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Christine McGuinness has become an ambassador for national charity Caudwell Children – to help families across the UK access autism services and diagnosis.
The mum-of-three regularly shares her family’s personal experience of autism, and Christine has joined Caudwell Children to help even more families access the support and expertise the charity offers.
Christine’s appointment as an official charity ambassador comes ahead of World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April, and the airing of the McGuinness’ upcoming BBC One documentary Autism and Our Family.
The partnership will help build on Caudwell Children’s support for more than 55,000 children with a range of conditions since it was founded in 2000.
In 2019 Christine attended the opening of the Caudwell International Children’s Centre, which is the UK’s first independent purpose-built facility for the assessment, intervention and research of autism.
Combined with her ongoing efforts to raise awareness of autism, Christine hopes the partnership with Caudwell Children will encourage more families to consider applying to the charity for support – especially families waiting for an autism assessment.
Christine McGuinness said:
“It’s an honour to become an ambassador for Caudwell Children, who are an excellent charity that I have admired for some time through their support for autism.
“With being a mother to three autistic children it’s very close to my heart and something I am very passionate about. I hope with being on board I can use my profile to help raise understanding and awareness for autism and the fantastic job Caudwell Children do.”
The services on offer at Caudwell Children’s £18m, state-of-the-art autism service in Staffordshire include two-day autism assessments and feedback appointments within 28 days.
Nick Read, COO of Caudwell Children, said:
“We’re so pleased that Christine will be supporting our efforts to provide the services that thousands of families across the UK need.
“Christine’s openness and honesty over the last few years has been a huge step towards building greater awareness and understanding of autism.
“We hope that by working together we can give individual families the support they often find it so hard to get – and also make society as a whole much more inclusive.”
Christine McGuinness has previously supported Caudwell Children’s fundraising efforts by attending the high-profile Butterfly Ball – an annual, star-studded event which raises money to provide equipment and services for children with a range of disabilities.
She joins a list of Caudwell Children ambassadors that includes Peter and Emily Andre, Sir Lee Pearson, Rachel Stevens, Joan Collins, Elizabeth Hurley, Mikey Graham and David Haye.