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.