Supermarket chooses to support autistic group

The Buckhurst Road store, which raised almost 2,000 for the 1066 Specials last year, reached the end of its selection process recently.

And it was the Bexhill branch of the National Autistic Society who won staff votes.

At a handover ceremony in the store, Sarah Fletton, who founded the charity around two years ago in an effort to start a support network for her six-year-old son Joel, who is autistic, called the news "fantastic".

"So many people are affected by autism, including around Bexhill," she said. "I think Sainsbury's understood that and can see it's important.

"Most families want somewhere to go where they can be supported and find a bit of relief."

Store manager Kevin Davies said: "This is the start of our time together, and we hope it will be a fruitful relationship over the next year.

"We're looking to better last year's total and raise as much money to help you guys as possible."

Store spokesman Jean Harris got the ball rolling with a cheque for 212 which was raised through instore events. The local branch of Sainsbury's is known for its fundraising efforts, regularly holding table sales, mufti days and entering teams in half-marathons.

And Kevin told members of the autistic society they would have plenty of volunteers for the role of Fat Controller in next year's train walk - the society's big annual fundraising event.

One member of the society, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her son's privacy, described the organisation as "a lifeline".

"Even if you just get things off your chest - the people here know what it's like and that makes a big difference.

"When you get the diagnosis at the hospital you are out the door.

"Without this I wouldn't know where I was going."