Autism Berkshire is pleased to announce that we have been named as Reading Buses’ Charity of the Year 2018.
The launch event took place at Reading Buses’ garage, where a bus bearing a special Autism Berkshire livery was unveiled. It will be seen on routes all over Reading for the next 12 months.
We were chosen for the partnership in a ballot of the company’s staff by a large majority.
Among those attending the launch were the Burke family, whose son James appears in a picture on the side of the bus, enjoying a ride on a swing at one of our family fun days at the Thames Valley Adventure Playground. 
Autism Berkshire trustee Sandra Stubbs said: “We’re delighted to be named as Reading Buses’ charity of the year for 2018.
“It’s a great opportunity to rise the profile of autism and our charity – it’s particularly pleasing as we were chosen in a vote by the staff of Reading Buses.
“We’re looking forward to working with Reading Buses to improve the support we deliver to autistic people and their families throughout Berkshire.
“We have some great plans for fundraising activities over the year and will be revealing details soon.”
Reading Buses’ chief executive officer, Martijn Gilbert, said: “Autism Berkshire is a fantastic charity, which helps so many people throughout the region which we are increasingly covering with our new routes in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, as well as from our main operating bases in Reading and Newbury.
“Over half our employees voted for Autism Berkshire, which undoubtedly shows the esteem in which this charity is held. We are hoping that the depth of feeling for the charity leads to more of our employees, as well as customers, taking part in some great fundraising activities over the course of the next 12 months to help us make this another record-breaking year.”
Among the highlights of the year will be Reading Buses’ annual open day in the summer, when the doors of the garage in Great Knollys Street are opened to the public. The date for this year’s event will be arranged soon.
The bus livery was designed by Siân Martin, of MDM Creative, in Maidenhead.
