Feedback from autism training ‘makes it all worthwhile’ for Encompass Caithness
A course in Caithness led by a renowned autism trainer was hailed as “fantastic”, “insightful” and “great” by some of the 78 professionals who attended.
Sessions were delivered by Tanya Tennant over three days at Wick Youth Club, using funds raised by Encompass Caithness during the summer at shows and events.
The voluntary group is campaigning for new and improved social care services for people with autism, neurodivergent conditions and additional support needs (ASN).
A different set of 26 people attended on each of the three days from across a range of care, health and education services, including youth and family support workers.
The course followed on from a successful one-stop information shop organised by Encompass Caithness in Wick.
That event at Mackays Hotel on November 7 came about after a survey run by Encompass Caithness highlighted how many local families had been left feeling “helpless, isolated and powerless”.
Comments left on evaluation sheets from across the three days of training included “fantastic”, “insightful and informative”, “best autism course I’ve been on” and “it has given me a wider understanding of autism”.
One person wrote: “The knowledge from Tanya is great. To have information from her perspective, lived experience and professional capacity is valuable.”
Another said: “Would recommend it to anyone. This should be compulsory to all practitioners.”
And the feedback from another professional was: “I feel like I learned more from this session than years of reading books and overloading myself with information.”
Annemarie Simpson, vice-chairperson of Encompass Caithness, said: “We’ve worked very hard this year with meetings, events and networking. It has been a full-time job!
“We fundraised hard throughout the summer at various local shows and events to be able to provide this training and the successful one-stop information shop we ran in Mackays Hotel.
“The three days of training and the positive feedback from the professionals attending, who work daily supporting autistic people, make it all worthwhile. Encompass Caithness really is here to help!”
Ayrshire-based Tanya Tennant has 16 years’ experience of supporting children and adults on the autistic spectrum, both in residential care and through education. She was chosen by Encompass Caithness chairperson Sarah Scollay as they had worked together previously.
Ms Scollay said: “We’d like to say a huge thank-you to Tanya Tennant for coming north for three days to deliver this training for us. She is amazing.
“Thanks to all who attended the course who equally care and wish to help and improve their services.
“We are grateful to Julie Mackinnon at Wick Youth Club for her continued support in supplying our venue and more. And thanks to everyone who donates money, helps us fundraise and supports us at every stage of our campaign.”
Each person attending the training left with a certificate for a foundation course that contains elements of understanding autism, understanding and supporting sensory differences in autism and understating anxiety and distressed behaviour.
Meanwhile, the Encompass Caithness raffle known as The Big One has been drawn, with 74 prizes donated by local businesses.
Treasurer Bev Thurling said: “This raffle was a great fundraiser for us and has raised just shy of £5000 – a welcome boost to our funds as we plan forward to continue to help and support our autistic, neurodiverse and ASN families in need.”
Ms Simpson added: “We will be taking a short break for December now, while Sarah continues her extensive cancer treatments, and will plan ahead for the next stages in the new year.”
