Spectrum Women's Autism Group Annual Report For the year ending June 2019 Spectrurn Women's Autism Group - Registered Cha]ity in Northern Ireland NtC106799 CIO SpectnJ]n Ce]rtre, 14 North]and Row, Dullgannon. BT71 GAP
Spectrurn W0en'S AUL5 Group- Registered Charity in Northern ]relaDd MC106799 Our Purposes and beneficiaries Our governing document is OUT Constitution wbich outlines the purposes and benefioaries of Spectrum Women's Autism Group. SpectrutD Women's Autis]n Group is established to promote the relief of Autistic women. and their Family and Carers resident in Northern Ireland and the Repub]ic of Ireland thTough the following: to promote acceptance and awareness of female presenlatioDS of Aulism within the general public. relevant professionals and organisariolls in the private, voluntary and statutory secto, the provisioll of help. guidance and infomiation to Autistic women members and the pIomotion of a network of support among such w0en, with the di of iPrOvIng their quality of life alld iucreasiug their socia] networks, . provision of reational amities and the promotion of the provision of apwopriate reeatiOnal faolities to overcome isolation. Our Services In settillg our objecrÉves and pla]]niDg our artivities fo[ the year tbe tnteeS have given careful consideration to the Chaiity COMMI0 for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the arttvities have helped to achieve the charity'5 puryoses and provide a public benefit to tlje beneficiaries. We also listen to the feedback froD) our beneficiaries and ty to plan activities that provide a pub]ic benefit to them. I confirni that all the trustees have collylied with their duty under charity law to have regard to the Commission's public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to whith the guidance is relevant. One of the Lnain PUTposes of SpectnllD Wornen's Autism Group. as outlined alK)ve is the reduction of soaal isolation. This is targetted througb both a secret Facebook group aud face to face meetings. The FaceEM)ok gTOUP is secret so that only the meulbetsbip is known to the members, as sOe rnernber5 do not fed comfortable with groups where other people can see that they aTe a men]beT of it. We also have a pub]ic Facebook page and website that people can use to link in with the charity. Currently there are 92 membws of this group and tbis nujnber continues rise, with new teberS being added each month. It aims to provide a save and supportive space to discuss issues affecting mernbeTS and to arrange social events. For sOe members this is the only way they can connect with other melltt)ers and provides some social iDteractÉon.
SpeCtn Women's Autism Grnup- Registered CILatity in Northern Ireland NIC106799 Spectrum Won]en's Autism Group's monthly meetings are the core activity of the gTOUP. We Cllrrently have 18 members registered to attend these meetings and normally have between 10 and 15 in attendance each time. Those membets registered altend the monthly meetings have been asked to pay an annual fee of £20, which can paid as they can thmugh the year. There is no pre&sure for anyone to pay and we would never tum someone away if they could not afford to attelld. These meetings provide Membe the opportunity to meet with other autistic women in a relaxed 3nd comforthble fthion. For ]nany of the members this is the ODly time that they feel that can relax and be themselves and Dot have to wear a 'mask'. The group meetings are about peer support as we Gill all use our own e%periences ro he]p each other. C said 'q have fouDd TDY trl . its a save place for me to be myself and not pretend to be what others want me to be" A range of activities are covered in these meetings wbith in the last year have included: Wendy PorteT w&8 invited to the group to give advice on dothing colours and styling, which is an area of difficulty for many membeTS. Atajk on autism Provided by Joanne Douglas, ConsulLwt alld CILartered Psychologisl The SpecOillD DiaOStic, Assessment and Therapy Centre. This provided an opportunity to educate ourselves on autis alld pTovide strategies ro help OU1VeS majjage the condition. A creative writing workshop with Finn Mollah author of Know Your Spectrum. with the aim of helping membaB to express tbemselves. Difficulty with self expression is a comrnon difficulty in autistic wple. Craft activities inc]udmg Orig jewellery lljaking and card making. Dilling an activity members are often n)ore comfortable to ta]k as the &wtatioD of eye contart is removed and provides a starter for collversatio These are difficulties that are common in autistn. Clux annual Clllistmas party whith i% opportunity for fun and games. which push niembers out of their comfort zone but in a supportive euviTonment. Talks on mental hea]th issues and ways in which to stay mentally well. Mental health Probles, in paiticular a]]xiety and depressio are conllnon issues for nlY autistic women so it is important for membeTS to develop skills to manage the conditions and help prevention of them. The ai)n is to improve their quality of life. M said "The sllpport, safe space and companionship that the women's group has offered to ]De IH5 been incredible. I've been able to learn so rnucb about living with ASpeer,s. Being able to discuss different aspects of my life withAsperger's while also hearing how it affects othets has given me confidence to embrace my differences, Dot bide them."
