AutismAble is a specialist support and wellbeing service based across Tyneside and Sunderland. We work with neurodivergent people with the aim of improving quality of life, with a focus on building confidence, developing life skills, forming positive relationships, and taking part fully in community life.
Climate action has become an important and valued part of our weekly offering. For the young people we support in South Shields, environmental activity has become a great and meaningful way to contribute to our community, develop new skills, and take pride in making a positive difference.
Building climate confidence through everyday activity
As our Senior Coordinator Rachel Harman explains:
“We had already been exploring eco-friendly themes in some of our life skills sessions. When we saw the opportunity through the Youth Climate Action Fund, we felt it would be a great way to build on this interest. We started a Tuesday afternoon group, and it quickly grew. We’ve now been running for around three years with about fifteen young people regularly involved.”
The group began by exploring the basics of climate change and carbon footprints. This learning was valuable for both members and staff, helping everyone build shared understanding and confidence around environmental topics.
“At first there was a lot for us all to take in, but once we became more comfortable, we moved into practical activities like recycling and upcycling. One of our highlights was a fashion show using upcycled clothing. We also used funding to develop our garden and run planting sessions, growing fruit and vegetables that the group then used in cooking sessions during the week.”
Learning through hands-on experience
For many of our members, practical, sensory and hands-on learning has been key to engagement and understanding.
Hannah, one of our group members, explained how the project has shaped her thinking:
“I love marine life, and when we go to the beach it feels really calming. I’ve learned not to put plastic in the ocean because it can harm the animals I care about.”
She has also carried her learning into other settings:
“When I went on a forest wellbeing trip and there were no bins, we brought a bag to take our rubbish home. Now I always think about what to do if there isn’t a bin nearby.”
Growing confidence and independence
Our team have seen clear growth in confidence, independence, and leadership skills across the group.
Rachel says:
“I’ve noticed a huge change in the young people. They’ve become more confident in leading each other, reminding one another about recycling, and encouraging things like switching lights off when they’re not needed. They’re really supporting each other now. We’re also preparing to take a display into Tesco to share what we’ve been doing, which is a big step for them.”
Now, sustainability has been embedded into everyday life at AutismAble, including gardening, cooking, and outdoor activities.
Hannah says:
“I really like growing fruit and vegetables. We grow potatoes, leeks, onions and rhubarb. We’ve been transforming the garden and getting it ready for spring. We’ve also had garden parties, barbecues and themed events like a Hawaiian party. It would be good to do things like this every year, and maybe even share ideas with schools so more young people can learn about littering and caring for the environment early on.”
Practical skills for everyday life
One of the most visible impacts of the project has been improved understanding of waste, recycling, and environmental responsibility.
Hannah explains:
“People notice litter more now when we’re out, and there’s more discussion about what goes in each bin.”
Scott, another one of our group members, also describes what he has learned:
“We did litter picking and learned which bins to use – green for garden waste, blue for recycling, and black for general rubbish. We learned about reusable things and how plastics and fossil fuels affect the environment. We even used chocolate chips to understand coal mining and how landscapes change when coal is extracted.”
“We’re keeping ourselves busy, learning and enjoying it. I’m proud of writing notes and talking about climate change and global warming. AutismAble is a really welcoming place and the activities are brilliant.”
At AutismAble, we believe climate action should be accessible to everyone. The project has shown that when neurodivergent people are given the right support, tools, and opportunities, they can develop strong environmental knowledge and lead meaningful action in their communities.
Rachel: “It would be great for more people to recognise that autistic and neurodivergent people have so much to contribute. We all share this planet, and even small actions matter. Everyone is capable of learning about climate change and taking action in their own way.”
Original story shared by The Energy Savings Trust.