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We are delighted to announce the return of our Action for Autism project in Autumn 2023

We have successfully delivered our Action for Autism projects for over five years and we are delighted to be bringing it back in 2023 thanks to funding received from Wandsworth Council as part of the Arts for Health & Wellbeing Fund. 

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We are now accepting applications for young autistic people between the ages of 11 to 16 years who would benefit from our weekly Autism Movement Therapy® sessions. If you know of someone or would like to nominate a child, please complete the form below, or email us on: info@movementworks.org 

Please include:

  • Your name
  • Your contact details (email and preferred contact number)
  • Details of the young person you are emailing us about, including their name and age. We will contact you for more specific information.
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MWorks Artistes for Autism - Wandsworth Logo

Sessions will be held after school on a Wednesday afternoon between 4.30 - 5.30 p.m.
at Tooting Leisure Centre, (Greaves Place, London SW17 0NE)

Our project partners include A2ndVoice Autism Support Group and Tooting Leisure Centre, our venue host 

MW Web - A2ndVoice New
MW Web - Tooting Leisure Centre

Action for Autism 2021

In 2021, we secured funding from the Mayor of London Active Londoners Fund to run an online programme of Autism Movement Therapy® (mainly online) which ran from May to September 2021 in conjunction with a Development Dance Movement Therapy® being delivered at three LEYF Early Years Settings. 

The 'Action for Autism' project was aimed at individuals aged 7 to 18 years, both with and without a diagnosis and due to COVID restrictions was delivered mainly online, although we did organise some special face-to-face 'Holiday Sessions' with the support of A2ndVoice CIC

Please see, below, a recording of our initial webinar. 

Outcomes

Our target group were children and young people aged 7-18 with autism spectrum conditions who had experienced disproportionately high levels of emotional and mental health issues and social isolation due to the pandemic. Through a combination of drawing on our past reputation, targeted marketing and partnership working we were able to support over 40 participants from ethnically diverse backgrounds to engage in regular physical activity geared to their needs, enhance their social network and provide opportunity for making new friends. In addition, the hyper-local hubs we delivered in the latter part of the project were a great success and tool for reaching new participants/families. We had originally thought the hubs would largely be formed through the online element but in reality, in the main they were different audiences. Through the process we learned that the project was not only important for the young people themselves but also for their parents/carers who needed and appreciated the emotional release and joyfulness of the physical activity and peer support just as much.

At the start of the project over 75% who registered an interest in participating in the AMT pathway told us they are not well served with suitable regular group activities and that the lockdowns had resulted in even less opportunity to be physically active. We can evidence 90% regular attendance of registered participants accessing the Zoom sessions throughout the project, meaning they were engaged in at least an hour of organised physical activity per week with people they had not met previously.

In addition, 34% of participants (that we know of) made new friends whilst on the project. This was achieved through a targeted approach to enhance the social support available during the project delivery through one off events including the AMTea Coffee Morning, Well-Being sessions (in particular Laughter Yoga) and hyper-local hubs. These sessions included opportunities for friendly conversation combined with novel physical and social dance activities. Through these sessions children, parents/guardians were given opportunities share fun positive experiences and broaden their social network. This approach led to reduced isolation and loneliness, extremely common within this community, and increased social connectedness and a sense of belonging.

MWorks Web A4A Quote 1

Action for Autism 2020

In 2020, we secured our first funding from the Mayor of London Active Londoners Fund to run a 12-week programme of Autism Movement Therapy for 2 age groups, 7 – 11 years and 12 – 16 years. We were particularly keen to reach the BAME (Black Asian & Minority Ethnic) community who can frequently experience a social embargo within their own culture around the issue of autism. 

Please see, below, a recording of Connor's Mum explaining how this project helped him

MWorks Web A4A Quote 2
MW Web - Brixton AMT 1
MW Web - Brixton AMT 2

We work extensively across Greater London with: 

  • Children's Centres
  • State Schools
  • Independent Schools
  • Privately/Group run nurseries
  • Montessori settings
  • Specialist settings (visit our SEN&D page to read more)
  • Charity groups

If you would like to see how a DDM® session works in action please enquire to make bespoke arrangements for a Go & See visit

Alternatively we can bring an intro session directly to your setting.

MovementWorks is a registered Charity.
Contact us about fundraising initiatives and partnerships.

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