Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s award winning Autism Friendly Borough initiative

This article is part of our series covering the 2025 NILGA Award winners. In this case study, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council unpacks their Autism Friendly Borough initiative, which was awarded the Local Government Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award.

The Autism Friendly Borough initiative in Mid and East Antrim (MEA) emerged from the development of the community plan Putting People First and sits within the Good Health & Wellbeing Theme. Community planning partners identified a pressing need to support autistic individuals and families in accessing Council and partner services.

Partnering with the Northern Health & Social Care Trust (NHSCT), Council launched a unique programme to raise awareness of autism and implement reasonable adjustments in public services.

Our borough

The borough of MEA covers an area of just over 400 square miles, extending from the River Bann in the west to the beautiful Antrim coast in the east, and includes part of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Known for its ancient castles, timeless history, spectacular mountains and valleys, it is no wonder HBO’s world-famous Game of Thrones® chose MEA to film some of its most memorable scenes.

There are three main towns, Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne, and a host of welcoming villages and rural communities, which are home to a population of just under 140,000 people. It is only fair that all its residents should have access to everything MEA has to offer.

The Northern Ireland Census (2021) recorded that there are approximately 2,200 individuals with an autism diagnosis in the borough, though this figure is likely to be underrepresented. The statistics show that there could be a large number of undiagnosed adults, as many adults who do not yet have a formal diagnosis of autism. The Census figures recorded 5.25% of those aged 0-14 years have a diagnosis of autism, compared to 0.32% of those aged 40-64 years (2022, Census 2021 main statistics for Northern Ireland phase 2, NISRA).

As our understanding of Autism increases, it is evident that it can be very challenging for autistic individuals to access services which others take for granted. These difficulties arise from challenges in communication, to sensory issues with the environment in which the service is set.

Building awareness and making adjustments

Council engaged Autism NI to deliver their Impact Programme across services like Leisure Centres, Parks, and The Gobbins Visitor Centre. Staff received training, Autism Champions were appointed and Autism Action Plans were created. These led to practical changes such as:

• Pre-Visit Guides available online
• Improved signage in venues warning of sensory changes (e.g. lights, sounds, smells).

A Steering Group, comprising of political representatives and council officers, has been established and is chaired by NHSCT to guide the work of the initiative and to align it with the Northern Ireland Autism Strategy (2011). Council and NHSCT staff are also qualified to deliver in-person and online autism awareness training.

Crucially, the project worked with the Northern Area Autism Reference Group, a network of autistic individuals and their families who helped shape the content of the training and the new bespoke branding. This ensured authenticity and relevance.

Mid and East Antrim Autism Champions (March 2025)

Expanding reach through innovation

With limited resources, partners created scalable Autism Awareness Workshops tailored to various occupational sectors. The initiative also delivered complementary activities, including:

• The Autism Reality Experience Bus
• Makaton communication taster sessions
• Autism Cafés and Information Roadshows.

These activities were supported by members of the Northern Area Autism Forum, a diverse network of professionals and organisations supporting autistic individuals and families.

In addition, a practical Autism Employability Guide was developed for local employers, encouraging inclusive hiring practices and workplace adjustments.

Inclusive outdoor and cultural spaces

Council’s Parks Department introduced a Quiet Hour at four flagship parks. Measures were taken to facilitate and encourage users to engage in quieter, sensory-friendly play. This included Council being aware of planning and/or pausing scheduled maintenance to ensure the benefits for those using Quiet Hour were maximised.

Council has also secured funding to establish several sensory parks in the borough and adopted the Mae Murray Foundation Adapt My Play Toolkit to help design the new/refurbished play parks, thus ensuring they are as inclusive as possible.

Launch of Quiet Time at Carrickfergus playpark (June 2024). This image features the late Alderman Beth Adger MBE, former Mayor of Mid and East Antrim.

Since 2022, Mid-Antrim Museum has partnered with Dunclug Primary School’s Autism Support Centre to deliver wellbeing-focused, creative workshops, using museum collections as inspiration.

In April 2025, the borough-wide Autism Awareness Billboard Campaign launched, visually reinforcing Council’s support and promoting acceptance. It made a significant emotional impact, with one parent of an autistic child writing to say:

“I just wanted to send a short email to thank you…  We have been on such a long diagnosis journey, and we know the journey for acceptance will be a life-long one.  With that in mind, as a parent I’d like to thank you also for all the work behind the scenes to help make a difference to the lives of autistic people and their families / carers. I know all too well how thankless work tasks can be at times, but I want to encourage you that resources like visitor guides and bespoke experiences and initiatives are a lifeline to families like mine, as we get to see the ones we love enjoy things just like anyone else.”

Billboard Campaign (April 2025)

Building capacity for the future

Due to increased demand from public sector partners, a Train the Trainer package is in development. This will allow broader delivery of awareness training across Northern Ireland.

Internally, the Council is reviewing its policies to ensure a supportive environment for autistic staff and applicants.

Community feedback

Feedback from participants highlights the impact:

“Very informative, lots of positive feedback from staff.” (Household Recycling Centre Supervisor)

“I understand how to help my brother more.” (Local Community Association participant)

“Better understanding of autistic people and potential complications/solutions for policing.” (PSNI Officer, Larne)

“This session helped me better support a staff member I had been struggling to understand.” (PSNI Officer, Ballymena)

“The roadshow was very useful, with a lot of information for the statement process.” (Roadshow attendee, Carrickfergus)

“I am so encouraged (and grateful to you) to see how far the Borough has come in terms of being more Autism friendly!  My son is almost 18 months old now, and it is so comforting to know that, should he be neurodiverse, he will be growing up in a place that tries to work with him and not against him as was so often the case before!  Thank you for everything you have done to make this happen!” (Autistic Parent)

Mayoral Reception marking the achievements of the Autism Friendly Borough initiative (May 2025)

A model for others

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council hopes that other councils will replicate this model. Our experience shows it can be achieved without significant financial investment. What is needed most is supportive leadership and a committed team.

Alderman William McGaughey, Mayor said:

“We will lead by example, considering and valuing our autistic community in everything we do. We are immensely proud and committed to the continued success of this initiative.”

Hugh Nelson, Head of Community Wellbeing at NHSCT and Community Planning Chair of the Good Health & Wellbeing Thematic Group, added:

“This partnership thrives on collaboration and creativity. We encourage other partnerships to support similar inclusive visions for strong, safe, and vibrant communities.”