The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls (FBA)
- Encourage sixth form students to become FBA Autism Ambassadors, who work in partnership with the RIEES Autism Club in Romford to suport 18-25 year old people with autism in the community. FBA Autism Ambassadors are also involved in organising a key event in Havering by working with community partners at the Autism Sunday Service held at St. Alban’s Church in Romford. The students are also involved in following a historic and groundbreaking Leadership Development and Autism Volunteering Course with with the RIEES Charity.
- Provide opportunities for the FBA Autism Ambassadors to reflect on what they have learnt and achieved in their role and encourage them to promote the benefits of getting involved in this high quality social action to their younger peers within the academy.
Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls Autism & Disabilities Club ran a very successful Havering Autism Sunday Service and a historic Autism Sunday Art Exhibition – the key focus was a beautiful Pilgrimage Painting by young people with autism in Romford supported by FBA Autism Ambassadors.
Our volunteers told the rest of the school about their experiences through assemblies, newsletters, using the school twitter account. Havering Magazine, the official magazine of the London Borough of Havering featured the Pilgrimage Painting and the work of the FBA Autism and Disabilities – this magazine goes to every single home, business, school, voluntary organisations, charities, libraries in the London Borough of Havering so the entire borough was informed.
The whole #iwill campaign was featured in the successful FBA/RIEES Graduation Ceremony in Romford with an #iwill Ambassador addressing a large audience in July 2015. #iwill campaign leaflets were also given out at an assembly to the new intake of the FBA Sixth Form. The work of the FBA Autism & Disabilities Club enjoys the full support of the member of parliament, the Leader of Havering Council, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Havering. In July, Councillors at a full council meeting in Havering Town Hall, paid a very moving tribute to the work of the FBA Autism Ambassadors.
Quote from Ivan Corea, Teacher-in-Charge
“FBA Autism Ambassadors with the Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls Autism & Disabilities Club have given so much in a spirit of love and compassion to the vulnerable in Romford, working with young people with autism, 14-25 year olds with the RIEES Autism Club based at Romford Baptist Church. They have shown true compassionate leadership – this has been youth social action at its finest…”
