National Autistic Society announces Boshier Grant winners
Three registered charities receive grants of up to £25,000 aimed at creating a society that works better for autistic people
The National Autistic Society has announced this year’s winners of Boshier Grant funding to support autistic people and their families. The annual grant scheme was launched by the NAS in 2023, in partnership with Thea and Peter Boshier, who were inspired by their own first-hand experience – personally and professionally – of the challenges faced by autistic people.
Photo by JD Mack
Every year, the scheme awards grants of up to £25,000 to registered charities across the UK to support their work on these lines.
Brook Young People will use the award funding to create a suite of resources on healthy relationships with which to ensure that relationships and sex education (RSE) information sessions meet the needs of autistic young people during adolescent development. Autistic young people will help co-design these resources.
A spokesperson there says: ‘At Brook, we believe that all young people deserve access to high quality, inclusive RSE. However, we also know that many schools are not currently equipped with the resources they need to make RSE accessible for autistic young people. Thanks to the Boshier Grant Scheme, Brook is now co-designing a new suite of lesson plans, guides and activities with autistic young people, based on their needs and experiences of RSE. These new accessible resources will empower autistic young people with the knowledge and skills they need to manage their own sexual health and develop healthy relationships.’
Restraint Reduction Network will put its award into creating resources to improve the experience of autistic people during pregnancy and childbirth. This will include a resource specifically aimed at autistic people and another one aimed at midwives, doctors and birthing units on how their services can be adapted to improve experiences for autistic people. Again, autistic people will be involved in producing both these resources.
A spokesperson comments: ‘The Restraint Reduction Network are delighted to have been awarded the Boshier Grant funding. Far too often autistic people and their babies are impacted by interactions and practices which conflict with their most natural way of being, causing discomfort and distress. We are looking forward to developing useful and right respecting resources to help people and staff support autistic pregnancy and parenting.’
Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum is going to use its award to provide culturally competent peer and family support and advocacy for autistic children, young people and their carers from ethnic minority communities, as well as delivering training to address and reduce cultural stigma.
A spokesperson says: ‘We are grateful and thrilled to receive the Boshier Grant, which will enable Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum to provide personalised support for carers of autistic people from minority communities. The grant not only helps us meet the growing demand for this service but also carers with the resources and guidance they need to navigate their unique challenges. The Boshier Grant has also enabled us to receive training on how to recognise and support the mental health needs of autistic people. We are really excited to grow and to make a difference around understanding autism and breaking down stigmas in the community.’
The application period for the next year’s Boshier Grant awards is expected to open in July 2025. The NAS website will provide more information near the time.
Kim Featherstone, Assistant Director of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement at NAS, says: ‘Here at The National Autistic Society we are delighted to announce the three charities to receive grants from our Boshier Grant Scheme this year. We are excited to see what these wonderful organisations achieve and are thrilled that each grant will be making possible work that will support autistic people and their families, transform lives and help create a society that works for autistic people. We’d like to say a huge congratulations to all the successful charities, and a big thank you to Thea and Peter Boshier for partnering with our charity to create this scheme.’
Thea and Peter Boshier add: ‘We are once again delighted to be supporting such imaginative charities working alongside autistic people through the second year of the Boshier Grant Scheme. We are sure that these grants will make a huge impact, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of the work they propose to carry out over the coming year.’
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