We were delighted to welcome our Royal Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, at a dinner event entitled ‘Inclusive Futures: Education, Employment, and Autism’. 
 
The event was held at Clapham Michelin-Starred restaurant Trinity on 12th February, with guests hearing first-hand about the challenges faced by young autistic people, alongside our vision to increase the number of autistic people in employment through family support, inclusive education and more autism-friendly accredited employers. 
 
The Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been our Royal Patron since 2003, spent time talking to keynote speaker Grace Liu. Grace is autistic and spoke at length about the barriers she had to overcome at school and at the start of her career, describing years of misunderstanding and the inconsistent support she experienced in previous jobs. She also highlighted how the right adjustments have enabled her to thrive, culminating in her success as an artist and published author. 
 
Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, Caroline Stevens, discussed our plans to work with education providers, the autistic community and employers to enable smoother transitions and strengthen pathways into meaningful employment for autistic young people. 
 
Adam Byatt, chef and owner of Trinity, is a keen supporter of our charity. His 17-year-old daughter Rosie, who is autistic, works in Trinity’s kitchen after Adam made arrangements to support her success in the working environment, while also allowing her to be her own person and express herself creatively. Rosie designed the canapés presented to the guests and acted as a server on the night.  
 
Adam, who is also Chairman of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, was named Imbibe’s Restaurant Personality of The Year in 2017 as a result of his influence on London’s dining scene and his commitment to sharing knowledge with the future generations of young chefs. 
 
Adam said: "If our lived experience has taught us anything, it's that young autistic people have the ability to become their own success stories. But they need vital support, guidance, understanding, and kindness to succeed. Cooking has always been a place of comfort for Rosie and an opportunity for her to express her creativity, so it was natural for her to begin her career with us in the kitchen at Trinity. Watching her in the kitchen, being part of a team and doing something so special every day gives us a great sense of pride. 
 
"The National Autistic Society is a remarkable organisation which opens doors for autistic people, and we were very proud to support the charity with this very special dinner." 
 
Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, said: “We were delighted that Her Royal Highness was able to join us for the evening. It was a wonderful opportunity to shed light on the challenges, and advantages, that autistic young people are currently facing. 
 
“On behalf of the charity, I’d like to thank Adam and the rest of the team at Trinity for hosting us and for all of their hard work behind the scenes which ensured that everyone had a fantastic night.” 

 

Further information 

• Read more about our advice around education and employment.
• Find out how you can support our work.