Projects helping adults with autism ‘thrive’ share £2.5m fund

Projects that help adults with autism to “thrive” are in for a funding boost from the Scottish Government.

Nine organisations will receive a total of almost £2.5 million of multi-year funding, ministers have confirmed.

The cash comes from the Autistic Adult Support Fund, which was launched in 2023 to provide support to organisations working to help adults with the condition reach their full potential.

Mental wellbeing minister Tom Arthur announced details of the funding, saying the cash is going to groups which “provide support to autistic adults and their families and carers”.

Mr Arthur said: “All successful projects will meaningfully involve autistic people in the development, design, and delivery of the support.

“Autistic adults will be helped to thrive – the projects will support them to access services and improve their general wellbeing so they can get involved in and truly feel part of their community.”

The minister added the commitment to multi-year funding “will ensure that funded projects have the security and space to develop and grow high-quality support, making the most of the skills and experiences of autistic people they support”.

One of the projects to benefit is the Anchor charity in Greenock, Inverclyde, which helps autistic adults at risk of suicide or self-harm. It will receive £247,450 from the Scottish Government fund.

Chief executive Chris Paul said the charity is “delighted” to have secured the funding, which means it can “support autistic adults in our community at new levels”.

He added: “As a local grassroots organisation with big ambition, we are looking forward to taking this project forward.”

Celia Tennant, chief executive of Inspiring Scotland, which administers the Autistic Adult Support Fund, said: “Everyone in Scotland should have the same opportunity to lead happy and healthy lives and ensuring there is support to understand an autistic diagnosis or identity is important in making that possible.”

She added the volume of applications for funding “demonstrates not just the need for investment in this area but also the vital role that the third sector is providing in supporting autistic adults to understand their autism to improve wellbeing”.