New £2m Autism centre opening draws nearer

SOUTH Antrim DUP MLA Pam Cameron has visited the new £2m Autism Centre for adults and children in Randalstown.

She was welcomed by National Autistic Society Northern Ireland director Shirelle Stewart, who showed her around the ‘fantastic’ facilities and shared their vision for what the new space will offer the autistic community.

During the visit, Mrs Cameron heard about the Forgotten Voices campaign and the wide range of programmes that the centre plans to deliver from, from day provision for adults with high support needs to open sessions, skills for life programmes, and activity groups.

Ms Stewart said: “We’re excited about the impact this Centre will have, and we look forward to working with partners and the community to make these plans a reality.”

The centre has been open for workshops and courses since October and back in August, was visited by fellow DUP MLAs, South Antrim man Trevor Clarke, his wife, Dunsilly Alderman Linda, and East Antrim rep Cheryl Brownlee MLA.

The £2m facility for autistic adults and children in Randalstown, which is set to officially open to clients in the spring.

The project has been funded by a generous couple from Maghera and has been co-designed with autistic people, their families and carers, with a number of public meetings having taken place to help inform the build.

The centre will offer day provision for adults who have high support needs and a range of different programmes and projects for adults and children across the autism spectrum.

Seamus and Bernadette Gillan from, decided to fund the project after seeing the National Autistic Society Northern Ireland’s first centre in Carryduff which opened in 2019 and wanting something similar for the Northern Trust area.

The couple bought the land, built the building, provided funds towards the kit out, and the charity fundraised for the rest of the kit out. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. You don’t get people like that very often”

The centre includes the latest new technology, sensory equipment and immersive spaces to simulate a number of different scenarios - from a rollercoaster to a supermarket.