Fundraiser raises awareness for Stroud Court's A Home for Tom appeal

Stroud Court launched the A Home for Tom appeal earlier this year to build and renovate their accommodation to make every house autism friendly.

In a ten year project, Stroud Court is aiming to build three new accommodation blocks and extend an existing one.

On Saturday, September 17, the Great Western Railway charity cake sale raised £240 for the appeal.

Commuters could choose from a range of delicious cakes at the sale at Stroud railway station.

Cakes were made by the team at Great Western Railway along with staff and family members from Stroud Court.

Helen Kay, fundraising development appeal manager at Stroud Court thanked Great Western Railway for supporting the event.

She said: "Not only has the cake sale raised valuable funds to support autistic adults, the railway station was the perfect location to tell people about the spacious new home we are building for our most complex group of residents."

Sophie Taft, from Great Western Railway added: “GWR are keen to reach out to our local communities and so we are delighted to support the A Home for Tom appeal, which will make a tremendous difference to the lives of those who will live there.

"By supporting Stroud Court we have also encouraged the use of assisted travel and educated our community as to how this can provide support throughout people's rail journeys."

The appeal is named after an autistic man called Tom who has been helped by moving to accommodation at Stroud Court.

Stroud Court was established in 1983 by a group of parents frustrated by the lack of provision for their autistic children.

Today the charity supports thirty five autistic adults with complex health needs, varying levels challenging behaviour, sensory impairments and seizure disorders.

Their aim is to address the characteristic disabling effects of autism and to make life more meaningful for those who live there.

Find out more about the A Home for Tom appeal by visiting bit.ly/2dlY7hn