Rubik's Cubes give us friendship and a community
Louise AllinsonA mother said attending Rubik's Cubes competitions had given her son "confidence and social skills".
Thomas, 15, from Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, first became interested when he was given some cubes as a Christmas present.
Now he is the sixth fastest in the country for one type - the clock - and hopes one day to get a national record at a specific cube.
His mother Louise Allinson, 43, said: "It's a wonderful community, a lot of the children are neurodivergent and they are really supportive of each other."
The Rubik's Cube, a 3D puzzle solved by twisting, was invented by Erno Rubik in 1974 and at least 350 million have been sold worldwide.
Thomas learnt from a family friend and soon began attending competitions.
"I think it's mainly the social aspect that I quite enjoy," he said.
"Everyone speaks the same Rubik's Cube sort of language and we all get on really well."
He averages nine seconds on a standard 3x3 puzzle and in his main event, the clock puzzle, is currently ranked sixth fastest in the UK.
Louise AllinsonAllinson runs a Rubik's Cubes club at the local library with her son.
"I started learning to support Thomas, he's autistic and his cubing journey has really helped develop his confidence and social skills," she said.
They have arranged for the UK Cube Association to host an event at The Hopetown Railway Museum, Darlington, on 16-17 May with more than 60 competitors from around the UK.
"This is the first time there's been one on Teesside," she said.
"Interest is definitely growing.
"Children do want to win, but everyone is happy for whoever wins, it's just a lovely group of people."
