A HIGHLY-REGARDED Tees autism charity has reported another large increase in demand for its services.

The Daisy Chain, at Norton, near Stockton, which helps families affected by the development condition, helped 163 new families from across the Tees Valley at its home at Calf Fallow Farm.

That means the charity is helping more than 27 families every month and brings to a total of 1,787 the number of families now accessing the various support services provided by Daisy Chain.

Helen Geldard, head of autism services at the Daisy Chain, said: “It is quite difficult to say why there has been such an uptake because it can’t really be put down to any one, single factor.”

Her colleague, Judith Haysmore, chief executive, added: “This continued demand for access to our services means we are now looking to develop additional social clubs. Thankfully one of our key supporters, the People’s Postcode Lottery have helped us with some funding towards this new service.”

A key development planned is to provide a new social club for the higher needs students at the farm. The existing farmhouse garden and the lower level of the house will be adapted to create a suitable environment for them.

“Once we have developed the garden area we aim to extend the number and type of training courses we offer to students,” Ms Geldard explained.

“They will be able to get involved in growing, producing, recycling and understanding conservation and the environment.”

In 2015 the charity also created an ‘Adults Club’ as an extension to its existing services. The new club is aimed at supporting younger people with the developmental condition.

Other ideas for future development include more employability schemes to benefit youngsters with the condition hoping to enter the world of work and introducing an autism information section on the charity’s superstore on Portrack Lane in Stockton.

The Daisy Chain struggled to maintain services after the economic downturn as revenues declined by 30 per cent while demand continued to rise.

However in 2014 it opened a superstore in Stockton to boost income and last year was given £200,000 by the People’s Postcode Lottery.

The Daisy Chain opened in 2003 and was the vision of Lesley Hanson, who died in 2004, aged 35, and her husband, Duane. Their son, Jacob, was diagnosed with autism from a young age.

Find out more about the Daisy Chain at daisychainproject.co.uk or call 01642-531248.