We have been awarded £245,104 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a ground-breaking project to curate, celebrate and preserve the stories, voices and memories of autistic people. 

The project, which is called Sixty years of the National Autistic Society – The Story of Autism So Far: Voices, Journeys and Lives, will research and record changing attitudes and public perspectives about autism, focusing on pivotal moments throughout the charity’s history. 
 
Thanks to National Lottery players, the project will run for two years and will be informed and delivered by a steering group made up of autistic people, family members and professionals. We will also create 20 volunteer roles, aimed at autistic individuals, to contribute to the project through research, transcription, digitalization and cataloguing. This work will culminate in an accessible and innovative representation of the history of the autistic community in the UK. 

The project will include: Collecting oral histories and videos of autistic individuals, families and professionals; cataloguing and digitally archiving all materials which will be freely available to the public; and creating a mini-documentary. 

Reaching a wide audience, including members of the public, professionals and autistic people, the project will promote inclusivity, develop relationships between communities, and build a vital sense of belonging and identity for autistic people. 

Kimberley Featherstone, Head of Fundraising and Supporter Relations, at the National Autistic Society, said: “We are delighted to receive this support from the Heritage Fund in the year that we celebrate our 60th anniversary. Sixty years is a lifetime and it’s vital that we don’t lose any of the stories and memories that constitute what it means to be autistic in the UK today. This funding will support our ground-breaking project to ensure the heritage of the autistic community is preserved and celebrated for current and future generations.”  

Stuart McLeod, Director England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Inclusive heritage is very important to us at The National Lottery Heritage Fund which is why we are proud to support the National Autistic Society in exploring and preserving their heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will ensure that the voices and memories of the community can be heard for generations to come.”