Progressive Building Society has chosen Autism NI as its charity partner for this year’s Annual General Meeting on 29th April 2025. Progressive will donate £2.50 and 20p respectively for each online vote and paper vote cast by its members that is registered for the Society’s 110th AGM, up to £10,000.
Progressive Secretary Kyle McRoberts said: “This is an opportunity for us to help bolster what the charity does for families and communities in Northern Ireland at a time of great need. At Progressive, we strive to stay involved with what is happening at community level and we appreciate the tireless work that is done by Autism NI.”
Sorcha Mathews, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Autism NI, adds: “Autistic people can face barriers to accessing services such as health and education. Currently, only 21.7% autistic people are in full time employment due to significant barriers to accessing employment, yet autistic people can be highly skilled and valued members of a team. Additionally, figures show that 80% of autistic adults and children will have significant mental health difficulties throughout their lifetime.
We want to continue providing support and services that are vital for the wellbeing of autistic people, from pre-diagnosis right through adult life. With help and support, we can continue to support autistic people, their families, and campaign for autism acceptance within society. By working together, we can achieve so much more and create a better, fairer, and more inclusive society for autistic people to thrive.”
The Autism NI Helpline, seen as a lifeline by many, receives over 7,500 calls annually and is staffed by a team that delivers essential support, advice, information and practical resources. Autism NI’s Early Intervention Service transforms the lives of families by delivering home support and bespoke practical resources, immediately after an autism diagnosis. Meanwhile, the charity’s free training and support courses for families are designed for parents and carers and they cover a variety of pertinent topics to enable them to support their autistic child.
Autism NI’s vision is to build an inclusive society where autistic people can achieve their full potential, and the Charity strives to inspire local people, communities, businesses, and government to support this vision.
