A Swindon charity which provides support for adults with Asperger’s and autistic spectrum conditions has been given a £90,000 boost by the Big Lottery.

DASH, which stands for Discovering Autistic Spectrum Happiness, provides support groups for those on the autistic spectrum and their families. It also runs an information and advice service, Autism Matters, which will be supported and expanded by the lottery funding of £89,433 over three years.

Adrian Embling, the manager of DASH, said: “This means we can expand our service, from 10 hours of information and advice a week to 16 hours.

“Demand from those who have been diagnosed, and also from those who haven’t, is increasing.

“From 200 referrals a year a few years ago, last year we were nearer the 400 mark, and we are on track for this again this year, even though we are only in September.

“It just shows that people are becoming more aware of spectrum disorders. I think people are more willing to come forwards and ask for help.”

With 13 part-time staff employed by the charity, including those involved in running support groups and providing information, but also administrative and management staff, the money will go towards not only making sure that they are open longer, but also allowing staff the time they need to provide a high-quality service.

Adrian said: “Because of the parlous state of our funding, we have had to pool all of our staff, so they didn’t have any down time: time to make a phone call, do some research or carry out training.

“Our advisers need a little bit of time: they see somebody, then they need time to go and do a bit of research. Now they actually have time to do that.

“One of the things DASH prides itself on is being one step ahead, and spotting emerging needs. When we talk to people, we’re trying to work out what they will need in their life and then provide that.”

Adrian was full of praise for the diagnosis system that was available in Swindon, and for the council who support the charity in their work.

He said: “Swindon is quite well served, because it does have a diagnosis team, which means you can be diagnosed.

“It’s getting better for children in schools. Schools are getting better at spotting people and helping them get a diagnosis.

“We can’t support children, but we can support parents of children with autism.

“If you’re an adult, there really isn’t anything out there – well, there’s DASH, which is a lifeline for people.

“We have to thank Swindon Borough Council for letting us occupy our room in Sanford House for free: it gives us a place we can meet people.”