Throughout our 25th anniversary celebrations, we're catching up with members of Prior's Court's alumni, seeing how they are doing now and their families' memories of Prior's Court.

This post focuses on Simon who was at Prior's Court from June 2001 when he came to us aged eight. Simon left Prior's Court in July 2019.

Where is Simon now?

"Simon is now living at Linden Farm, a supported living home for 10 autistic young adults (including seven Prior’s Court alumni!) in Alfold, near Cranleigh, Surrey - about half an hour from the family home."

How is Simon now?

"Simon is now 31-years-old and is happy!  It took a few months for him to settle into his new way of life and for the new care provider to realise how important they were to these vulnerable young people who totally depend on them 24 hours a day. "

"But five years on, Simon loves his routine of going out to do an activity every weekday - Art Venture on a Monday; helping on a farm for an hour on a Tuesday; working on the Linden Farm allotment for an hour on a Wednesday (he loves pushing the wheelbarrow); going sailing with his Dad on a Thursday; and going swimming on a Friday.  He also loves going on a short train ride when he can fit it in - sometimes that happens on a Saturday. And on a Sunday he comes home and spends the day with us, his parents, and his routine here is helping in the garden, then lunch, then he does a couple of jigsaw puzzles and sometimes we go for a walk, before heading back to Linden Farm.  

"He is non-verbal but he always comes home on a Sunday with the biggest grin which means everything to me, and also he is happy to go back to Linden Farm in the afternoon which is very reassuring too."

What are your memories of Prior's Court as a family?

"Prior’s Court was Simon’s second home for 18 years.  It was also our lifeline during that time.  I remember going back once in tears after having Simon home for two weeks and saying I just couldn’t cope any more.  Thankfully he was then nearing the age when he could become a 52-weeker at Prior’s Court.

"I am so grateful to all the staff at Prior’s Court who made it such a happy and fulfilling place for Simon to grow up in and to develop in the best way possible.  I think I was more upset when he left than Simon was!!  

"Prior’s Court was, and still is, an amazing place."

Read more on our 25th anniversary blog