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Surrey organisation receives £50k to support autistic girls with the help of Gavin and Stacey
A Surrey organisation is addressing the social isolation experienced by autistic girls after receiving £49,999 from the Mental Health Investment Fund.
Appeer CIC recently received the funding, which enabled organisers to deliver support sessions for the young girls, along with their parents and carers.
The project focuses on creating safe, supportive spaces where autistic girls can meet genuine peers, make friends, and explore their interests and talents.
Activities are tailored, based on the direct feedback from the girls, ensuring they are engaging and beneficial. One of those activities is walks in the countryside with alpacas, reflecting the girls’ interests in animals – and they were thrilled to find out that two of the alpacas were named Gavin and Stacey!
The Mental Health Investment Fund is a joint fund from Surrey County Council and NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB, and it aims to support innovative projects that enhance the mental health and wellbeing of people across the county. To date, over £8 million has been allocated to mental health initiatives across different parts of Surrey.
Further funding opportunities for mental wellbeing are available through Round 4 of the Community Foundation Surrey Mental Health Scale-Up Fund which is now open. The deadline is 9am Monday 16 October.