Growing up in Thorne, South Yorkshire, I was familiar with a grand building called Thorne House, set in beautiful woodland where delicate bluebells grow. One of my favourite memories from childhood is walking with my mum past Thorne House and kicking the Autumn leaves. Autumn leaves always take me back to this memory.
Today, Thorne House is owned by Autism Plus, a charity for whom I am a proud volunteer Trustee, a role I sought after my own Autism diagnosis at age 45 in 2021. The charity provides nationwide life changing support for Autistic people, and those with other neurodivergent conditions, along with those who have complex needs.
My company Mind Matters is a private profit-making business, but when I set up in 2015, I had truly clear intentions that my business would ‘give back’ in philanthropic social entrepreneurial ways, alongside the change-making we wanted to achieve through our training courses. Giving back was embedded in our values right away, values which remain central to our vision and work today.
As part of meeting this intention, Mind Matters has provided around 50 sponsored training places since its inception in 2015, sponsored free training courses in the community, such as Suicide First Aid to people living in the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, and has raised just short of £4,000 for the National Autistic Society through marathon running. Mind Matters annually donates to charities, including Smile Train, Barnsley Food Bank, Street Angels in Leeds, national MIND, Crisis, Save the Children, and the National Autistic Society.
I am delighted to share that as of today, Mind Matters is recognising Autism Plus as our official charity partner, and will support by offering a number of sponsored training places annually, and any future fundraising efforts will go to this charity.
You too can support the fabulous work of Autism Plus by donating here or purchasing (fabulous!) chocolates from their social enterprise in North Yorkshire here.