On Tuesday 28th October, the Very Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master, John Griffin, accompanied by representatives from the Province and Western Area – Martin Horan, John Taylor and Vince Dover – visited the Spectrum Gaming Charity following the awarding of a grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

The £15,000 grant from East Lancashire Freemasons will enable Spectrum Gaming to continue supporting more than 900 autistic young people and their families, helping to combat long-term isolation and provide greater social connection through online gaming. The funding will also allow the charity to plan for the future and strengthen its sustainability to support even more members of the community.

Spectrum Gaming provides autistic young people with access to private Minecraft and Discord servers, moderated by youth workers and open daily from 10am to 10pm, 365 days a year. These spaces offer a safe and welcoming environment where young people can connect with others who share similar lived experiences, whenever they need it. The charity also runs face-to-face meetups, including youth clubs, football sessions, and forest school activities.

Autistic young people need access to spaces where they feel accepted, understood, can form connections, and have fun, as they face significant challenges around isolation, loneliness, burnout, suicidal ideation, and long-term mental ill health. A 2024 report found 35 per cent of deaths in autistic young people without a learning disability were due to ‘suicide or deliberate self-inflicted harm’. The leading cause of death in this group.

Thanks to the work of Spectrum Gaming, young people report gaining the strength and confidence to find their place in the world in a way that works for them. They are happier, building friendships, finding community, developing a better understanding of autism, and feeling more able to re-engage with services, including education.

Funding from the Freemasons will play a vital role in supporting the long-term sustainability of Spectrum Gaming’s work. It has providing resources that allow staff to focus on key areas that will help the charity grow, develop, and become more resilient. Spectrum Gaming is driven by a vision to create a world where every autistic young person can reach their true potential, and this grant is a meaningful step towards that goal. It has already enabled the team to focus on shaping their 2025–2028 strategy.

Spectrum Gaming’s Fundraising and Development Manager, Ceri Ashwell said:

“We’re so grateful to East Lancashire Freemasons for their generous grant. With so many autistic young people struggling to exist in a world that was not built for their needs, it’s vital they have the opportunity to access community spaces where they feel safe, accepted and understood. Funding from the Freemasons gives us the opportunity to work on boosting our sustainability and ability to grow so we can support more and more autistic young people for years to come.”

Deputy Provincial Grand Master John Griffin from East Lancashire Freemasons, said:

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Spectrum Gaming with their vital project. It can be really hard for autistic young people to engage with others and this can have a profound effect on their development. Spectrum Gaming has found a way into their lives through online games and in-person meetings, a process greatly helped by their staff often being autistic themselves.”