Hundreds of young autistic children from the Reading area will be able to enjoy very valuable  play and learning sessions with a number of  different model train sets, thanks to a grant from Berkshire Freemasons to the Engine Shed charity.

The £4,884 grant will be used to run regular train sessions at the charity’s rented unit in Reading, Berkshire. The Engine Shed is a special interest group for autistic children, young people and adults which was created over fifteen years ago and is run by volunteers. The group was set up by parents and carers in response to the lack of welcoming and supportive recreational facilities for autistic children and the profound isolation the community was facing as result of this.

The charity organises regular play sessions at the dedicated unit in Reading, days out at railway attractions and when funding allows, they also run sibling activities and parent information sessions and training. A wide range of trains – electric, wooden, plastic – are set up in the dedicated unit, with rooms allocated for the various lay-outs. Sessions are free of charge and people do not need to book.

Paediatricians, GPs, Local Authorities, voluntary groups and schools tell newly diagnosed children’s families about The Engine Shed – they come along and find a ready-made community of people who have walked the same path in their locality. Funding from MCF will enable The Engine Shed to provide:

• a unique recreational learning resource that families can look forward to;
• the sharing of new strategies to support autistic children and adults;
• the development of new relationships and a peer support network for children, parents/carers and autistic adults in Reading.

The MCF funding will be used for rent and running costs and will enable the charity to keep the service free. The charity has already received a grant of £1,000 from The Welcome Lodge in London in December 2023. A son of one of the members attends The Engine Shed.