This is why Sunderland landmarks will be glittering in gold this week

The Northern Spire Bridge and Penshaw Monument will be bathed in the colour on Thursday, April 2, to mark World Autism Acceptance Day.

Families are also urged to join in for an hour at 7pm on Thursday evening by turning on all their lights at home.

The event is itself part of the ongoing World Autism Acceptance Week and is backed by the Sunderland Echo as part of our joint All To Play For campaign with the city’s Thornhill Park School to raise £25,000 of playground equipment for its autistic pupils.

The North East Autism Society, which runs the school, has had to cancel a number of traditional events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But the charity has also launched a special standalone website – www.autismacceptance.org.uk – where the autistic community can engage in fun, educational and mindful activities from home.

The website, the first of its kind in the country, is specifically designed to help families during the lockdown and features include gaming areas, fitness videos, mindfulness tools, and virtual events.

John Phillipson, the soceity’s chief executive, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the fundraising and marketing teams who have been working together – from home – to put an engaging and comprehensive programme together in these challenging times.

“They will be making sure all of our families, and the wider autistic community and those in their lives, still have access to positive, helpful tools and content during a week when all eyes are on autism.”

All To Play For aims to emulate an Echo appeal in 1980 when readers raised more than £25,000 so that the society could buy its original Thornhill Park School premises.

A similar sum is needed now to buy sensory equipment for the school following its move more than a mile away to a new home at Plains Farm earlier this month.

Cheques can be made out to the North East Autism Society and addressed to The Fundraising Team, All To Play For Appeal, Thornhill Park School, Portland Road, Sunderland, Tyne/Wear, SR3 1SS.

Online donations can be made at www.ne-as.org.uk/appeal/all-to-play-for.

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