LEISURE: Haskins hosts autism friendly festive shopping night

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Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown is supporting Autism Wessex this Christmas by hosting a festive shopping night.

The event will take place from 6.30-8pm on 27 November and will be the second autism friendly shopping night Haskins have hosted since forming a partnership with the charity last year. Autism Wessex provides high quality specialist services for adults and children affected by autism throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

The event is open exclusively to those affected by autism and their families and will allow people to enjoy festive activities such as crafts and meeting Father Christmas in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Thomas Johnston, Fundraising Manager at Autism Wessex, said: “We are delighted that staff are willing to give families affected by autism an opportunity to experience Haskins’ festive cheer.

 We hope that Haskins’ example will show other businesses and the wider community how easy and rewarding it can be to become more autism-friendly.”

The garden centre nominated Autism Wessex as ‘Charity of the Year’ in 2018, with more than £5,000 raised through a variety of events held at the Ferndown centre and from change collected from Haskins’ ‘Wishing Well’.

Simon Hallam, General Manager at Haskins, said: “Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones and we’re proud to be working with Autism Wessex to host an event which promotes inclusivity at our centre.”

No pre-booking is required however the centre’s restaurant will close at 5pm on this date. For more information click here. 

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