“It Helps with My Independence”

Recent research suggests that only three in ten autistic people are currently in employment – an indication that greater understanding and support are needed to help autistic individuals access meaningful work.

But one person who is helping to challenge that statistic is Sam.

Sam lives at one of our homes, Tigh Bruadair in Gainsborough, and works as a volunteer at the Sense charity in the town centre.

She has worked at the shop for the past 12 months and thoroughly enjoys it. Working alongside a team of volunteers, she helps sort the mountains of donations the shop receives every week.

From sifting through the clothes to labelling them and racking them up ready to sell on the shop floor.

The work is varied and helps Sam build her confidence. As she started to sift through the next box of donations, Sam said, “It helps with my independence. I like it here, everyone is really friendly and they help me.”

Since starting work, Sam’s confidence has grown significantly, and her outlook on employment is more positive as it has given her something meaningful to look forward to and has helped her become more open both at work and at home.

Nicola Verity-Smith, Manager at the Sense charity shop, said Sam had fitted in really well and gets along with the rest of the team. “I think dealing with different people has really built her confidence. Because when we have had someone new, she has been a bit shy, but she is more open now and is less worried.

“It has been an absolute joy to know Sam, first as a customer for many years and then as one of the team. Seeing her grow more confident and independent is just one of the many wonderful parts of working within Sense.”

To further support her growing independence and social interaction, Sam regularly makes teas and coffees for the staff and prepares her own dinner.

Sam works every Friday and it can range from an hour to several hours in the day, depending upon the shop’s needs or her other commitments. This flexibility allows her to continue developing her skills while maintaining a healthy routine.

Louise Jones, Registered Manager at Tigh Bruadair, said, “Sam loves going to work every Friday. She can’t wait to get started and never really wants to come away. Sam is an outgoing person anyway, but you can see a notable difference in her confidence, which is great for her own personal goals.”

Her journey highlights how opportunities like volunteering can support personal growth, build social skills, and help individuals feel more connected to their community – something which we actively encourage the people we support to do.

Sense is a leading disability charity based in the United Kingdom that supports individuals who are deafblind or have other disabilities.