Last month, we revealed the Vale of Leven Autism and Aspergers Forum (VOLAAF) had been handed the keys to the new West of Scotland Autism Centre, the former Renton Nursery.

Since then, the group has been working round the clock to get the centre ready for use and earlier this month, it was formally opened by a leading autism campaigner, Anna Kennedy OBE.

In 1999, Anna and her husband Sean decided to take action because there was no special support available for their two sons — Patrick, now 24, who has Asperger’s and Angelo, now 21, who is autistic and has epilepsy.

The pair re-mortgaged their home and opened up Hillingdon Manor School in London which now caters for 165 children.

They have since set-up the West London Community College for adults living with autism spectrum distorder (ASD).

Anna Kennedy Online is a resource which offers advice and support to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Anna herself now has more than 70,000 followers on social media from across the country and worldwide and updates her followers each day.

It was through social media Anna first became aware of VOLAAF and the work they do. She told the Reporter: “It was the group’s chairman Gary who first got in touch and they’ve been following me ever since. I share what I’m up to, and post every single day.

“I try and put out a positive message because all you read is negativity about autism, and find out what’s happening with grass-roots groups across the country.

“Seeing what the autism forum has achieved reminds me of when we first started, I was very impressed and very proud of what they achieved.” “What they have done is a fantastic accomplishment for the group, it’s hard enough to cope with a child with autism let alone do what they have done.” In February, VOLAAF was left without a home after the Carman Centre in Renton was shut due to financial pressures — this came less than a year after the group opened a £25,000 sensory room which they paid for themselves.

In May, West Dunbartonshire Council agreed to let VOLAAF use the old Renton nursery, giving them it at a “peppercorn rate” for a year, with the hope being the group can purchase it next year.

Anna continued: “It’s so important to have groups like VOLAAF doing what they do, even the smallest changes can make a big difference to children and families.

“Children don’t grow out of autism, it doesn’t stop when they are 19. It’s important to never stop and never give in.”