A SPECIALIST autism charity has been boosted by a cash injection from insurance company’s Aviva’s Community Fund.

Norton-based Daisy Chain picked up £2,000 after being nominated for a slice of the fund by Henderson Insurance Brokers, which has been a supporter of the charity for several years.

Emma Simkins, a director of Henderson Insurance Brokers, was among 34 broker finalists invited to London by Aviva to celebrate the awards made by the Fund this year.

She said: “We are very passionate about Daisy Chain and are thrilled that our submission to the Fund has proved fruitful for the charity and that the judges agreed with us what a difference this wonderful organisation makes to people’s lives.”

Daisy Chain, which supports children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome from across the Tees Valley, was honoured under the ‘Helping with Health and Disability Needs for Children’ category.

(CORR)Judith Haysmore, chief executive of Daisy Chain, said: “We are very grateful to Henderson Insurance Brokers for facilitating this significant donation that will help us sustain our work.

“Our success is down to the support and goodwill of our local community, including big-hearted firms like Henderson Insurance Brokers.”

The charity supports a total of 839 families and seeks to improve the life chances of children and young people with autism.

Its main base at Calf Fallow Farm in Norton, near Stockton, houses a sensory soft play area, IT suite, an area for arts and crafts and conference facilities.

It also runs a number of school holiday activities and evening/weekend activities and provides respite support to allow parents and carers to do household chores, spend time with other members of the family to experience a little ‘me time’.