A charity offering support to people with autism around Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire has announced it will be closing.

Action for ASD, based in Burnley, is the only specialist provision in East Lancashire offering support services, respite and leisure, and recreational opportunities for children and adults on the autism spectrum.

Last year, Action for ASD highlighted that the past two years had been challenging so they were bracing for the problems caused by severe staff shortages and a significant reduction in the number of trustees.

The non-profit organisation also set up a JustGiving fundraising page last April but the appeal unfortunately fell short.

In an open letter published on January 16, Action for ASD said: “It is with great sadness and regret that we are informing you that Action for ASD is to cease all its charitable operations.

“This difficult decision has been made by the trustees after long deliberation, and also consultation with our staff.

“We appreciate that this will come as a shock to you. We are a small charity, which has increasingly been faced with a high level and range of demand for our services which our small but highly dedicated staff team have found difficult to meet.

“This includes demand for services which we are not funded to cover. Secure, sustainable, long-term funding is difficult to find in the current economic climate.

“Covid was a difficult time for us, and we also now have issues with our building being too big for our needs post-covid and after the closure of our Adult Diagnosis Service.

“Action for ASD has a long-serving staff team, which we have found very difficult to supplement with new staff members, and we thank this team for their dedicated service to you all, which will continue until our closure.”

The organisation will continue as normal until February 28. After March 31, there will be a transfer process where staff will continue working for a short while to clear the building and provide the other relevant organisation with knowledge and resources before leaving the charity permanently.

The letter continues: “You may already know that the adult assessment service is now provided by an organisation called Clinical Partners. Referrals for an assessment can be made through a GP or mental health / learning disability and autism specialist service.

“GPs have been communicated with and can refer using a simple electronic referral form and an initial assessment form. Support is also available through Autism Unlocked.

“If you contact us about the impending closure of the charity, please be aware that this is a very difficult time for our staff, who work tirelessly in the members’ interests. These coming months will be very difficult for them, and we must all support them as best we can.

“We are proud of all that the charity has achieved in its 26 years of existence, and we thank you all for all your fundraising and support for our charity.

“So much good work has been done, and so many people helped, and we are very grateful for all of this success.”

People responded to the ‘devastating’ announcement thanking the charity for their services with one mother sharing that Action for ASD is the only service she was referred to for help by the NHS and is ‘saddened’ by the news.

She said: "There simply isn’t any other help out there in the north west, for children with ASD or parents with ASD children.

"I am quite lucky because my son is suspected lower end of the spectrum so I dread to think how parents and children with greater needs and need for support will cope. It’s a really sad situation and there needs to be more support for children and adults from the NHS."

Jane Brennan, director of adult health and care for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria  ICB, said: “Following the announcement of its intended closure, the ICB is currently working closely with the charity to understand its current position, clear waiting lists and signpost people to alternative support.

“We are also currently working with our partners to complete an all-age capacity and demand analysis of autism services to help support the planning and delivery of future provision across Lancashire and South Cumbria.”