ANDREW RENDLE, pictured left, wants to hear from those in Croydon affected by autism, to share their experiences of the services they receive

After I was elected to the council in May, I was honoured to be made the deputy cabinet member for people and communities which among over things covers health and adult social care. I was delighted also to be made Croydon’s champion for autism.

The champion role is something I wanted from the moment I decided to stand for election in Ashburton. As the father of a four-year-old who has been diagnosed with ASD and another on the waiting list to be diagnosed, it’s a subject I have immersed myself in. With the support of the new administration, I want to make Croydon a flagship borough in helping those on the spectrum, and their carers.

I’ve had numerous meetings with charities, educators, NHS professionals, council staff and front-line service providers to see best practice in many places, but also to find the gaps in services. I am on my own fact-finding exercise and when complete the work, I hope to host an autism forum where issues can be discussed and plans drawn up.

I also have my own ideas for events and services that can make ASD provisions in Croydon the envy of other boroughs, but I want to find out more from people who, like me, live with autism day-in, day-out.

I am asking therefore for anyone with a diagnosis of ASD, parent or carer, to get in touch and let me know where Croydon has got it right or wrong. Autism is a spectrum and I want to hear from all points on the scale and from all ages. I want to know about the services you use, where you think the gaps are and how you think things can be made better.

I can be emailed at andrew.rendle@croydon.gov.uk or you can write to me c/o Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR0 1NX

I look forward to lots of reading.

Coming to Croydon

• Tree Sides, Spread Eagle Theatre, Oct 2-4
• The Goon Show, Spread Eagle Theatre, Oct 8-11
• Norwood Society Talk: From Fire Station to Theatre, Oct 16
• Cinema Ruskin film show, Oct 18
• South Croydon business breakfast, Oct 18
• Croydon 10km road race, Oct 19
• This Was The World and I Was King, Spread Eagle, Oct 23-25
• Upper Norwood Library Book Club, 2.30pm, Oct 25
• CODA’s Wind In The Willows, Charles Cryer, Carshalton, Oct 29-Nov 1
• Albert Einstein – Relativity Speaking, Spread Eagle, Nov 12-15
• South Croydon business breakfast, Nov 15
• Norwood Society Talk: Lambeth’s Archives, Nov 20
• Choose Your Own Documentary, Spread Eagle Theatre, Nov 21-22
• The Last Sense of Sudden, Spread Eagle Theatre, Nov 27-29
• Ghost Stories for Christmas, Spread Eagle Theatre, Dec 3
• Fog Horn Funnies, Spread Eagle Theatre, Dec 6
• South Croydon business breakfast, Dec 13
• South Croydon business breakfast, Jan 24

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