Autistic Children and Carers Together (ACCT) is the penultimate charity that will receive a £1000 grant as part of our year-long CommUNITY STArters campaign. The funding will be used to research and produce a ‘playbook’ of practical local guidance and information to help make swimming more accessible for autistic and neurodivergent people in Sheffield.

ACCT is led by parent-carers of autistic children and young people, and their aim is for all autistic people in Sheffield to be valued and supported to live happy and fulfilling lives. The charity supports around 600 autistic children in Sheffield each year, plus around 200 parent-carers and siblings, and they offer a varied programme of in-person and online services and activities every week.

For the last several years, these activities have included fortnightly swimming sessions, which involves the private hire of Hillsborough Leisure Centre with reduced numbers (75) – and during this exclusive hire time they adapt the environment to ensure its accessible to the sensory needs of autistic and neurodivergent people and their families. With swimming playing such a crucial role, the charity wants to do further research with the aim of making swimming more accessible generally, which CommUNITY STArters will help fund in 2025.

ACCT explains: “We are very conscious that our offer is a short-term fix for a long-term problem, and through this new research project we want to make swimming more accessible overall, so that autistic and neurodivergent people are more able to access swimming generally.

“Our work to date has identified that while there are some useful general resources and initiatives around water safety and teaching, there is a need for more practically-focussed guidance on overcoming the logistical and emotional barriers that can make swimming inaccessible to many neurodivergent people. For example, an understanding of the sensory impact (lights, noise, smells) of the leisure centre environment, and practical tips for mitigating those impacts. Through research with our ACCT community in 2025, we want to understand the specific barriers in Sheffield, and produce a playbook of resources that will help to reduce those barriers and help families overcome them.”

For this project, ACCT is also working with neurodivergent researchers and consultants Kelly Deakin (swimming teacher and tutor with more than 20 years’ experience) and Dr Susy Ridout (independent autistic researcher, trainer and consultant).

Ali Beckman, STA’s President said; “We are pleased to be able to support this important project, and provide the funding ACCT needs to run research and engagement activities, and produce the initial guidance playbook. With all the expertise involved in this project, the outcomes will not only provide valuable insight and resources for communities in Sheffield, it will help everyone involved in autistic swimming.”

“It’s a fantastic project to support, and will serve to further grassroots swimming by making swimming more accessible to autistic and neurodivergent people.”