FUND RAISING WITH A DIFFERENCE

Huw, Carrie and Ali are embarking on a challenge to drive across Namibia, in ten days, covering a large expanse of just under 2000 miles, on a tight budget, starting and ending in Windhoek. We will sleep in a pop-up tent on top of our vehicle and will need to reach camp sites in daylight due to night driving restrictions, so planning routes will be key. Huw, 19 and studying engineering, is autistic. He will be our driver and photographer on this expedition, supported by Carrie and Ali.

The journey is to raise funds for a charity called Pennyhooks Farm Trust who actively support young adults with complex autism, offering work based training opportunities at a care farm predominantly for non-speaking autistic adults.

There are at least 1.2 million autistic people in the UK. Only 26% of autistic people are in any kind of work. Employment is an area which is said to contribute to quality of life, as it offers a sense of place in the world and opportunities to feel purposeful. We believe everybody should have the chance to learn and experience a meaningful, enjoyable, working life. But many autistic people have previously been denied these opportunities- their sensitivities to noise, light and social expectations, along with communication challenges mean they can miss out on life experiences that others take for granted.

Pennyhooks Farm Trust is a working farm nestled in The Vale of the White horse on the Oxfordshire and Wiltshire border. The students come to the farm to join with the rhythms and routines of the farm's daily life. The environment is adapted to suit their many strengths, skills and individual rhythms. At the farm they are nurtured and supported and the results are that they gradually develop skills which contribute to them leading purposeful adult lives. This is real work in a real workplace.

Pennyhooks can only transform lives in this way because of the generosity of supporters. If you would like to donate, it would mean everything to us. Thank you.

Pennyhooksfarm.com