Poles apart!
What could be better than a flag-raising in the glorious sunshine to mark the start of Autism Acceptance Week? It has to be two flag-raisings in the sunshine to kick off our Autism Acceptance Week celebrations!
It was a glorious morning in Barking as we got our Autism Acceptance Week activities under way by raising our Sycamore Trust flag above Barking Town Hall once again.
We were delighted to welcome a number of LBBD councillors to help with the ceremony, most notably Cllr Jane Jones, the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care & Disabilities who welcomed all our visitors to the Town Hall. Also in attendance was Cllr Irma Freeborn from Goresbrook Ward, Cllr Syed Ghani from Valence Ward and Cllr Faruk Choudhury from Longbridge. Cllr Jones made a lovely speech, and was followed by Sycamore's Steve Dixon, who remarked on the importance of this week for us at Sycamore, both in raising awareness of autism and also to improive the profile of Sycamore Trust UK.
The last word went to the leader of the Council, Dominic Twomey, who spoke about how Barking & Dagenham was a borough that welcomed everyone and how important it is that no-one feels left behind.
Once the speeches were over, it was over to Cllr Jones and Sycamore Autism Ambassador, Robert Lamb, to raise the flag.
Once the flag was flying high above the Town Hall, there was no time to waste, as the Sycamore Trust delegation headed swiftly to Romford, to perform a similar ceremony outside the Town Hall in the borough of Havering. This time we were welcomed by none other than the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Gerry O'Sullivan, who spoke and was followed by members of the clergy who said a prayer for Sycamore Trust and the Havering autistic community.
The Mayor then raised the flag, which we're pleased to say, found a breeze so we could get a decent photograph!
Autism Acceptance Week is under way - to find out what we're up to; click here; https://www.sycamoretrust.org.uk/latest/article/Plans-in-place%21