I am trying to raise awareness for the Highland One Stop Shop (HOSS).
The HOSS is a free service for adults aged 16 + who live in the Highlands of Scotland, UK and have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC/ASD).
This is a very good service which really helps lots of people in lots of ways, for example you can have 1-1 appointments with the staff to discuss problems and get help with any issue that you may have. We go out on activities together, and we can meet up with friends and are able to safely socialise with people who understand Autism.
Every year we have to try to get funding to stop our invaluable, life-saving service from closing. This would be devastating for so many autistic people, who rely on the service for so many things, like help with benefits including Universal Credit (because it's a confusing and complicated system), employment issues, housing support, legal appointments, medical appointments, socialising with likeminded people, to name but a few. And all of this help comes from people who have a really good understanding of Autism.
I'm autistic myself and without this service, I would've spent the last few years a lot more isolated. The Highland One Stop Shop has even helped me understand my autism better and feel more comfortable with it. As a result, I'm now studying a college course I enjoy and have so much more confidence than I did a few years ago, before the HOSS opened. Previously, I didn't have many social connections, so was always incredibly lonely when I wasn't at college.
This is why I'm starting this petition: to ask Iain Stewart, the new chief executive of NHS Highlands to reconsider the decision made last year to no longer provide the Highland One Stop Shop with any funding.
I was inspired to start this petition when I realised that the HOSS is saving the NHS money being open and if they can offer some funding to us, lots of people will use our service rather than accessing the NHS services. So it will save the NHS money in the long run.
Uppdatera #15 år sedan
The Highland One Stop Shop (HOSS) still hasn't received the funding needed to continue another year, however thanks to successful fundraising over the last year, the HOSS now has enough money to stay open until at least June! This is no guarantee that the HOSS will stay open for the rest of the year, but it's encouraging, because it gives us more time to keep on fighting for it. Thanks for all your support so far! Please keep spreading the word about our petition, as it's got us media publicity!