Spectnlln Women's Autism Grnup- Registered Charity in NortheTD Ireland NIC106799 Alongside tILe monthly meetings a range of soctal outings have beeD aanged. These indude,. Meetings in a coffee shop to provide and opportunity for cbat in a relaxed environment. After this some ebe[s would have gone shoppin& something which can be challenging for autistic people due to se])ry issues, but with the support provided they were able to do Trips to shows at the Waterfront Hall and Grand Operd House in Belfas¢ and cinema trips. These call be (bfficult for autsslic people due to seThs0ry issues or simply soci81 isolation and having no one to go with them. We provide support and an oppormnity to bave others to with them. Meals out which can p05e challenges foT many rnembets. but we provide support to ty to overcome these issues. We all understaDd the issues and accept tbat we tend to want to eat in the same places aud have the 5atoe food each time, which other people perceive as odd. We have had trips io the Ulster Museum whid] provide a social opportunity in an environrnent that many of the membets aTe comfortable with and can pursue their interests. B said'since my daughtEr bas been involved in the group she has really grown in confidence and maturity. eVIOUslY she only had one frien¢ but througb the group she now has a whole group of frAelld5 and JD active social calender. Her koowledge and understanding of autism has grown and she now slwes and uses her experiences to I1p others.- In tern of our aim the educate Othe on the fee ptatiOll of autisll4 a stnall gllp of the trustees and members met with Marie Mccloy from the Empower Project. The Empower Project have had increasing numbers of autistic girls in their service and we were able to provide StrateeS and ideas of how they could best support them. The trLLStees are fully co]]]n]itted to educating others on the female preselltation of autism and will do so in their day to lives when the opportunities arise. We believe that through educating autistn that the live5 of all autislic won)en can be improvel beyond those involved with specUrn WorneD'S Autism Group. Risk of harm and private benefit By the natUTe of the charity being based on peer support there is a privats benefit in terms of support and social benefits, not £inancial, to the Irustees. but this is illcideutsl to the pub]ic benefit. The ftustees recognise that theTe may be a risk of psychologic31 hatm from the issoes that may come up for discussioll. We have the support of a Consultant and Chariernl Psychologist who
Spectrll W0en'S Auti5 Group- Registered Charity in Northerll Ireland NIC106799 provides support to the charity. As part of out MembeIp ryistration foTni we have next of kin details that we can contact if there is a significant concern. Attendees at the groups are made aware of the main topic of discussion in a(Ivance and can choose not to attend if it is something that they can not deal with at that tiLlle. Every effort is made in the planning of the group activities to inise the risk of harni. I confirn] that there are llo serious illcideDts or Ott llHtters that the trUStee5 should have brought to the Comujission's aitention. Charity Trustees as of end June 2019 Miss Deborah Anne Bond Chair MTS Arnanda Wales Mrs Karen E]izabeth Ilghe Secretary Mrs Clare Amanda Mccleary Membership Secretary Dr Margaret Elizknth Copeland OTdiuary eber Mrs Jennifer Lorraine Matcbett dinary member Other Charity Trustees in the year to June 2019 Mi&s Kathryn Helen McArdle Had to stand down in Ja]Mary 2019 for persollal reasons Deborab Bond. Chair Amanda Wales, TreasuTer