Thank you for joining the National Autistic Society and the EC4 Music Choir for our annual Starshine Carol Concert. Your support enables us to transform lives and change attitudes to help create a society that works for autistic people

2025 has been a huge year for this event as it marks our twelfth anniversary of seeing in the festive period with the wonderful EC4 Music Choir and we couldn’t be happier that you were here to celebrate with us at our brand-new venue.

The National Autistic Society exists to create a society that works for autistic people and their families. Our bold Moonshot Vision, created with and by autistic people, sets out what that society will look like. In April 2023, we launched our Vision to Reality strategy. We would love to talk you through some of the things we are now able to highlight because of this and other incredible successes throughout the year:

• In the second year of our strategy, we are proud to have supported over a million people through our flagship advice and guidance services.
• 15,500 professionals were trained by us and we partnered with 674 organisations, creating ripple effects of awareness and changing the landscape for autistic people.
• Over 91,000 education professionals received training from the Autism Education Trust, ensuring they are better equipped to support autistic students, making classrooms more inclusive nationwide.
• 400+ autistic people were supported by our adult services, helping them build a better quality of life through our specialist person-centred residential services and centres across the UK.
• We have challenged harmful misinformation in the media and public conversations about autism. Together, we have continued to fight for the rights of autistic people and their families and provide support; work that is more critical now than ever.
• In January 2025, we launched 'A Constant Fight’ report. This report, written by autistic staff, highlighted systemic failures and led to over 3,000 passionate campaigners contacting their MPs to demand change and opening the doors to political conversations that matter
• After years of tireless campaigning, the Mental Health Bill passed through the House of Lords, protecting autistic people from being detained simply because of their diagnosis.
• In January, we announced the winners of the Boshier Grants, which provides funding for various projects supporting autistic people.
• In April of 2025, we launched our public awareness campaign – It’s How You Show Up. This has been a huge success, with over 800 people having made a pledge on how they can and will show up for autistic people and their families Every pledge helps build a future where autistic people feel valued, supported, and understood.
• We are also proud to announce that World Autism Acceptance Month saw over 22,000 donations and raised over a staggering £396,000!
• Throughout 2025, our incredible supporters took on multiple running events for us, from the streets of Newcastle to the parks of London, and across the globe to Berlin and Chicago. Together, they’ve raised over £500,000 and counting. A truly incredible year, and we cannot thank you enough for being involved.

So much of the impact celebrated above is a direct result of the generosity, dedication and drive of our donors, members and fundraisers. We are deeply grateful for your support. These numbers are just a glimpse of the incredible contribution you’ve made to help transform lives and change attitudes.

There is still much more to do to create a society that truly works for autistic people. We’re ready for the year ahead and won’t stop fighting for change.

We thank you for your donation and for showing up for autistic people and their families; our work wouldn’t be possible without you.