About Sparkle Sheffield
Sparkle Sheffield is a local registered charity that supports children and young people from birth to 25 with Autism Spectrum Conditions and other social communication difficulties. Founded and run by parents who have autistic children, we understand what life is like and how we can work together to improve our children’s and our family’s life.
Sparkle Sheffield exists to support families with autistic children meet the challenges they face, feel less isolated, less frightened and more empowered. Autism affects individuals and their families in a wide variety of ways and the approach we use recognises these individualities.
Sparkle Sheffield aim to support and help individuals and families by providing:
• Opportunities for children and families to create a support network with others in similar situations - we regularly organise online and in-person events where children and families can meet others without fear of judgment.
• Providing support for autistic individuals including social groups, activities and forming friendships - we host regular events such as Ninja Warrior, swimming, cinema trips and other fun activities.
• Providing a circle of support for individuals to feel they belong and fit in, have friends and develop the strategies and skills they need to succeed in life.
• Most importantly - we have lots of fun in the process!
In addition, Sparkle Sheffield also provide:
• Education about this complex condition and strategies to support autistic children and young people.
• Helping parents/carers to understand neurodiversity and in turn increase the child’s opportunities and positive experiences.
Take a look around our website to see what else we get up to and how we support children and families.
Sparkle Membership
Sparkle Membership
Join our Sparkle Family through our membership scheme. For a low yearly price, for the whole family, get priority access to our events, support sessions and discounted activities. For further details click here.
MembershipDonate
Donate
Sparkle Sheffield relies on donations to provide the support to our families. All donations go directly back to our children and providing the activities for them and support for their families.
Donate NowBecome A Volunteer
Become A Volunteer
Sparkle Sheffield is run by volunteers. Many of our volunteers have children with autism spectrum disorders. All our membership groups, activities and sparkle groups can only happen because of the dedication of our volunteers.
Volunteer Now
Upcoming Events...
For a full calendar of all our upcoming events, download the Sparkle Sheffield app from the App Store!
Testimonials
“ My two grandchildren both access Sparkle Sheffield and they have been a lifeline for the whole family. My son and his wife both have learnt so much from them and get so much support. As a granddad I have been able to join events and trips with my grandchildren and without Sparkle Sheffield putting on events that are suitable for the children I would have missed out on this aspect of being a granddad”
Grandparent
“As a father I found accessing support and information for my children really difficult. At Sparkle events I always feel welcomed and there are other dad’s there to speak too, its not just for mum's “
Steve
“Sparkle Sheffield made us feel very welcome from the first day. My children get to experience things they would not otherwise be able too such as animal handling, music sessions and parties”
Sarah
“Sparkle really are an amazing charity, the events they do are brilliant, we went on the new year party at monkey business & it was so good for our kids, our little boy has autism & really struggles in noisy busy environments but this event was quiet, not too busy & the food included was lovely just right for kids :) my other 2 children also really enjoyed it, I always love a SEN event because everyones in a similar situation & you dont get the dirty looks or rude comments, always enjoyable on sparkle events!! “
Dyane
“Thank you so so much for all your help everyone at Sparkle we wouldn’t have got through this without your guidance and support”
Kerry
My eldest was diagnosed at the age of two, and after that hundreds of emails, phone calls, internet searches and hitting a brick all, I finally got handed a small leaflet about an autism charity called Sparkle Sheffield – a charity who supported families and brought them together for this common reason where we didn’t feel alone and isolated.
John
To whom it concerns, Sparkle Sheffield has been involved with my family for about 4 years now. In the beginning it was providing me information on autism as we’d only just had diagnosis and general support coping with her needs. As time went on they grew and we were able to join some activities provided by them for our children so they can engage in fun together and to make friends and play in a supported environment.
Anon
Sparkle Sheffield have made an enormous difference to our lives. When our son was diagnosed at age 5 we knew nothing about autism. We were handed a few leaflets and told we were on a waiting list for parent information sessions that were months away. It became apparent that information and support was few and far between. As the weeks went by we felt more and more isolated.
Emma
Past Sponsors
Auti-Talk presents the Lord Mayor of Sheffield 2016
Raising awareness is one of the most important things that we do. Thanks to BBC Look North, Sheffield TV Live and BBC’s The One Show , BBC Radio Sheffield, Hallam FM they have really helped us to make a real difference in doing just that. A HUGE thank you from all of us from Sparkle Sheffield
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