Why Hearts and Minds founder Ian McGrath set up the charity

Manchester Evening News April 18th 2013

SURVEY SHOWS AUTISTIC CHILDREN ‘LET DOWN’ BY MAINSTREAM EDUCATION

Autistic children are being ‘severely’ let down by the mainstream education system, according to new research carried out amongst UK families.

The survey of more than 200 parents found that children in infant, primary and secondary education are being given inadequate support at school – due to a lack of funding, teacher training and an understanding of the condition.

Commissioned by the Hearts & Minds Challenge – a charity which supports children and families living with autism – the research revealed that 67 per cent of parents worry that their child is not supported appropriately at school, with more than half admitting that their child has experienced negative comments, or bullying, as a result of their condition. Parents described mainstream schooling as a ‘lonely’, ‘scary’ and ‘very anxious environment’.

Ian McGrath, founder of the Hearts & Minds Challenge, said: “Autistic children are currently being severely let down by the education system, as a result of resource, time and knowledge constraints being placed on schools at every level. While there are clearly some schools that offer the right care and consideration, there is still significant room for improvement in dealing with a condition that’s often seen as a ‘hidden’ disability.

“With 69 per cent of parents stating that schools are not appropriately aware of their child’s condition and receive inadequate support and information from central Government on how to sufficiently teach them, it’s clear that something has to be done to address this growing problem.”

The results of the research coincide with World Autism Awareness Month and the introduction of a nationwide schools campaign aimed at raising awareness of the challenges faced by autistic children in mainstream education.

Designed and developed by the Hearts & Minds Challenge, together with Autism In Mind (AIM), the ‘Bubble Day’ pack provides teachers with support and advice on the best ways to integrate autistic children into the classroom, while offering simple and enjoyable activities for pupils. The learning tools are designed to show youngsters in an easy and engaging way how autistic children feel and how they would like to be treated by others.

McGrath said: “School funding has been stripped back in recent years, adding extra pressure to those professionals who teach autistic children in mainstream education.

“The ‘Bubble Day’ information pack is intended to fill that gap and provide simple ways to support teachers. At the same time, it will help pupils to understand the feelings and behaviour of autistic children, who can often feel like they live within their own bubble and struggle to communicate with the wider world.”

To date, more than 700 schools have signed up to the campaign, with requests from schools in Spain, Pakistan and South Africa.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete this survey.

Cosmic Puffin Music Festival to support Hearts and Minds

There will be a collection of old mobile phones for Hearts and Minds at this year's Cosmic Puffin Festival from May 3-5 at the Mersea Island Youth Camp, in addition to its support for the premature baby charity Bliss, the National Autistic Society, and Aldlife, that supports sufferers of ALD and AMD.

There are excellent camping facilities for families, and activities and workshops to suit children of all ages over the weekend.  Tickets are £55 for adults, £30 for teenagers up to 16 and free for under 12s accompanied by a paying adult.

Further information and ticket sales: www.cosmicpuffin.org.uk

In the news - March 2013

April is the inaugural Autism Bubble Month, supported by Hearts and Minds, but the Bubble Days started in March...

28.03.13 Uxbridge Gazette

Autism Bubble Day is also supported by Autism in Mind:

http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/news/strange-but-true/dad-wants-to-turn-burnley-blue-for-autism-awareness-1-5512139

And Anna Kennedy too:

http://annakennedyonline.com/autism-bubble-day/

Hearts and Minds received great support as always from the Messenger Newspaper:

http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/10298825.Messenger_backed_charity_helps_launch_schools_project/

Top blogger Emma White published a great article about the mobile phone recycling scheme on her blog The Real Supermum:

http://www.therealsupermumblog.com/2013/03/help-children-with-autism/

Families are also still getting great media coverage to appeal for old phones to add to their collection: this Mum appeared on Anglia TV:

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2013-03-04/mum-appeals-for-old-mobile-phones-to-help-autistic-son/

A Burnley Dad who obtained an iPad from Hearts and Minds then succeeded in persuaded bosses at Blackpool Tower to turn it blue for Autism Awareness Day!

http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/news/strange-but-true/dad-wants-to-turn-burnley-blue-for-autism-awareness-1-5512139

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK  

An iPad helps Corey with reading and writing

Friends, family and National Express Stansted helped Kirsty to collect enough old mobile phones to get an iPad for her son Corey from Hearts and Minds.

