Paulton mum, Zoe-Mae Burlton, who is fundraising for a ‘Safespace’ for her son, Harry, who has a severe form of autism, received a £1,000 donation last week, thanks to the generosity of the local community and two well-known fundraisers in the village who wanted to lend their support.

Terry and Caroline Wynne, who have received MBEs for their charitable work and run the Paulton Hospital League of Friends charity shop in the village, have been raising money for Zoe-Mae and her family since hearing of their plight in the summer. At local events held across the area, they have been holding a fundraising tombola and selling wristbands at the shop, with a tin for donations. Shop donations alone raised £200, with £800 from the tombola.

The pair presented a suprised Zoe-Mae, her mother, Carol, and daughter Eva, with the money last week, which will go towards the £8,000 they are trying to raise to buy a custom-built safespace for six-year-old Harry, and a travel version, which would mean the family could enjoy respite care and short breaks, having not been able to go on holiday since Harry was born.

Due to his condition, Harry has the mental development of less than twelve months, he cannot communicate and has very little understanding, so is unaware of danger. He has only just recently learnt to walk, but needs a wheelchair for longer periods. He also does not sleep well at night and needs care 24-hours a day. Worryingly for his family, Harry has no interest in food or toys, but likes to tear apart whatever he can find, ripping it up and eating it, often picking at carpets and walls.

He currently sleeps in a sectioned-off area of his room with a playpen room divider and a mattress on the floor. It won’t be long, however, before he can climb over this and so the new safespace is desperately needed at night. It can even be used when Harry is an adult and comes with wipeover, antibacterial surfaces and padded walls, meaning that he can be safe whilst his family try to get some sleep. Zoe-Mae is Harry’s full-time carer and her daughter and Harry’s

sister, Eva, is also under investigation for autism.

Thanks to last week’s donation, Harry’s fund stands at just over £5,000, which means the family will hopefully be able to buy the safespaces by the beginning of next year. A Zumba fundraiser is being organised at Chilcompton Village Hall on Friday, 27th November from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., a two-hour dance party with cupcakes and a raffle. For tickets, contact: 07747 105811. To follow the fundraising progress, visit: www.facebook.com/harryssafespace or to donate, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/8zf7ja8zbc