Adam, Emma, Rebecca, Stephen and Peter put their best foot forward to raise more than £2,300 for Autonomie

On Sunday 30th April 2023 Adam Black, Emma Cockcroft, Rebecca Black, Stephen Black and Peter Quinn successfully achieved their Belfast City Marathon relay race ambitions after weeks of training and an online fundraising drive helped to raise more than £2,300 for Autonomie.

Autonomie volunteer Emma Cockcroft completed the relay with Adam Black, Rebecca Black and their dad Stephen and Peter Quinn.

Autonomie Chief Executive Lynne Morrison on race day said:

“Fantastic achievement for each one of the team.

Donations can be made by the official fundraising page.

3 members of the Black family on why they took on a Marathon relay challenge for Autonomie

Meet the Black family! Hannah is a young service user at Autonomie and Dad Stephen and sister Rebecca and brother Stephen took on the Belfast City marathon on Sunday 30th April 2023 to fundraise for us and this is their inspirational story in the words of Dad Stephen:

“Autonomie has helped our family massively providing opportunities for Hannah to make new friends and tackle challenging opportunities.

“Their staff have provided Fionnuala and I support and advice and are always available when we need them.

“They are a small, but vitally important charity who give so much for young people with disabilities.

“My daughter, Rebecca, son Stephen and I are proud to give a little back by running a leg of the Belfast Marathon for their relay team.”

Update: Management Review Committee meeting Thursday 11th May 2023

UPDATE: The Management Review Committee Meeting is postponed and the next MRC will be held on Thursday 11th May 2023.

For queries please contact Chief Executive Lynne Morrison by email at autonomieorg@gmail.com

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all board members for their continued and much valued contribution.

Autonomie Supporter Peter Quinn shares personal motivation behind his Belfast City Marathon relay challenge for Autonomie

Peter Quinn is again this year gearing up to take on Belfast City Marathon challenge to support Autonomie and we are so thankful to Peter and relay team.

Peter shares his motivations on why he is taking on the challenge:

“Once more I am dragging my broken body around a leg of the Belfast Marathon to raise money for a small local charity called Autonomie.

“Many of you will know about my daughter Niamh and the challenges that she has faced and now as a young adult it is charities like Autonomie that help her build her confidence and develop and build both social and independent living skills.

“In a time of austerity any small donation to this great cause would be greatly appreciated.”

You can help raise money for Autonomie by donating online: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/AutonomieBelfastMarathon2023?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=one_page&utm_content=campaign/AutonomieBelfastMarathon2023&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=b70d20b5d185490ea3474bf4df00711e

JustGiving sends your donation straight to Autonomie and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more.

“Niamh pictured in the bucket hat with some of the other young people at Autonomie and the second photo is my traditional post marathon cool down as favoured by Mo Farah and Usain Bolt I believe.”

Good luck with the final leg of the training Peter.

Autonomie is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.

Incredible £706.80 raised by Autonomie Supporters at Youth Committee/SAIL Easter Coffee Morning Fundraiser

On Thursday at the Youth Committee/ SAIL Coffee Morning the Easter Raffle raised £363.80 and the Easter Stall raised £343.00.

Total raised an amazing £706.80!

Autonomie Chief Executive, Lynne Morrison says: “Thank you to all parents, families, staff, volunteers and everyone who donated, supported and attended the Event.”

SAIL Fundraising Easter Event 6 April 2023 at Finaghy Youth Centre, Belfast

SAIL is delighted to host a cracking Fundraising Easter Event for Autonomie parents, carers or extended family on Thursday 6 April 2023 from 10.00am - 12.00pm at Finaghy Youth Centre, Belfast.

There will be Coffee, Tea & Yummy Home Made Treats and you will be able to purchase some lovely Easter Baskets/Hampers, Activity Books, Scratch Art kits at our egg-citing stalls.

The Young People are also holding an Easter Ballot/Raffle at the event for some lovely Easter Prizes.

We hope to see you there!

Autonomie supporters take on Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon fundraising challenge

On your marks, get set, go Team Autonomie!

Our awesome supporters Emma Cockcroft, Peter Quinn, Rebecca Black, Stephen Black and Stephen Cockcroft have gone and signed up for the Belfast Marathon!

We are so grateful and proud of what they are doing for our amazing charity and are super excited to cheer the Autonomie relay team on Sunday 30th April.

Keep following our Facebook page for updates to learn more about their challenge.

You can donate to their awesome challenge on JustGiving!

We really appreciate your support.

Give it up for the awesome Autonomie Relay Team!

Youth Committee Meeting Tuesday 28th March 2023

Ahead of the next Autonomie Youth Committee Meeting on Tuesday 28 March Autonomie Chief Executive Lynne Morison has this message of thanks to the Young People for leading the way!

“The Young People are at the fore ensuring Autonomie continues to deliver high-quality Youth programmes that Young People with physical disabilities, mild to moderate learning disabilities, and allied conditions want to have access to.

“Autonomie’s interactive and fun community-based Youth Programmes are vital in helping Young People build self-confidence and develop self-awareness and provide emotional and practical support during transition between adolescence and adulthood.

“It is vital that we not only recognise the valuable contribution of the Youth Committee but commend each and every member for their leadership, passion and commitment helping shape the services that matter most to them.”

This committee will be planning the April - August 23 programme for our Youth Programmes.

Saturday Saunter walking club off to a great start this year with more Parent Carers and Siblings than ever taking part

Autonomie’s Family Voice Hub’s walking club ‘Saturday Saunter’ got off to a great start on Saturday 21st January with more parents and siblings taking part than ever. The latest group headed out for a walk around Finaghy after the Freedom2Choose 2:00pm drop off.

Of course, we stopped off for well-deserved cuppa before heading back to Finaghy Youth Club to pick our Very Important Young People up at 4pm.

“Great to catch-up, have adult conversation and just the tonic for our mental well-being and not forgetting exercise.”

“Looking forward to next one!” - Sharon Quinn, Family Voice Hub Co-Ordinator.

Hope to see you there!

Freedom2Choose Programme activities schedule January -

Freedom2Choose programme is all about young people with additional needs having fun and having access to activities all young people should be able to access.

From social and recreational group-based activities to enjoying what the local community has to offer, Freedom2Choose offers these young people vital opportunities to social, feel part of a community and so much more.

The latest exciting activities programme schedule for January - June 2023 is now available.