TIRED parents of children with autism in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire are to get help thanks to an innovative sleep project being funded by the Government.

NHS England is backing a pilot project being run by The Children’s Sleep Charity bringing sleep workshops to the three counties specifically aimed at children with autism and their families.

According to the charity, it is estimated that around 40 per cent of children will suffer with sleep issues at some point during their childhood with this figure rising to 86 per cent for children with additional needs.

It is well documented that sleep deprivation can cause a wide range of difficulties for both parent and child including lowering of the immune system, behavioural issues and under achievement in education.

Vicki Dawson, founder of The children’s Sleep Charity which was set up to help sleep deprived parents, said: “The charity supports all families to get a better night’s sleep. We have however been inundated with requests for support from families of children with autism and are keen to explore ways that we can support them more effectively.

“This pilot project has provided us with the opportunity to consult with families in order to develop a package of support to meet their needs."

She said the three counties were selected for the pilot because the charity has a sleep practitioner – Helen Rutherford - with experience of supporting children with autism living in the area.

“Helen is leading the project and she has a background of supporting children with additional needs.”

She added that the workshops would look at the reasons why these individual children have sleep issues and provide parents with strategies to deal with the causes.

“It is an individual thing and parenting skills are individual. The parents are the experts in their children and can make the changes they want to make to help their children sleep.

“Apart from attending the workshops, we offer follow-up support people need and that can be on the phone, online or in person with a practitioner.”

Vicki explained that if the pilot was successful, the workshops could be rolled out to other parts of the country. “We would be looking at how we can use the model across the country.”

The workshops are in Worcester on Friday February 19 at the Beech Room, Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Centre, Droitwich Road, Worcester, WR3 7SN; in Kidderminster on Thursday February 18 at the King Charles Room, Kidderminster Town Hall, Vicar Street, Kidderminster, DY10 1DB and in Redditch on Monday February 22 at the Rubicon Centre, 17 Broad Ground Road, Lakeside, B98 8YP.

They will also be staged in Hereford on Friday February 26 at the Arts and Crafts Room, The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR; in Leominster on Monday March 7 at the St John Ambulance Centre, Unit 6, Leominster Business Plaza, Leominster Enterprise Park, HR6 0LA and in Ross-on-Wye on Wednesday March 9 at Penyard House, Weston-under-Penyard, HR9 7YH.

All workshops start at 9.30am and finish at 2.30pm. To book a place or for more information please e-mail Kim at info@thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk or contact Helen on 07957 422 417.