The Creative Learning team at Sunderland Empire has been shortlisted for the National Autistic Society's Autism Professionals Awards in the Award for Inspirational Education Provision (Other) category. Also shortlisted in this category are Autus—The Hao2.eu Foundation and Ysgol y Deri Autism Outreach Service and Cardiff and Vale Occupational Therapy Service.
The Autism Professionals Awards were created to recognise and reward services and professionals who are leading the way in innovative autism practice and making a real difference to the lives of autistic people in the UK. They seek to acknowledge the outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals, teams and organisations who have demonstrated “excellence, dedication and commitment to improving the lives of autistic people.”
For four years, the Sunderland Creative Learning team has been delivering unique projects with the autism community, both at theatre and across the city and the surrounding area. The aim of these projects is to deliver interesting, leading and exceptional work in autism access and engagement in creative learning.
In 2015, the Arts Council funded Get Curious!, a Family Learning project in partnership with the National Theatre and its production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which was supported by cultural organisations from across the city.
In the past year alone, the team has supported 1,239 to participate as audience members at Relaxed and Supported experience performances, as well as enabling 723 people with Autism to access creative learning.
The close working relationships which arose out of the Curious project continue to grow and the Creative Learning team has developed an autism-specific youth theatre in collaboration with Sunderland-based No Limits Theatre.
Carol Povey, Director of the National Autistic Society’s Centre for Autism, said, “we run the Autism Professionals Awards each year to celebrate the people, projects and organisations making a difference to the lives of autistic people and their families in the UK.
“The standard of nominations is always very high so Sunderland Empire Theatre should be commended for impressing the judges and being shortlisted.
“Autism can have a profound effect on individuals and families but the right support from passionate and caring people and organisations can make all the difference. It’s important that we recognise the amazing people who provide this support so we can share best practice and inspire others.”
Karen Townsend, Head of Learning and Access at the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), said, “the whole company is proud of what is being delivered at Sunderland Empire, whose engagement activities for those on the Autistic Spectrum, their families and friends continues to thrive and develop.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Harrogate on 7 March 2017.