Sheffield charity celebrates Lottery funding
Pallas Trust in Sheffield has secured a £20,000 National Lottery grant to help charities provide neurodiversity support.
The announcement comes at a time of growing national awareness of neurodiversity, with diagnostic and support services experiencing unprecedented demand.
“We provide practical workshops to charities and community organisations across South Yorkshire, and beyond which are working with vulnerable adults, including people experiencing homelessness or involvement with the justice system," says Saphire Took, Chair of Trustees at the Pallas Trust which is based in Sheffield city centre.
“This also includes people who have experienced domestic abuse, those with care experience, armed forces veterans and other complex life circumstances”.
“The training equips frontline staff with the confidence to recognise issues and differences associated with conditions such as autism, ADHD, acquired brain injury and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and helps them to implement straightforward strategies that can help improve people’s lives," adds Saphire.
“For many people, a diagnosis can provide clarity and validation. However, Pallas Trust believes that practical support should not have to wait. This philosophy lies at the heart of the charity’s work.
“People used to think I was thick or that I didn’t want to answer, and then I’d get frustrated," says Gemma* from Sheffield.
“Having people understand the way I process information has made a huge difference."
Alongside its training programme, Pallas Trust also offers individual neurodiversity triage assessments that identify mental skills, sensory processing and communication needs.
“Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, we can now work alongside charities to increase understanding, build confidence and give staff practical strategies that make a real difference to the people they support,” said Saphire.
* Not her real name