AUTISM FORWARD CIO

AUTISM FORWARD CIO is a United Kingdom-based registered charity (Charity number 1171704) established in 2017 with a mission to support adults on the autism spectrum in achieving their potential and facilitating their social inclusion, particularly through gaining and retaining employment.

Mission and Objectives

The charity’s core objective is the promotion of social inclusion for adults aged 18 and over who are excluded from society or parts of society due to conditions on the autism spectrum. AUTISM FORWARD facilitates this by providing grants for specialist one-to-one mentoring services tailored to the needs of autistic adults. This mentoring aims to support the transition from education to paid or voluntary employment and improve employability skills.

Beyond direct mentoring support, the charity also provides resources and training to employers, colleagues, friends, and families to raise awareness about autistic talent and the unique strengths and skills autistic individuals can bring to the workplace. The goal is to increase understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of neurodiverse individuals in communities and workplaces.

Activities

AUTISM FORWARD’s activities include:

• Funding specialist mentoring that offers coaching, advice, and employability support to autistic adults.
• Supporting participation in training activities to enhance employment opportunities.
• Providing specialist skills and awareness training and workshops focused on employability.
• Facilitating access to social and leisure activities to encourage community engagement.
• Raising public and employer awareness to promote social inclusion through employment.

These efforts address the critical employment gap: only approximately 16% of autistic adults in the UK are in full-time employment—a figure that has remained stagnant despite government programmes, highlighting the need for specialist support and employer engagement[2][3][4][5].

Governance and Funding

AUTISM FORWARD CIO operates without paid employees or fixed overheads, ensuring that donations are directed solely toward funding specialist mentoring by independent autism specialists. The charity is managed by a board of trustees without remuneration or benefits. Financial data from the year ending March 2024 reports an income of £93,755 and expenditure of £114,442[4].

Impact

By funding mentoring and raising awareness, AUTISM FORWARD seeks to transform the lives of autistic adults, helping them to secure meaningful employment and promoting neurodiverse workplaces. The charity’s approach is supported by research indicating that one-to-one mentoring is one of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between education and employment for autistic adults[5].

AUTISM FORWARD CIO stands as a focused advocate and facilitator for autistic adults aiming to thrive in employment and society, addressing a significant unmet need within the UK autism community.

[1] https://www.autismforward.org.uk [2] http://www.autismforward.org.uk/about/ [3] https://causes.benevity.org/causes/826-1171704 [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5090004/charity-overview [5] https://workforgood.co.uk/charities/autism-forward-cio/