Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi,
I'd be very interested in honest(!) feedback and ideas about the project which I'm running for autistic children. At the moment, it a voluntary weekend activity for me but I'm wondering if it can become a part-time job.
Last September, I set up "Engine Shed - South London" (www.engineshedlondon.com) which is a special interest group for autistic children and young people who like trains. They can design, build and play with our huge collection of Brio, Tomy and Hornby trains in a welcoming, safe and relaxing environment. They remain engaged for up to 2 hours, working alongside other autistic children with very little adult involvement, although their parents/carers are there.
We have up to 20 children at each weekend session, aged 3 to 13, and the adults enjoy the opportunity to talk without worrying about their children's behaviour being judged. The children can just be themselves and do what they want - we have teenagers playing with Brio and "Thomas the Tank Engine". We judge their happiness by the levels of stimming, vocalising and running around the room! The children are having fun, as well as developing social and communication skills as they work together.
We currently run weekend open days and events in school holidays. I'm getting really positive feedback from parents and autism professionals who have attended our events. However, I've got 12 huge boxes of trains which only get used once or twice a month. I know there is huge demand for our activities in other locations, but I've only got so much time I can give as a volunteer. I need to look at ways to generate some income.
To make this a part-time job, I need to develop some *daytime* activities which would bring in income. This could help to subsidise the weekend activities. Donations from parents are currently our only source of income (usually £5 per child), which cover venue hire and wear and tear on the trains.
Any feedback/ideas would be much appreciated.
Richardwww.engineshedlondon.com
This is fabulous Richard and it sounds like so much fun.
I haven’t got any tips but my friend takes her son to a youth club once a week, for autistic kids, and he also goes on day trips and short holidays with the group now, as well.
The group started out as a once a week voluntary thing but it soon grew in popularity and the guy who runs it, has turned it into a business now which pays his way and hence why they now have holidays and day trips.
I’ve never met the guy but I’ll get in touch with my friend and ask her to ask if she can either pass his contact details on to you or pass yours on to him and ask if he can help, I’m sure he can.
This is a great idea. I also lived in a community in Australia a couple of years ago and one of the families living there had built up a business that started off as a voluntary thing. They’re a theatre group working with what they call, extra special kids, mostly kids on the spectrum. And they turned it into a business and they now go to different schools etc giving performances and they’ve even been to the U.K. and are coming back again at some point. When I was living there they had delivered their new massive bus, to take the kids all over. It was a great day when the bus got delivered, with all the sign writing on it which delighted me, every time I saw it, as it says, for extra special kids ️
Hi BlueRay - I'd be very interested in getting in touch with the youth club. Would be great to find out more. Where is this youth club?
The best email address for me is engineshedlondon@gmail.com
Richard