Content warning: mention of suicide
On Sunday April 2, Friars Street in Stirling is set to be transformed by the magic of the Fairytale Trail.
The event aims to spread awareness during National Autism Acceptance Week with plenty of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy, starting from 11am.
This includes face painting, lucky dips, making magic wands, temporary tattoos to name a few.
The two kilometre trail will set off from The Albert Halls on Dumbarton Road at 1pm.
The Trail has been organised by Laura McClintock, 43, and Lisa Davidson, 34, owner of Tinkerbell’s Emporium.
Laura McClintock, 43, owner and tattooist at Nevermore Tattoos & Piercings, spoke about the motivation behind organising the event for the second time.
“My daughter is 14 years old, and she is autistic. There is so little understanding out there about autism,” said the business owner.
“She has a battle, but she comes through it and she’s amazing.”
National Autistic Society Scotland is a charity based in Glasgow, aiming to change attitudes, to transform lives, and to help create a welcoming society for autistic people.
Through their Just Giving page, Laura McClintock and Lisa Davidson have raised a total of £7,692 for the charity so far.
The entire proceeds from the event will go to the charity, which will enable them to spread more awareness and continue to provide support within the autistic community.
According to UK-based charity Autistica, autistic children are 28 times more likely to think about or try to commit suicide.
“Awareness is sorely lacking,” said McClintock.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has suffered from long waiting lists which has resulted in hundreds of delays for young people.
Dundee newspaper The Courier reported earlier this year that a family in Angus had to go private to receive a diagnosis for their son’s autism after being told it would take three years to go through the NHS.
“These places are under-staffed, and they’re under-funded,” said McClintock.
“There’s nowhere for them to go, it’s like they’ve just been given a diagnosis and they’ve been left to it. They need to know that they’re not alone, and there’s other people out there that get it.”
Through events such as the Fairytale Trail, there is belief that a real difference can be made within the local community in Stirling and beyond.
“People should come along to help us support this charity. They are currently trying to set up more support groups for autistic people, and help in schools and workplaces. They do so much.
“There will be prizes for best costumes, and the event is wheelchair-friendly as well as dog-friendly.”
You can sign up for the Fairytale Trail by visiting either Tinkerbell’s Emporium or Nevermore Tattoos & Piercings located on Friars Street in Stirling.
Raffle tickets can also be purchased in both shops for £2 each.
To donate, please visit: www.JustGiving.com/LisaAndLauraFriarsSt
For more information on autism awareness and support, please visit: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/scotland
Featured Image Credit: Matthew Burns
I'm Matthew Burns, a third year journalism student.
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