I am Evie. I am sixteen years old and autistic. For me, autism means it is almost impossible to go anywhere without the support of my friends and family. I struggle intensely with everyday things such as getting public transport, walking through busy streets, entering shops to buy essentials, answering the door/phone calls and going to new places. My meltdowns are frequent and often result in self-injurous stimming and/or self harm. I find making new friends very difficult.

One of my passions - or special interests - is reading. Books are a safe place for me. My dream is to go on to be an author or journalist, but right now the prospect of attending university fills me with fear. I do not know how I would manage the drastic change and the multitude of new people and experiences while also being able to care for myself while living away from home.

My successful application to the Autism Dogs trust has provided me with new hope for a better future. A dog could interrupt my self-harm, provide me with compant without a social demand, and ensure I am safe. It could grant me the independence I wish I had, and the confidence I need to live my life to the fullest. These amazing dogs require extensive training in order to mitigate the struggles that come with autism, and this training requires funding… which brings me to this. My family is not able to pay the £11,000 needed right now, which means I am turning to you to help us cover the cost of this life-changing form of support.