An autistic-led Cumbrian company has won a top national mental health award.
Aupeer CIC was awarded the Star Project award and a cash prize in the Peer Support in Marginalised Communities category of the Marsh Awards, run by The Marsh Charitable Trust and mental health charity MIND.
The awards recognise outstanding work in the not-for-profit sector and particularly excellence in mental health peer support.
Charlotte Fox, founder director and peer support lead, said: “We are overjoyed for our work to be recognised through this award and it is especially wonderful to have done so in our start-up year.
“The finalists in our category were all excellent and it was delightful to be a part of a ceremony showcasing the value of peer support and how it makes a difference.
“Autistic people are a marginalised community and many do experience appalling levels of poor mental health, an issue that is too often left out of mainstream conversations about wellbeing and health.
“To be commended for our professional approach by the judging panel on the night is testament to our commitment to delivering quality, safe and effective wellbeing support for autistic adults.
“We are thrilled to be able to demonstrate the power and effectiveness of grassroots autistic led mental health intervention, truly doing it for ourselves and we are so proud to be able to represent the autistic community.”
Aupeer CIC aims to deliver wellbeing support by offering an online platform for autistic adults to meet other people with similar identities through peer support groups and one-to-ones.
To find out more, email hello@aupeer.org.uk
