A CHARITY that helps people affected by autism is celebrating a £400,000 funding boost from the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Daisy Chain in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, will use the money to help fund the support services it offers to local families and individuals affected by autism.

As well as the continuation of the core services the charity currently offers, the funding will allow the further development of Daisy Chain’s employability service, which gives young adults affected by autism the opportunity to access a range of different courses and workshops.

These cover a variety of employability areas, including interview skills and CV writing, as well as offering work placements with a number of local businesses.

The funding will also allow Daisy Chain to continue to develop its current outdoor provision, which includes access to gardens, allotments, polytunnels, sensory areas and more.

Neeraj Sharma, Daisy Chain’s chief executive, said: “We rely on the generosity of supporters like players of People’s Postcode Lottery and this funding is vital for us to continue to offer our holistic services to families and individuals affected by autism who depend on us for support."