News

Sometimes, the biggest difference starts with a simple conversation.

For many families navigating autism, knowing where to turn for advice, guidance, and support can feel overwhelming. Questions about assessments, education, available services, and next steps can quickly become difficult to navigate, particularly when families are already managing significant challenges in their daily lives.

For one Essex family, that search for answers led them to Autism Anglia and today, that experience has inspired a generous act of giving back.

We are delighted to thank The DS Group, the long-established Essex-based business specialising in design, print, direct mail, and promotional products, for its recent £1,000 donation to Autism Anglia. The donation was made following a nomination from Chris Corke, Finance Director, whose family previously benefited from support and guidance provided by the charity.

A local business supporting local communities

For more than 25 years, The DS Group has been helping organisations across the UK deliver effective communications through its integrated design, print, direct mail, and promotional product services. Based in Clacton-on-Sea, the company prides itself on combining high-quality customer service with strong relationships across the communities it serves.

As a business, The DS Group works with a wide range of clients, from local organisations and charities to educational institutions and nationally recognised brands, helping them communicate, engage audiences, and grow their impact.

When employees were invited to nominate a charity to receive the company’s annual £1,000 donation, Chris already knew exactly where his vote would go.

Finding the right support at the right time

Like many parents, Chris and his family found themselves searching for answers following their daughter’s autism diagnosis.

The process of understanding autism, identifying appropriate support, and navigating often-complex systems can be challenging for families, particularly during periods of uncertainty.

Reflecting on his family’s experience, Chris explained:

“I nominated Autism Anglia because, as a family, we have some personal experience of just how difficult it can be to know where to turn for help and support.

One of our daughters was diagnosed with autism, following what had already been a very difficult couple of years for her and for us as a family.

When we first started trying to understand everything, we really didn’t know where to turn. The NHS system can be very difficult to navigate and my wife contacted Autism Anglia for some guidance. Although our contact with them was relatively brief, the information and advice they gave us helped point us in the right direction at a time when we really needed it.”

While the family’s contact with us may have been relatively short, the impact it had remained with them.

Turning gratitude into action

When Chris was later given the opportunity to nominate a charity for The DS Group’s community donation, we were top of his list. He said:

“That experience stayed with me, so when I was given the opportunity to nominate a charity to receive The DS Group’s £1,000 donation, Autism Anglia was an obvious choice.

I’m very pleased that we’re able to give something back and help them continue supporting other individuals and families who find themselves trying to navigate a similar situation.”

It’s a powerful reminder that support doesn’t always have to be extensive to have a lasting effect. Sometimes, having access to the right advice at the right moment can help a family move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Why corporate support matters

Every year, Autism Anglia supports autistic people and their families across the region and through a range of services, including community drop-ins, specialist education, adult support services, diagnostic assessments, and community projects.

As demand for autism support continues to grow, partnerships with businesses play an increasingly important role in helping us reach more people, raise awareness, and develop services that meet growing community needs.

Support from organisations like The DS Group helps ensure that families looking for guidance and reassurance can continue to access trusted advice when they need it most.

Corporate partnerships can take many forms, including:

• Charity of the Year partnerships
• Corporate fundraising
• Employee-led giving programmes
• Event sponsorship
• Team volunteering days
• Awareness and engagement campaigns

Together, these partnerships help create lasting impact within local communities.

A heartfelt Thank You

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Chris and everyone at The DS Group for their generosity and support.

Their kind donation will help us continue providing practical advice, trusted information, and life-changing opportunities for autistic people and their families across East Anglia.

Just as importantly, their story highlights how businesses can use their success to create meaningful social impact close to home.

Could your organisation make a difference too?

If your business is looking for a meaningful way to support local communities, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re interested in any of the ideas mentioned above, there really are countless ways your organisation can help support autistic people and families across East Anglia.

📧 To start a conversation, get in touch today: fundraising@autism-anglia.org.uk

Together, we can help ensure more families find the support, guidance, and encouragement they need to thrive. 🩷