Speakers Charity of the Year!

We are delighted to have been chosen as the Tower Hamlets Speakers' Charity of the Year

Tower Project are proud to announce that Tower Hamlets Speaker Cllr Shafi Ahmed has chosen the Tower Project as his charity of the year and would like to specifically support its Autism Day Service ‘First Start’.

Cllr Ahmed visited the Tower Project Head Office and the New Dawn Day Service to meet with CEO Gerald O’Shaughnessy along with First Autism Day Service Manager Belinda Foster to discuss the incredible work and development that has taken place since the Covid-19 pandemic. Cllr Shafi was clearly impressed with the enthusiasm of the staff and the joyful environment he experienced, as he spoke to service users and was even tempted to join in with a game of cricket!

With Covid-19 causing lockdowns across the country, Tower Project services remained on the front line; with video calls to clients, delivering shopping to its families in need, providing respite and ensuring all families were coping and had everything they needed. When the doors to the Autism Day Service were given the all clear to open fully re-open, one parent of a First Start user said “My son has been back at First Start for one day and I’ve noticed the difference in his behaviours. He is calmer and a lot happier now. His behaviour has changed overnight his anxieties have decreased and I feel like I have my son back again”.

Following on from his visit to the Tower Project, Cllr Ahmed will now host a meeting at the Town Hall where they will discuss planning and fundraising for the First Start service which provides bespoke services specifically for people living with an Autism Spectrum Condition. Based on the Isle of Dogs, the service was developed in April 2004 and has attained accreditation through The National Autistic Society.