Autism Guernsey: Changing Lives, Building Understanding, Strengthening Guernsey

As Guernsey marked Trustees’ Week, Autism Guernsey Chairman David Harry reflected on the vital role of collaboration, understanding, and sustainable support for our third sector and why shaping a stronger, more inclusive island community matters more than ever.

This week has been a time to pause, reflect and celebrate the many islanders who give their time, skills, and experience to guide Guernsey charities. It’s also a time to ask some bigger questions about what our third sector really means to Guernsey and what would happen without it.

For many of us working in the charity space, that question is more than a campaign slogan it’s a reality check. #WithoutUs is not just a clever hashtag; it’s a powerful reminder of the invisible scaffolding that supports so many lives across Guernsey every day.

Every charity has a story, but behind each one is a group of people quietly working behind the scenes, the trustees. These are individuals who give their time voluntarily to help steer the organisation, ensure good governance, and safeguard its future.

At Autism Guernsey, our trustees bring together a mix of lived experience, professional expertise, and a shared belief in what’s possible. They are professionals, parents in my case a grandparent, people who understand that autism doesn’t define someone’s potential it is simply part of who they are.

Trusteeship can sometimes feel like a hidden role, but it’s one of the most important. As one trustee put it recently, “We’re here to make sure Autism Guernsey can still be here tomorrow, doing what it does best, changing lives.”

Autism Guernsey’s mission is simple yet transformative: to help people on the autism spectrum live fulfilled, supported, and understood lives. That mission stretches across the entire community from children struggling to manage at school, to adults and parents and carers trying to navigate family life.

We often see individuals come to us at breaking point, overwhelmed, anxious, or misunderstood. With the right support, that can all change. The transformation can be remarkable. People rediscover confidence, families reconnect, and workplaces become more inclusive.

Autism Guernsey doesn’t just work with individuals we work with their circles of support. That includes families, friends, teachers, colleagues, and employers. Because understanding is everything. It’s the spark that unlocks empathy and the tool that allows inclusion to take root.

We have been working with Autism & Me to promote their fantastic community social events and initiatives, their work has been transformative locally for families.

As one service user told us:

“Autism Guernsey and Julia Watts (CEO) has provided me with unwavering support during the past 7 years since I received my diagnosis (age 33). I was not prepared for the enormity of what an ASD diagnosis would mean for me: it has redefined my understanding of myself, my relationships with family and friends, my employment, my health … the way I judged my past, and how I can shape my future. Julia helped me through all the ups and downs of that journey with endless patience, empathy and skill. She and Autism Guernsey takes the time and care to truly understand the person behind the diagnosis and give them, perhaps for the first time, a voice.”

It’s easy to think of Autism Guernsey as a “niche” charity one that supports a small number of islanders. But spend a little time talking to people and you’ll quickly realise that autism touches far more lives than many imagine.

Ask around, and you’ll hear stories of children, colleagues, cousins, and friends who are autistic. Autism is a spectrum, and as we often say: if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.

That’s why awareness and education are at the heart of everything we do. Through our training programmes, we work with organisations across every sector from the Ambulance Service to banks and trust companies. Our goal is to make workplaces more understanding, more flexible, and ultimately more human.

When businesses and public services learn what autism is and how to recognise it, they become more inclusive employers and service providers. That has a direct social and economic impact, improving productivity, reducing staff turnover, and enabling more people to thrive in their jobs. Inclusion isn’t just a moral issue; it’s an economic one too.

Like many in the third sector, we rely heavily on the generosity of our community and the corporate sector to fund our work. Donations, sponsorships, and community fundraising events are the heartbeat that keeps our services running.

But there’s another side to the story one that speaks to the economics of sustainability.

In recent years, more individuals have been referred to Autism Guernsey through the States. Each of these referrals represents someone who needs specialist support and we’re proud to provide it. However, when referrals become part of the system, we must ensure that the funding and commissioning models that accompany them are mutually beneficial.

It’s not just about covering costs; it’s about creating a fair, sustainable partnership between the States of Guernsey and our third sector. The States depend on charities to provide vital services, but those charities, in turn, depend on fair funding structures to survive.

We are keen to collaborate and build lasting relationships but we also need to be well understood and respected, in our case we are not just about creating awareness we provide clinical support with a highly trained and respected clinical team.

Guernsey’s third sector is an economic pillar in its own right. It employs people, provides training, supports families to stay in work, and reduces pressure on public services. Every pound invested in local charities saves multiples of that amount in long-term public spending.

The value is not just emotional, it’s measurable. When someone with autism receives the right support, they’re more likely to contribute to the workforce, maintain stable housing, and engage positively in the community. Multiply that across hundreds of lives, and the return on investment to Guernsey is enormous.

That’s why sustainable funding for charities like ours isn’t just “nice to have” it’s economically sound policy. Guernsey has always been a place where community matters. We’re small enough to know each other, yet strong enough to make big things happen. But as pressures on public finances increase and the demand for services grows, collaboration becomes essential.

We believe the future lies in partnership, not competition. When the public, private, and third sectors work together, the results can be extraordinary. Each brings something vital to the table: the States bring infrastructure and policy reach; businesses bring innovation and resources; charities bring compassion, agility, and on the ground expertise.

Together, we can build a system that doesn’t just respond to need, but anticipates it, in my opinion this has to be the future.

Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Autism Guernsey. We’re planning to bring back one of our most popular events the Autism Guernsey Night Cycle Ride. It’s more than just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of community spirit, achievement and connection.

We’ll also continue to expand our training and awareness programmes, working closely with local businesses and organisations. These sessions have been hugely successful and often open eyes and change minds. Participants leave with a new understanding not only of autism, but of the small adjustments that can make a world of difference, quieter spaces, clearer communication, and flexible expectations.

It’s this kind of education that creates a truly inclusive Guernsey economy, one where everyone, regardless of neurological difference, can participate fully and confidently.

Every charity in Guernsey is powered by community. Autism Guernsey is no exception. Whether it’s someone signing up for an event, making a donation, or simply sharing our story, that collective support keeps us going.

We know that times are challenging and that giving isn’t always easy. But we also know that the people of Guernsey have a remarkable capacity for generosity. Time and time again, when there’s a need, this community steps up.

That’s the spirit we want to celebrate this Trustee Week. The quiet determination of volunteers and our team, the dedication of trustees, and the kindness of individuals and businesses who believe in making Guernsey a more understanding place.

Autism Guernsey will continue to be there supporting individuals, educating workplaces, and advocating for inclusion. But we can’t do it alone.

As the island faces growing social and economic pressures, the third sector will be called upon more than ever. The question is whether we, as a community, are ready to meet that challenge together.

Independence has always been at the heart of what we do, but interdependence is what will secure our future. We need to find that balance a long-term, sustainable solution that recognises the shared value between charities, the States, and the corporate world.

Because when we invest in understanding, we invest in our people. And when we invest in people, the whole island benefits.

So, this Trustee Week, we invite you to reflect on the simple but powerful question that underpins all of this:

#WithoutUs?

This article previously appeared in The Guernsey Press, October 2025.