A LLAY-BASED autism support charity is to get a near £500,000 cash windfall to help provide much-needed services for families in Wrexham.

Your Space successfully bid for the £499,924 grant from the National Lottery's Community Fund and will spend it over the next five years providing a range of services for young people aged from infancy to 25 who have autism or a related condition.

The charity, which is based at the Llay Park Resource Centre, also supports the parents of autistic children and the lottery money will enable it to launch a sit-in service, respite care, more family support, a teenage youth club as well as fund family days out and community training.

The charity has appointed Helen Bowness-Hughes as an outreach worker with some of the award.

She said: "I am very excited to be the newly appointed family outreach worker as this newly funded role will be able to provide bespoke support to families who have a child or children on the autistic spectrum.

"The role will cover practical and emotional support for parents as well as co-ordinating and organising training and skill building group sessions for families and carers."

Your Space was set up more than five years ago to help young people with autism and their families, many who are under pressure trying to secure specialist help to ensure their children get an education.

Among the support the charity already offers are activities and clubs for children and a sensory room at its Llay centre providing a stimulating and calming play area.

Sarah Bowles, Funding Officer at The National Lottery Community Fund, says in making its bid Your Space demonstrated it had engaged with a large number of people affected by autism.

“The committee felt that over the next five years this project will improve the lives both of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families," said Ms Bowles.

"Your Space's application showed it engaged widely, both with people with autism, and with their family members to design the service it described."

Wrexham's Polish Integration Support Centre CIC received a £9,990 lottery grant to secure a base in the town which will enable the Polish community access services, including bilingual and resilience workshops for children and adults to help combat bullying.

The grant will pay for office costs and workshops.

Other lottery recipients in the region are the Art and Soul Tribe in Connah’s Quay which will use its £8,734 award to pilot a mental health project in partnership with Hawarden High School to raise awareness, support and increase self-esteem among young people.

Flint-based Giddo's Gift has received £2,500 to provide snack boxes to young people going through cancer treatment.

Meanwhile, Ysgol Bryn Collen in Llangollen is to deliver a digital community project using its £8,480 grant to buy production equipment and artist time as well as laying on catering for a showcase event.