Thank you Teesside Millions and the Lt Col Cohen Fund

/in /by

A Heartfelt Thank You to Teesside Millions and the Lt Col Cohen Distribution Fund

We are thrilled to announce some incredible news, our application to Teesside Millions and the Lt Col Cohen Distribution Fund has been successful!

Thanks to their generous support, we have been awarded a grant of £3,000 to help fund our upcoming project. This funding is a huge boost and will make a real difference to the work we’re doing in our community.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Teesside Millions, the grant-giving service of the Tees Foundation, and to all the supporters and donors who made this possible. Your investment in grassroots projects like ours means the world, and it enables real change where it’s needed most.

We’re excited to get started and look forward to sharing our progress with you. Be sure to follow us on our journey and we’ll be tagging the Tees Foundation on our social media so you can see how your support is making a difference. You can find them on Facebook at Tees Foundation, give them a follow to keep up with all the amazing work they’re doing across the region.

To the team at Tees Foundation – thank you once again for believing in our vision. With your help, we’re one step closer to making it a reality.

Stay tuned – great things are coming!

#TogetherRaisingSmiles

Great Achievement

/in /by

Celebrating Sam’s University Success!

We’re absolutely thrilled to celebrate an incredible milestone — Sam has graduated from Teesside University with a well-deserved 2:1 in History! His hard work, commitment, and passion for the past have all paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder of what he’s achieved.

Studying History is no easy feat — it takes deep thinking, critical analysis, and a real love for storytelling and understanding the world around us. Sam has shown all of that and more throughout his time at university.

Now, with his degree in hand, Sam is setting his sights on a future that connects his passion for history with his career goals. His dream? To work in a museum, where he can help bring the past to life for others, share knowledge, and continue learning every day.

We’re so excited to see where this next chapter takes him. With his enthusiasm, dedication, and love of history, we know he’ll be a fantastic asset to any museum team.

Congratulations, Sam — your future is looking bright, and we’re cheering you on every step of the way!

#TogetherRaisingSmiles

CANCELLED – MAIN invite you to our Summer Fayre, August 30th 2025

/in /by

DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE CANCELLING THIS YEAR’S SUMMER FAYRE.

Join Us for a Day of Summer Fun – Supporting MAIN

We’re excited to invite you to our Summer Fayre on Friday, August 30th – a fantastic day out for the whole family in support of MAIN, our autism charity dedicated to empowering autistic individuals, those with learning disabilities, and or with additional complex needs.

This is more than just a summer event – it’s a chance to come together, have fun, and raise much-needed funds for our charity.

What to Expect:

Face Painting – Transform into your favourite character or animal with our talented face painter
Bouncy Castles – Let the kids bounce their hearts out in our fun and safe inflatable play zones
BBQ – Enjoy delicious food hot off the grill (including veggie options) – come hungry!
️ Tombola & Raffles – Try your luck and win amazing prizes
️ Stalls & Local Crafts – Browse unique goods from local makers and pick up some special finds
Sensory-Friendly Spaces – As an autism charity, we’ll have quiet areas and inclusive activities to ensure everyone feels welcome and comfortable

Whether you’re a family looking for a fun day out, a supporter of the cause, or just someone who loves a good BBQ and a bouncy castle, there’s something for everyone!

Save the Date: Saturday 30th August 2025
Time: 13:00 – 16:00
Location: Finlay Cooper Centre, TS3 6EN

Support Our Work

All funds raised on the day will go directly towards our autism services, helping us continue our vital work across the local community.

If you can’t attend but would still like to support MAIN, we are gratefully accepting donations.

Get in Touch: info@iammain.org.uk
Call Us: 01642 608012

#TogetherRaisingSmiles

thumbnail saying we are looking for volunteers

Volunteer Week 2025 – Thank YOU

/in /by

Title: Celebrating Our Volunteers – The Heart of Our Community

Volunteers are the unsung heroes behind every successful initiative, event, and act of kindness. Today, we want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on these incredible individuals who give so generously of their time, energy, and hearts.

Thank You for Your Dedication

Whether you’ve helped organise events, supported day-to-day operations, mentored others, or simply lent a helping hand when it was needed most, your impact has been immeasurable. Our mission thrives because of you. Every smile you have shared, every task you took on, and every moment you gave has helped create something meaningful and lasting.

Your Impact is Real

From the smallest acts to the biggest projects, volunteers make a tangible difference. You uplift communities, inspire others, and remind us that generosity and compassion are powerful forces for good. Without your selfless contributions, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

A Community Built on Kindness

Volunteering is more than just helping, it’s about building relationships, spreading hope, and creating a sense of belonging. You’ve helped us foster a strong, connected, and supportive community that we are so proud to be a part of.

With Deepest Gratitude

On behalf of our entire team, thank you for your unwavering support. We see you, we appreciate you, and we celebrate you. Your dedication is a gift, does not go unnoticed.

Here’s to you — our volunteers, our Trustees, our champions, our family.

With heartfelt thanks,

#TogetherRaisingSmiles

AMAZING Staff, doing AMAZING things for MAIN

/in /by

SPONSORED WALK ROUND-UP

In aid of MAIN ❤️

On Monday 2nd June, some of our amazing team took part in a fancy dress sponsored walk.

Thanks to the incredible kindness of our community, family, friends, colleagues, and the families of our service-users — we’re thrilled to share that we more than TRIPLED our fundraising target, raising an amazing £1,122!