"It didn't take us too long to collect," she says.  "Luckily a lot of my friends had at least 2 phones to give us, and my Dad's wonderful company (National Express Stansted) collected the majority of the phones, the workers were wonderful and handed in tons!
       
"Corey was diagnosed at the age of 2.  We had to wait till he was 3 for the official 'paperwork' but it was recognised at 2years old, and luckily we had a lot of help from the nursery and the child development centre.  He couldn't talk, and we were told that mentally he will always be about 2 years behind his age.  He used to lash out and hit and throw tantrums, but now at age 6 he has grown out of his anger, and tends to repeat himself or get very upset or groan/jump about/flap arms or 'bounce' on the chair when stressed.  But one thing that he's always been good at, and that has always calmed him, is computers.

"He is only just learning to read and write, he talks now but still sounds like a toddler and can get very frustrated, but ever since his iPad has arrived we have noticed a huge jump in his reading and writing skills!  He's even using his imagination more! He loves playing a game called 'mine craft' and he makes models in mine craft of characters he likes such as skylanders, sonic, angry birds and mario. They are really good! He would never have done that before! He's so happy with his iPad I cant even begin to tell you and he's only had it a couple weeks and we have noticed a huge change in him!"

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK  
       

‘BUBBLE DAY’ FUN FOR AUTISM AT HILLINGDON MANOR PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was great excitement at Hillingdon Manor Primary School for their Autism Awareness Bubble Day event, featuring bubbleologist ‘Sam the Bubble Man’ on March 28 at 1pm, as part of the inaugural ‘Bubble Day’.

Autism Bubble Day was launched by the Hearts & Minds Challenge – a charity which supports children and families living with autism – together with Autism In Mind (AIM), the awareness-raising initiative aims to highlight in a fun and simple way how autistic children feel and how they would like to be treated.

Hillingdon Manor is an independent specialist school for children on the autistic spectrum between three and a half and nineteen years of age.

Anna Kennedy, OBE, Tesco Mum of the Year and founder of Hillingdon Manor School, said: “This is an exciting way for the pupils to socially interact and enjoy raising awareness about autism.”

 ‘Bubble Day’ is calling for schools, community groups and kids clubs across the region to host their very own events before, on, or after 2 April 2013, which also coincides with World Autism Day. To date, more than 730 schools have already signed up for ‘Bubble Day’.

Ian McGrath, founder of the Hearts & Minds Challenge, said: “We’re delighted that Hillingdon Manor School has got wholeheartedly involved with ‘Bubble Day’. The campaign is intended to help people understand the feelings and behaviour of autistic children, who can often feel like they live within their own bubble and struggle to communicate with the wider world.”

Ian added: “To date, more than 730 schools have already signed up to the campaign. We’d love many more schools and groups in West London to get involved in fun bubble-related activities to help us raise vital awareness of the condition.”

 The campaign is being backed by three of the charity’s dedicated celebrity patrons, Paul Scholes, Mel Sykes and Keith Duffy.

Television presenter, Mel Sykes, said: “The Hearts & Minds Challenge works tirelessly to support children and families affected by autism. The ‘Bubble Day’ campaign is yet another example of the charity’s commitment to raise awareness across the UK and I urge everyone to get involved in spreading the message far and wide.”

In the UK, there are over half a million people with autism. According to ‘Autism and education: the reality for families today’, over 40 per cent of children with autism have been bullied at school.

The Hearts & Minds Challenge aims to raise the quality of life for individuals and their families affected by autism, by ensuring the provision of the highest standards in education, care and support. For more information, please visit: http://www.heartsandmindschallenge.org/

Let's celebrate world autism awareness day!

Hearts and Minds supports families with autism, and that includes running a mobile phone recycling scheme to provide iPads in exchange for old mobile phones.

Hearts and Minds can be found here:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

YouTube
Web 

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK