A Right Royal visit to Randalstown for Duchess!

THE National Autistic Society’s new state-of-the-art centre for autistic people and their families in Randalstown was officially opened by the charity’s Royal Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.

The new centre will provide day services for autistic adults with high support and complex needs.

There will be activities for autistic people and their families in the evenings and at weekends, including sessions for autistic children with high support needs, adult mentoring, youth clubs, skills programmes, and stay and play opportunities.

During the launch event, The Duchess of Edinburgh was given a tour of the centre where Her Royal Highness joined sensory play activities with people we support and observed the immersive suite’s cutting-edge technology.

The Duchess met families who were featured in the National Autistic Society’s Forgotten Voices campaign and the BBC Spotlight documentary, I Am Not Okay.

Her Royal Highness also unveiled a commemorative plaque to officially open the new centre and made heartfelt remarks about the importance of support and respite for families.

Facilities at the inclusive, state-of-the-art centre include an immersive suite featuring a curved screen and advanced projection technology, enabling autistic people to safely experience scenarios such as riding a rollercoaster or practising supermarket visits and haircuts.

There is also a fully equipped sensory suite providing soft play flooring, immersive lighting and sound and over 300 interactive programmes.

Outdoor play and garden areas, life skills rooms, kitchens, training spaces and a gym, each designed to foster independence, confidence, and well-being.

Once fully operational, the National Autistic Society’s combined Randalstown and Carryduff centres will support more than 400 autistic people and their families every year, transforming support for autistic people across the region.

Guests at the launch event included the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet, Thomas Duncan; the Sheriff of Antrim, Rory Campbell; the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick; Council Chief Executive Richard Baker, MP Robin Swann; the Vice Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim, Miranda Gordon; the Deputy Chief Executive of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Majella McAlister, and the Minister of Health for Northern Ireland, Mike Nesbitt MLA.

Shirelle Stewart, Director of the National Autistic Society Northern Ireland, was ‘delighted’ with the turnout.

“We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the launch of our new centre in Randalstown,” she said.

“We are extremely grateful to our Royal Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, for officially opening the centre, and to all our supporters, trusts and foundations who helped to make this happen, including Seamus and Bernadette Gillan for their vision and transformational support.

“We look forward to welcoming autistic people and their families through the doors of our new centre, which will be a lifeline for hundreds of families in the region, providing a wide range of support, services and activities for autistic children, young people and adults.”

Alison Love, Head of Adult Services for Scotland and Northern Ireland at the National Autistic Society, said it was a significant day for the region.

“The opening of our Randalstown centre is a hugely important milestone for adult services in Northern Ireland,” she said.

“This centre has been designed to meet the needs of autistic adults with high support and complex needs, providing the right environment, skilled support and meaningful opportunities that enable people to build independence, confidence and well-being.

“We are proud to be delivering a service that will support autistic adults during the day, while also offering vital activities and support for individuals and families in the evenings and at weekends.

“This centre will make a real and lasting difference to hundreds of lives across the region.”

The National Autistic Society Northern Ireland celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.

The charity has driven vital improvements in healthcare, education and employment over the last 20 years, thanks to tireless campaigning alongside autistic people and their families. Most recently, the charity’s Forgotten Voices campaign called for immediate access to short breaks and residential care for families of autistic children and young people with high support needs.

Also during her visit, The Duchess of Edinburgh, a strong advocate of Women in Leadership, heard from the women who took part in the Leadership Programme established by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In collaboration with Impact Network NI and Utopian Learning, the programme, designed to empower local women by building confidence and leadership skills started back in September 2024.

The establishment of a Women’s Network within the Borough ensures that the learning, relationships and leadership developed through this initiative will continue to thrive and grow.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick said: “It was an honour to welcome The Duchess of Edinburgh to the Women in Leadership Graduation.

“It was particularly fitting as the programme forms part of a series of legacy projects established in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a woman whose life of service, resilience, and quiet leadership continues to inspire generations.

“I am immensely proud of this programme and of every woman who has completed it.

“Their success represents progress, possibility, and a strong future for leadership across our Borough.”

During today’s visit to Randalstown, The Duchess, accompanied by the Deputy- Lieutenant of County Antrim, Ms Jackie Stewart MBE, also had the opportunity to meet Libraries NI Board Chairperson, Ms Bonnie Anley; Libraries NI Chief Executive, Dr Jim O’Hagan and members of Randalstown Library reading group.

Following the visit Dr Jim O’Hagan said: “We were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, to Randalstown Library and to introduce The Duchess to members of our reading group.

“The discussion was lively and engaging, perfectly demonstrating how libraries bring people together through a shared love of reading.

“We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness for taking the time to visit the library and for showing such genuine interest in the work taking place within our communities.”

The Duchess of Edinburgh also took time to meet with Members of Tidy Randalstown, a group of volunteers who maintain the award-winning town, before concluding the visit.

A spokesperson said: “Now that the dust has settled, we in Tidy Randalstown would like to say how delighted we were that our town was chosen for inclusion in HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh’s visit yesterday. So many aspects of the wonderful work that goes on in our community were recognised.

“It was a privilege for our volunteers to play our part together with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and the Libraries NI team in ensuring the town and particularly upper New Street and the library looked attractive and welcoming for her visit, and to be invited to have a group of our volunteers there to meet her was extra special. Everyone involved in making the occasion a success deserves enormous credit. The perfect weather was the icing on the cake!

“An added bonus is that, even though the big event is over, everyone can continue to enjoy the colourful displays of spring flowers in the planters close to the library over the coming weeks.”

The Duchess also took time to chat to supporters waiting outside, including members of Staffordstown Accordion Band, local woman Carol Moore and her Mum Dinah, and heard all about Carol’s upcoming performance as part of Belfast Does Strictly. The Duchess revealed she was due to meet professional dancers, Carol’s idol Ellie and Vito the very next day and was very proud to be a patron of Mencap. She also spoke to local schoolchildren, including Mason, grandson of Dunsilly DUP Alderman Linda Clarke.

Alderman Clarke, who was in the library at the official event, said she was delighted to be in attendance and that Mason was ‘buzzing’ about his brush with Royalty.

See more pictures on Page 37.