The North East Autism Society (NEAS) celebrated the landmark in style by hosting birthday themed events across all their services.
Barclays kindly sponsored the event and charity mascot Pawsum the Panda delivered ‘birthday’ cupcakes to everyone in a Birthday Bus. Each site held their own event and celebrated the occasion with tea parties.
NEAS was founded in 1980 by a group of parents whose children with autism, were unable to access the support the parents felt their children needed to thrive and develop. The charity was then known as the Tyne and Wear Autistic Society. The parents re-mortgaged their own homes to purchase the charity’s first property in Sunderland that consisted of a school and residential facility.
John Phillispon, CEO of NEAS said; “It is fantastic to think of the progress that the North East Autism Society has made since 1980. Back then a group of visionary and courageous parents set up a tiny school in Sunderland.
I am immensely proud of our services today and grateful to our committed and professional staff. The celebrations give us a chance to recognise the contribution of everyone who has been a part of a North East success story.”
Today NEAS provide training to parents and professional. Their services include parent and toddler groups, after school clubs, holiday clubs, two schools, a college, residential homes, a farm, social and vocational training and supported employment for adults.
Students and staff from Thornhill Park School, Sunderland and North East Centre for Autism in Newton Aycliffe released thirty-five balloons at each site to mark the occasion.
For more information about North East Autism Society please visit www.ne-as.org.uk or call 0191 410 9974
