Sensory Christmas party for charity helping autistic children

Our Dundee Kirkton store's community champion Samantha Will sprinkled a little festive magic by helping arrange a sensory party for a local charity supporting children and young people with autism.

She helped Dundee Spectrum, which runs an after-school club, holiday play scheme and youth club, apply for a grant from the Asda Foundation to pay for a Christmas party and then secured an extra donation to pay for sensory equipment which they can re-use at future parties.

Lori Clark, Spectrum manager, and Pam Bolger, support worker at Spectrum, said: “As a charity, we would not have been able to host our special sensory party this Christmas without Asda’s help.

“The children who attend our group are autistic, some with multiple diagnoses, and the sensory equipment helped them to relax and enjoy a special afternoon.

“It’s also amazing that, as a group, we are able to keep this equipment to allow our children to continue to enjoy in the years ahead, including at our after-school club. We can’t thank the Asda Foundation enough!”

Sam said she was really pleased she could help the group.

She said: “Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and I am delighted that through the Asda Foundation I was able to help make it an even more magical time for the young people who attend Spectrum Dundee.

“The group does an amazing job year-round in supporting local children, along with their families, so I wanted to make its Christmas celebrations – and the months ahead – that little bit more special, thanks to the new sensory equipment."