Autism Cymru

Charity Awards

'A strategic approach leads to success'

There are well over 100 charities dedicated to autism in the UK. In spite of this, research by the Shirley Foundation identified the need for another – a dedicated national organisation for Wales, and so Autism Cymru was established in 2001. In just three years this new charity has made enormous progress. Chief executive Hugh Morgan says: ‘We aren’t replicating or replacing the work that anyone else is doing. We decided that we would work in a unique way and we would set really big objectives to effect major change within the field.’

One of the charity’s targets was to encourage the Welsh Assembly to develop a national strategy for autism. After lobbying national and local government, in April 2002 the charity gave a presentation to assembly members, and in December 2002 Autism Cymru got what it wanted – an announcement that there would be a national strategy and a place on the development group.

‘The approach we use is to say to the Welsh Assembly, “How can we help you to deal with this big problem of autism which is costing a lot of money?”,’ explains Morgan. ‘Instead of beating politicians over the head with sticks, we take a strategic, evidence-based approach about what is effective and people seem to listen to that.’

A national strategy for autism has never been developed in any other country and Morgan anticipates that it will make a real difference in service provision. ‘I have worked in the autism field for 20 years and this is the most significant change that could be made.’

Hugh Morgan
Chief executive
6 Great Darkgate Street
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
Reg no.1092527
www.autismcymru.org

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