AROUND 4,000 families will benefit from a lottery grant for a Dorset charity which helps autistic people.

A huge £241,437 grant has been awarded to the Wessex Autistic Society to provide an information, advice and support service for families across the county and in South Somerset.

It is one of five charitable organisations in the south west to receive a slice of a £1.3million grant from the Big Lottery Fund, which is celebrating its 18th birthday.

The money comes from the Reaching Communities programme, which gives grants between £10,000 and £500,000 to communities most in need.

Debbie Anderson, fundraising and marketing manager at The Wessex Autistic Society said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this five year funding for our Autism Information, Advice and Outreach Service.

“The service provides a vital lifeline to people affected by autism in Dorset and South Somerset.

“This grant will enable us to continue to support the autism community – advising, supporting and advocating for families affected by autism and individuals with autism, in a personalised manner.”

Formed in 1968, The Wessex Autistic Society is a leading voluntary organisation delivering education, support and care services for people on the autistic spectrum.

It operates in Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, and outreach to anyone who needs it, regardless of where they are.

The society will now use the money to recruit and train volunteers, who will help autistic people with special diets, financial support and social interaction as well as reducing stress for parents and families of those with autism.

Drop-in groups already being run by the organisation are helping autistic people and those with Asperger’s build social lives.

Mark Cotton¸ Big Lottery Fund head of Region South West said: “Thank you to everyone who has played The National Lottery over the past eighteen years. Your funding has allowed us to invest in not just large projects but small, community-based projects that make a big difference to individual lives across the south west.

“Every week National Lottery players raise over £30 million to help change people’s lives across the UK through so many ways including charities, local communities, grass roots sports and Olympic and Paralympic athletes through to museums, galleries and local parks.”