North Pennines National Landscape team achieves Autism Acceptance Award

12 November 2024

The North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark team has been awarded a Silver Autism Acceptance Award by the North East Autism Society.

The awards focus on four key areas within an organisation: knowledge and understanding, changes to practice, environmental adjustments, and collaboration.

The North Pennines National Landscape and Geopark team started working towards the award in 2021, with the support of the North East Autism Society, and has now achieved the Silver Award.

The staff team has had training to increase awareness and understanding of neurodivergence and autism. At the National Landscape’s Bowlees Visitor Centre, the team has worked to understand and subsequently improve the sensory experience of neurodivergent visitors. A new visual story supports people planning to visit and helps everyone to understand what to expect from their visit. Additionally, the centre now has sensory bags for visitors to borrow, with the team also making these available at public events.

In a survey the team asked neurodivergent people, and their friends and families, to share their experiences of accessing the countryside, and looked at how this might inform future activities. They developed a new communications style guide that focuses on clear and inclusive communication with the public. The work has been shared widely, promoting acceptance of neurodiversity amongst wider groups such as local tourism businesses, and national and international networks of protected landscapes.

Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager at the North East Autism Society, said: “We are delighted to present the Autism Acceptance Silver Award to The North Pennines National Landscape team. They have shown real commitment by enhancing their awareness of neurodivergence and autism through dedicated training, and by making thoughtful adjustments that create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for neurodivergent visitors. As they work toward the Gold Award, we look forward to their continued progress in promoting acceptance and accessibility.”

Naomi Foster, Project Officer at the North Pennines National Landscape, said: “For me this all began when I heard a young autistic person speaking at a conference and what makes a good experience for her, and I thought ‘we should be doing that too’. I’ve learned so much through working towards the Autism Acceptance Award and become much more aware of the different ways that people experience the world, particularly the young people that I meet through my work.”

Chris Woodley-Stewart, Director of the North Pennines National Landscape, said: “We want everyone to have the opportunity to connect with nature and the unique landscape of the North Pennines. Working towards the Autism Acceptance Award has helped our staff to understand what we can do to improve everyone’s experience of the North Pennines, and we are proud to have achieved the Silver Award.

“This is an ongoing journey for us and the training and advice we have accessed from the North East Autism Society has helped us to build knowledge and understanding, and ultimately helps to make all areas of our work more inclusive and equitable.”

This work has been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Defra’s Access for All programme. Training for the staff team was provided through the North Pennines National Landscape’s Expanding Horizons project, funded by the Heritage Fund, using money raised by National Lottery players.

Defra’s Access for All programme paid for sensory bags to improve visitors’ experience at the North Pennines’ Bowlees Visitor Centre and at events run by the team.

ENDS