IT WAS announced this week that there will be an extra £7 million of support given to increase Wales’ autism services.

While I welcome more money for autism, I would be keen for some of it to be used to support an autism charity in Cardiff where I regularly attend, called Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru.

I recently wrote to Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Minister for social services and public health, to consider my proposal for providing funding to Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru.

Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru is a specialist centre that provides an open drop-in service for individuals living with autism in Cardiff and the surrounding area.

This drop-in service is very unique because it provides the facility for individuals living with autism to seek daily advice on issues that occur in every day life.

It provides the service users with post-diagnostic support, employment workshops, work related support, 1:1 support, social groups for those who seek new friendships as well as many more issues. This service is invaluable.

It has become a very important part of my life and many others who also regularly use the service.

The Welsh Government replied to me and I received what was, in my opinion, a very generic response which only raised further questions.

As a result, I’ve launched an online petition calling for the Welsh Government to give funding to this charity.

We wish to seek reassurance that this charity will always remain open and fully funded, which is the key message in this petition. This petition already has more than 100 signatures.

Please view petition at change.org.

As part of Autism Awareness Week, I was interviewed by ITV Wales News last week at Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru.

In this interview I was given a chance to speak about my diagnosis of autism and how much this centre has positively changed my life.

Aled Thomas

Penarth