AN autism group founded by two determined parents is set to expand to offer help and support to teenagers.

Michelle Abbs and Laura Younger, who both have children on the autism spectrum, set up Little Treasures in October 2016 after struggling to find any support in their area.

In just over a year the team of two have raised thousands of pounds, helped hundreds of children and their families, expanding from one group in Ferryhill to seven groups around the region.

With the help of volunteers, the pair will soon open a session aimed at offering a welcoming place for young people aged between nine and 16.

Mrs Younger, of Bishop Auckland, said: “We were starting to notice that children aged around nine and upwards weren’t all interested in playing with the toys or on the bouncy castle during the stay-and-play sessions.

“They wanted to play board games or talk about computer games instead, so we thought it would be a good idea to have a group specifically for teenagers.”

The new group will launch in Peterlee on Tuesday, February 20 at the Oakerside Community Centre from 5pm until 7pm.

From then onwards the teenage group will take place on the third Tuesday of every month at the same time with group leader and volunteer Clair Black.

Little Treasures now operates with a team of volunteers and is appealing for more to join the group.

Mrs Abbs, of Ferryhill, said: “To help us to expand we are appealing for more volunteers to join us.

They need to be 18 or over, happy and approachable people that are non-judgmental.

“Volunteers don’t need to have experience working with children or young people because we will be providing training.”

An open evening for new volunteers will take place at the Dean Bank Literary Institute in Ferryhill on Friday, January 26 from 6pm until 7pm and on Saturday, January 27 from 12.30 until 1.30pm.

Mrs Abbs added: “Little Treasures has changed our lives.

"We were both lost, feeling like we were the only ones experiencing what we were, and the group has shown us that we aren’t.”