Hearts And Minds Challenge is a young dynamic, innovative and passionate organisation formed in 2010 which is bringing positive change into the lives of those affected by autism. We are putting together a range of services which includes awareness raising, education support, advocacy, counselling, transition planning and advice for families upon receiving diagnosis as well as our Facebook support group. Our Mission is to raise the quality of life of individuals and their families affected by autism by ensuring the highest standards in education, care and support leading to employment and equality of living opportunities. We are currently running a fundraising campaign to raise £1 million so we can open a Centre of Education for Autism
Yes, they are planning a new school in Manchester which specialises in education for autistic children, how wonderful. If this happens, and I’m sure it will, then hopefully there will be more schools set up around the country. As a mother of two autistic children I am fully aware of how difficult it is for them in the current school system. Mainstream school can be a difficult and scary place for a child with autism, but then they can be out of place in a special school. I know that neither of my two children have special educational needs, the needs of an autistic child can be varied and different to any other disability and schools find it difficult to meet their needs.
Hearts and Minds are fundraising by asking for donations and setting up special events. There is another way that you can get involved though and that is by collecting old mobile phones. You can find all the details on their phone challenge site. By collecting old mobiles you can also be rewarded with gifts like ipads and laptops. Anyone can collect phones for these, you do not have to have an autistic child. The collections can also be made by schools.
I recently took part in the challenge to collect old mobiles and traded them in for a shiny new laptop for Star. It arrived just as she was admitted to hospital so she had something to smile about at least.
After we have moved house I’m going to start collecting again to help this fantastic charity and I do hope that my post has inspired you to do the same.
Do spend a moment to check out Hearts and Minds on Facebook and as @handmchallenge on Twitter too.
I’m linking this post to Pink Oddy’s Motivational Monday whose topic is education. A school for autism is a fantastic idea and I hope Heart and Minds are able to reach their goal.
This is a great charity and such a great idea. I am glad Star was able to benefit from a new laptop and what good timing.
It is brilliant that they are building a new school in Manchester as that will help a lot of children.
I really love how you wrote this with the education theme in mind – thank you very much for joining in with Motivational Monday
Thank you so much for a wonderful post, and so happy that Hearts and Minds was able to give Star something to smile about while she was in hospital 🙂
FAbulous post, I am collecting at the moment for my non verbal asd daughter Skye. a long way to go yet but a fab charity