GIVE CASH NOT CARDS TO SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITY AT CHRISTMAS - Vizzit Christchurch Online Magazine

Stars of this year’s Pantomime at Bournemouth, ‘Jack in the Beanstalk’ lend their support to The Wessex Autistic Society’s Christmas Campaign. From L to R: - Chris Jarvis, Brian Capron, Nick Wilton, Debra Stephenson

For the past 10 years The Wessex Autistic Society has run the Give Cash not Cards campaign which over 100 local companies have participated in and together raised over £60,000. This year the local charity is seeking individual and company support to lend new life to the 2011 campaign and help raise vital funds for charity. Supported this year by the Pantomime stars of Bournemouth’s ‘Jack in the Beanstalk’, the charity is encouraging the local community to come on board with the Christmas campaign.

Marketing and Fundraising Manager, Debbie Anderson comments, “Participation is incredibly easy and very low cost - companies decide not to send corporate Christmas cards and donate the amount that would have been spent on the cards and postage to the Society. In return, The Wessex Autistic Society give you stickers to put on your outgoing mail to communicate your goodwill to your stakeholders and save companies the time involved in designing, ordering, signing and mailing cards to customers.”

Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects the way that people communicate and relate to those around them.  There is no known cure for autism – children with autism become adults with autism and the majority of those affected will require some level of support throughout their lives. The Wessex Autistic Society operates Portfield School for children with autism, respite care services to families, a range of community and residential support services to adults with autism and an Information and Advice service.

Christmas can be a time of extreme stress for people with autism – in that normal routine is broken which can make people with autism anxious. For some Christmas is meaningless, which is understandably sad for parents and family members.

Your company can make a real difference to the lives of people with autism and their carers through signing up to Give Cash not Cards. To pledge your support to the campaign please contact Debbie Anderson via This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with details of how much your company would like to donate and the quantity of stickers you will require. If you would like to discuss the campaign in more detail please contact the fundraising team on 01202 703584.

Press enquiries to:

Val Thomas (Or Lara Matthews)
Wessex Autistic Society, 22 Bargates, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 1QL
T. 01202 703192, F. 01202 483171
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