We've been looking back at the services and support our all-autistic team at SWAN of staff and volunteers have delivered for autistic women and non-binary people all across Scotland over the past year
It’s been a busy and exciting 12-months at SWAN!
Our in-person groups have spread far and wide across Scotland, our Post-Diagnosis/Self-Identification support has reached more people than ever, we’ve welcomed some amazing autistic speakers to our wellbeing webinars, and our all-autistic staff and volunteer teams have grown.
Our Development & Delivery Manager Becky was nominated for the National Diversity Awards, our Volunteer Coordinator Mandy launched an exciting new Autistic Joy Podcast (oh and won a GOLD MEDAL in her spare time!) and our CEO Lyndsay was invited to attend the Royal Garden Party.
We've also worked in partnership with some incredible organisations including EarthSelf, EDAC (Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative), Walking Scotland (formerly Paths for All) and DAPL (Drug and Alcohol Project Leven) and been championed and supported by Scottish Autism, Inspiring Scotland and all our funders.
Not to mention the amazing supporters who have raised funds for SWAN through gigs, online tabletop games and sponsored walks!
As we count the numbers, evaluate our services and write reports for funders, we don’t often make time to really stop and recognise our hard work and achievements in the Third Sector - we’re always busy with the next plan, thinking about future funding, or wondering how we can do even better.
So we thought it was important to step back and look at just HOW MUCH our all-autistic team, including our 62 volunteers, have delivered for autistic women and non-binary people across Scotland over the past 12 months:
- 3447 attendances across a total of 310 in-person and online groups!
- 187 in-person groups run across 22 locations
- 23 walking groups run across 6 locations
- 1037 attendances at 12 wellbeing webinars
- 108 people came to a Pre-Diagnosis group
- 139 people attended a Post-Diagnosis course
- 287 hours of 1-2-1 support & counselling
- 1727 people trained across 76 organisations
- 1588 members using our online forum
Many organisations would celebrate by organising a busy, social team day or a big event - but as an autistic led Charity SWAN likes to take a neuro-affirming approach and do things a little differently.
To value our staff - and all of the energy, thought and care they put into making sure SWAN delivers the best we can for as many of you as possible - we're celebrating with a Staff Wellbeing Day, when we'll 'close' SWAN for the day for rest, reflection, joy and self care!
We'll post nearer the time to let you know we'll not be around that day - and you might even be inspired to plan a day of autistic-self care for yourself..!