Cultural Milestone for Autism Awareness

Wandsworth Autism Cultural Experience Fayre 2025: A Resounding Success in Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

London, UK – 5 April 2025

A2ndvoice CIC proudly delivered the first-ever Wandsworth Autism Cultural Experience Fayre at Tooting Leisure Centre, uniting hundreds of families, professionals, and community members in a vibrant celebration of neurodiversity, culture, and community.

Held during World Autism Acceptance Week and supported by Wandsworth Council’s Black History 365 initiative, the event marked a milestone in raising awareness of autism, SEND, and neurodiversity within African, Caribbean, and Dual Heritage communities.

Left – Mayor of Wandsworth. Right – Vanessa Swaby (Founder of A 2nd Voice)

Formally opened by Mayor of Wandsworth, Cllr Sana Jafri, the day embodied true inclusion — bursting with colour, sound, and connection. From sensory zones to steel pans, families found themselves immersed in experiences that both celebrated culture and highlighted vital support systems.

Highlights included:

A rousing performance by the Melodians Steel Pan Orchestra
Interactive drumming and dance workshop with One Drum and Abass
A stunning ballet showcase by Pointe Black
Sensory play zones, inclusive arts and crafts, and over 40 stallholders offering culturally relevant information, services, and advice

Courtney Brown Founder of Father2Father – Pictured right

A powerful moment of the day came with the participation of Father2Father and Chris Preddie OBE, who led vital conversations on mental health, wellbeing, and the challenges faced by fathers and male carers. Their presence provided an important platform for voices often left unheard.

Another memorable surprise was the visit from two representatives from Los Angeles, underscoring the event’s growing international reach and placing Wandsworth on the map for global neurodiversity advocacy.

Despite scheduled workshops being postponed due to the overwhelming engagement in the main hall, the team announced these sessions will be rescheduled later in the year, ensuring continued access to essential support and dialogue.

Key topics explored during the day included:

Post-16 transitions and preparing for adulthood
Mental health and peer-to-peer support
Social and lifeskill development for 25+ autistic adults
The lasting impact of illegal restraint practices
Cultural identity in autism advocacy
Career planning, afterschool activities, and more

Dr. Venessa Swaby (H.C.), founder of A2ndvoice CIC, shared:

“This event is a testament to the strength and resilience of our community. We’re here to amplify voices that are often ignored — fathers, carers, and those from Black and culturally diverse backgrounds. This is what authentic inclusion looks like in person. We cramped so much into one day — next year will be even bigger.”

Special thanks to:

Tooting Leisure Centre, The Autism and SEND Show Africa, Autism Eye, Widgit, Dynamo Maths, TTS, FLANC, Restraint Reduction Network, BilD, Kingies Bouncy Castles — and the many families, professionals, performers, and volunteers who made the day so impactful.

Plans are already underway for 2026 — stay tuned.