of the ways we continue Pat’s legacy, alongside our commitment to supporting autistic people in our communities to achieve their ambitions and improve their quality of life. Our hope is that Walk for Autism creates a community of like-minded people who will promote understanding everywhere they go.”
Over the course of the eight days of Walk for Autism, the super steppers from Formby High took on a variety of local walks, including the big FHS Walk for Autism with more than 50 pupils stepping out through the famous Formby pinewoods nature reserve.
Samantha added: “Formby High is committed to promoting understanding and acceptance about neuro-diversity both within the school and throughout the local community. Walk for Autism has helped to launch this commitment with a week of whole school information and awareness sessions aimed at increasing students’ understanding of autism and neuro-diversity.”
To celebrate the third walking day of the campaign, students from Formby High School visited Me Cycle Bike Workshop & Café for hot chocolate and refreshments ahead of getting their steps for the day in. Me Cycles is a social enterprise which helps young people with autism to develop skills for both life and work which Formby High work closely with.
The understanding of Autism was truly at the forefront of the students’ thoughts when they visited Me Cycles.
Student Ben said: “Some of the most intelligent people on earth, like Albert Einstein, had autism and people need to be aware of the good sides of autism and how it can be a gift.” Another student, Daniel, said: “I feel autism is a spectrum and people are differently affected and so there’s no one way to work with autistic people.”