Your generous donations will go directly toward enhancing the experiences of those we support, helping us invest in new sensory supplies, interactive tools, and calming spaces that will truly make a difference.

From every donation and share, to every kind word of encouragement, your support meant the world to us.  We simply couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you for walking this journey with us. ❤️


#TogetherRaisingSmiles

#AutismAwareness #SponsoredWalk #ThankYou

 

 

Thank You – Skipton Building Society

/in /by

A heartfelt thank you to Skipton Building Society for selecting MAIN as your Charity of Choice.
We are truly grateful for your generous donation of Body Socks, which will make a meaningful difference to the children we support. Your kindness and commitment to our cause are deeply appreciated and will have a lasting impact.

In the photo are Victoria from Skipton Building Society, Josh, Heather, the CEO of MAIN and Tristan, taken in our new Pathways to Independence area , a space dedicated to helping our young people build essential life skills in a supportive environment.

#TogetherRaisingSmiles

 

Autism Act (2009) Have Your Say

/in /by

Autism Act 2009 – Committees – UK Parliament

Be a part of the story, if you are an individual, group or parent, please use your voice,

lets make a world where every autistic person has the right to live a fulfilled and happy life.

 

The committee wants to hear your views. We welcome submissions from anyone with answers to the questions in the call for evidence. You can submit evidence until Monday 2 June 2025.

Read the call for evidence before submitting

Introduction

The Autism Act 2009 Committee in the House of Lords is looking into how well the Autism Act 2009 and the Government’s autism strategy are working.

As part of this, the Committee is holding a call for evidence asking for information and views from you. To allow as much time as possible for people to respond, the call for evidence is open for two months (a longer period than usual), until 2 June 2025.

Love heart art work

Post Diagnosis Support Service 2014 – 2025

/in /by

A Heartfelt Thank You as Our Post Diagnosis Service Transitions

Since 2014, MAIN has had the privilege of delivering the Post Diagnosis Support Service (PDSS), offering not just guidance, but a helping hand, a light at the end of what can often feel like a very dark tunnel. Most importantly, PDSS has stood for respect, understanding, and positivity; values we have always held at the heart of everything we do.

As of 1st June 2025, this vital service will be moving to a new provider.

Over the past 11 years, our dedicated PDSS team — Kimberley, Melissa, Philip, Katherine, Pippa, Lewis, Daisy and Stephen,  have directly supported more than a thousand individuals, along with their loved ones and professionals. Each of them brought compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to every person they supported.

To our autistic community: thank you. Thank you for the trust you placed in us, and for allowing us to be part of your journey. It has been a genuine honour.

At MAIN, we have always treated every individual as just that — an individual. That will never change. While the PDSS will now continue under different leadership, our passion for supporting the neurodivergent community remains stronger than ever.

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish our Durham autistic community the very best for the future.

If you have any enquiries about the Post Diagnosis Support Service after 31st May 2025, please contact:

Durham County Council
Commissioning Policy and Planning Officer
Adult and Health Services
Tel: 03000 268407

With heartfelt gratitude,
The MAIN Team

 

Thank you NETA

/in /by

A Heartfelt Thank You to NETA for Their Generous Donation

At MAIN, we are absolutely delighted to share some wonderful news with our community. We recently received a generous donation of £1,000.00 from NETA, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

This kind contribution will be used to help improve our outdoor space and privacy—an area that plays a vital role in the wellbeing and development of the children, young people, and adults we support.

MAIN is a charity based in the heart of Middlesbrough, dedicated to supporting individuals with autism, learning disabilities, and complex needs. From the age of 5 and into adulthood, we provide a safe, understanding environment where individuals can thrive, learn, and connect with others.

Outdoor space is not just a luxury—it’s essential. It offers our young people the chance to explore, relax, and engage in sensory activities in a calm and secure setting. Thanks to NETA’s kindness, we’re one step closer to making this space even more welcoming, therapeutic, and private for everyone who uses it.

On behalf of everyone at MAIN, especially those who will directly benefit from this donation, thank you, Sean Johnston, Director and Brian Ward, Scaffold Centre Coordinator at NETA, for supporting our mission and helping us create better opportunities and brighter days for those we serve.

With heartfelt gratitude,
The MAIN Team

 

Parent / Carer Open Day May 20th May 2025 – 12 – 2pm 5 – 7pm

/in /by

You’re Invited! MAIN Open Day – Discover Our New Pathways to Independence

We are thrilled to invite all parents and carers to join us for a special Open Day at MAIN, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore our brand-new Pathways to Independence space.

Date: 20th May 2025
Time: 12:00pm – 2pm / 5pm – 7pm
Location: MAIN – TS3 6EN

Our Pathways to Independence is a fully adaptable and accessible learning environment designed to help young people build essential life skills with confidence and independence. From practicing daily living tasks to exploring vocational and social opportunities, the space has been thoughtfully developed to support every individual’s journey at their own pace.

During the Open Day, you’ll have the chance to:

  • Tour the new facility

  • Meet our experienced and supportive team

  • Learn about the personalised programmes we offer

  • Ask questions and get involved in shaping future activities

This is a great opportunity to see first-hand how MAIN is continuing to empower young people by creating inclusive and inspiring spaces that reflect real-life experiences.

Booking required – please email @ info@iammain.org.uk or call – 01642 608012

We can’t wait to welcome you.