It was a tough decision to make. But going forward… it was the right decision. Shaun wouldn’t be where he is now if it wasn’t for Prior’s Court.

Shaun’s dad, Geoff

Our impact - Geoff and Shaun's story

Geoff and his family have experienced a remarkable change in their lives since their son Shaun joined Prior's Court. It's no longer just about coping when Shaun is with them; it's about being a family again. Gone are the days of being confined indoors because they couldn't go out in the car, visit the beach, or enjoy some peaceful moments. They used to have to plan every outing meticulously, making sure it was a quiet time to avoid any surprises that might overwhelm Shaun. They were constantly on edge, always watching for signs of stress and difficulty.
 
Shaun's diet used to be extremely limited. He would eat only a handful of specific foods, which meant Geoff and his family had to prepare separate meals just for him, in addition to their own. But thanks to Prior's Court, that's all in the past. Shaun now eats a variety of foods with no fuss. Watch this short film to learn more:

Today, when Shaun is home, Geoff and his family don't worry about countless things that used to weigh on their minds. The constant fear of something going wrong has lifted. Sure, there may still be a few moments of uncertainty or discomfort, but they're brief and manageable. Geoff and his family can simply redirect Shaun to something else, and the storm passes quickly. No more enduring hours of turmoil, during which Shaun would hurt himself, slam doors, and hit the floor.
 
Geoff has always wanted Shaun to eventually achieve some form of independence. Like any parent, he wants his son to grow up and have his place in the world. This vision is now closer to reality, thanks to Prior's Court's support. Shaun, an autistic young person with complex needs, has shown incredible progress and his family notices new positive behaviours every time Shaun returns home. This fills them with hope that Shaun can someday be a part of the community, engage in work programs, and live as full of a life as possible.
 
Shaun’s family would love for him to stay at Prior's Court forever. Realistically, though, they know that's not possible, as Prior’s Court only supports young people up to the age of 25. Prior’s Court has been an incredible force for change in Shaun’s life, but without the generous support of companies, trusts, foundations and individuals, the impact may not have been as great. Our basic care and education funding comes from local authorities. However, this isn’t enough funding to provide the specialist care and education needed to truly transform these young people’s lives, that is only possible thanks to kind and generous supporters and fundraisers. 

If you or your employer are looking to make a real difference, please contact [email protected] to help transform the lives of autistic young people with complex needs.

Get in touch

Why fundraise for us?

Every new project, trip or new piece of equipment is driven by the needs of young people and the ambitious staff team at Prior’s Court. We believe autistic young people with complex needs can, and should, experience the things that others take for granted. We believe they can have bright, happy, healthy and more independent futures. We believe nothing is impossible and strive to do everything within our power to make the ‘impossible’ possible!

Your fundraising will bring more transformative projects to life, fund extraordinary trips and experiences, and enhance the lives of the incredible young people at Prior’s Court.

Funds raised will take young people on trips, fund animal therapy and provide specially adapted sports equipment. For some young people, experiences outside of Prior's Court are challenging and can cause incredible levels of anxiety. Funds raised will also bring experiences to Prior’s Court such as interactive theatre productions, musical performances and outdoor cinemas. This enables young people to take part in these activities that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. This is life-changing.

How to fundraise

From bake sales to bike rides, raffles to runs, music events to mountain climbs, the list of ways you could fundraise for young people at Prior’s Court is endless and we would love for you to get involved.

Here you can find a list of upcoming events and challenges to get involved in. By taking part in one – or more – of these, you will be helping to transform the lives of autistic young people with complex needs.

Get in touch to share your plans with us and our dedicated team will support you throughout your fundraising journey.

How to support

There are so many ways you can support young people here, even from just donating your time, using your voice, or sharing our story. 

Here you can find ideas on other ways in which to support us.

If you have an idea of how to support us, please get in touch – we would love to hear from you.

Our fundraising promise

We follow the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice and comply with the key principles embodied in the code. Our membership requires us to make a fundraising promise which means we make a commitment to donors and fundraisers that our fundraising is legal, open, honest and respectful.

You can read the full Code of Fundraising Practice here, but the key principles are:

• We will commit to high standards
• We will be clear, honest and open
• We will be respectful
• We will be fair and reasonable
• We will be accountable and responsible

Read our Fundraising Policies

Get in touch

If you are looking to take on a fundraising challenge, take part in one of our events, talk about the difference fundraising makes or have an idea of how you would like to get involved then we would love to hear from you.

Contact our Fundraising Team