Whiteley-based charity receives £280,000 grant from National Lottery

---

Autism Hampshire has received a £280,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund.
The money will be used to support the charity's community groups for autistic adults across Hampshire and online.
The grant, awarded through the Reaching Communities programme, will help fund the Serendipity Community Groups for the next five years.
This will secure the future of 19 groups and allow Autism Hampshire to invest in the project's long-term sustainability.
Plans include increasing the number of trained volunteers from 20 to 50, hiring a volunteer coordinator, and introducing more evening and weekend sessions.
ADVERTISEMENTCheryl Claxton, Autism Hampshire's head of community services, said: "Through our groups, autistic people can find a sense of belonging, gain confidence, and feel accepted for who they are.
"We're incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund, and its players, for enabling us to continue this for the next five years.
READ MORE: Former Fawley power station site to be used for storage
"This funding means we can continue to grow a network that is shaped by its members and driven by the belief that every autistic person deserves the opportunity to connect, thrive, and be valued."
The Serendipity Community Groups provide a safe and welcoming space for autistic people to build friendships, reduce isolation, and develop confidence and independence.
With more than 240 active members, the groups have become a lifeline for many.
ADVERTISEMENTOne member said: "Attending the groups gives me a purpose and something to look forward to.
"I've made good friends, and it has given me more confidence.
"This is the first social group in my life where I feel relaxed.
"I can be myself without any judgement or bullying.
"This group is like gold dust - it has saved me."
The funding will also allow the Whiteley-based charity to develop leadership opportunities for autistic adults and foster wider community connections through workshops, talks, and events with partner organisations.
Autism Hampshire, the leading local autism charity in Hampshire, previously received a grant of £245,801, which helped people to recover from the pandemic and expand the number of groups from just seven in 2022.
There are now 16 groups running across the county, with plans to open a new running group and a choir group in the coming months.