'Ambassadors for Autism' honoured at Town Hall ceremony
Wednesday 27 January 2016
The Mayor, Mayoress and Council Leader with Frances Bardsley Academy teacher Ivan Corea and the school's Autism Ambassadors
Students from Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls in Romford were rewarded for their efforts to support young people with autism at a special ceremony at Havering Town Hall on Monday.
Cllr Roger Ramsey, Leader of Havering Council, and Cllr Brian Eagling, Mayor of Havering, presented certificates to recognise the service of the Frances Bardsley Autism and Disabilities Club to the community.
The Frances Bardsley Academy Ambassador Programme has brought together sixth formers from the school and young people with autism at a joint club that meets at the Romford Baptist Youth Lounge.
The project has been run in partnership with the Romakey International Education Empowerment Service (RIEES), a charity set up by Havering parents Ade and Ronke Ogunleye, who have two children with autism, and Ivan Corea, a teacher at Frances Bardsley, who has a son with the condition.
Cllr Ramsey said: “To my memory, there has never been such a successful relationship between a secondary school and a local charity regarding autism in this borough and the FBA Ambassador Programme has been of supreme service to the community. Through volunteering in the community, members have helped support those with autism, as well as their parents and carers, who are often just as much in need of support.”
The Mayor said: “We commend the work of the Frances Bardsley Autism and Disabilities Club and the successful partnership between the school and Ade and Ronke Ogunleye’s RIESS Autism Club and hope that it can continue for many more years.”
