WHEN Rosalyn Lord decided to set up a support group for parents with autistic children, little did she know that just four years later she would be nominated for a national award.

Rosalyn (pictured) has been running the group from her home in Goodshawfold, Rossendale, for the past four years, and 90 families are members.

She was nominated by group member Janice Payne for the national Caring About Carers Awards and has been short-listed for an award in the Emotional Support category.

Rosalyn, 45, set up the Cassel group for children with Asperger's Syndrome because her 13-year-old son Elliot has autistic spectrum disorder.

This means he is unable to communicate by normal speech and he can't hold conversations. After realising there were no support groups in the area, she decided to set up one of her own.

She also has two other children, Charlotte, 15, and eight-year-old Patrick.

She said: "I was nominated because Janice said I gave her a tremendous amount of emotional support when her three-year-old daughter was diagnosed. "I made her realise that it wasn't the end of the world and I gave her and her family more of a positive outlook.

"I'm pleased to have been nominated as the awards raise awareness into what the group is all about.

"The group aims to get people back to something of a normal family life by offering advice and support as well as a helpline. We hold monthly meetings, with lots of resources which members can draw on, and most importantly we have each other for emotional support.

"In the future, I'd like to develop more awareness of autism, as well as more support services in the county."

The Caring About Carers Awards are a new national initiative, designed to reward individuals, employers, organisations or local services that have made a difference to carers' lives.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 7 at the Savoy Hotel in London.

Health Minister John Hutton MP will present the awards.

Anyone who would like further information about the group should contact Rosalyn on 01706 222657.

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