Autism charity praises Fender's £25k support

13 minutes ago

Jason Arunn MurugesuNorth East and Cumbria

News image — AutismAble received £25,000 from Sam Fender

AutismAble Band of seven people posing in front of a drum kit and speakers while smiling. There are in a room with blinds on the windows. The person on the left is holding a whiteboard which reads: "AutismAble was Here". The person on the right is holding a black guitar. There are three women crouched in front of the drum kit. The man at the drum kit is smiling in a black top and holding the cymbal. There are wires strewn across the floor. — AutismAble received £25,000 from Sam Fender

An organisation for neurodivergent people has praised singer and musician Sam Fender for his £25,000 donation.

AutismAble, in South Shields, is a community interest company aimed at serving people with autism and learning difficulties across Tyne and Wear.

The money, raised from Fender's latest concert tour, was matched by the charity Youth Music so that AutismAble received £50,000 in total.

AutismAble's lead music practitioner Ian Black said Fender's support meant a "huge amount to us".

Black said the charity's music outreach programme, Future Collaborations, was aimed at letting young people create music together.

"With a little bit of support, we've seen young people find confidence, find their voice and take real steps forward in music," he said.

"Sam Fender's support means a huge amount to us and to the young people in the North East who deserve these opportunities."

REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Robbie Williams has short grey hair and a black and white patterned formal jacket. He is embracing Sam Fender who has short brown hair and is holding a Brit Award. He is wearing a dark jacket. Olivia Dean is standing next to them with long dark hair and wearing a patterned black dress. — Angels singer Robbie Williams (left) presented Sam Fender and Olivia Dean with the award for song of the year in February

Youth Music, which is working with Fender, said there was still another £50,000 – half of which was donated by Fender – to hand out to an organisation in north-east England.

A second project to receive the money will be announced in August, the charity said.

Youth Music interim co-head Carol Reid said the organisation's focus was working with local charities providing life changing opportunities for marginalised young people.

"They're often organisations that really sort of go under the radar," she said.

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