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Skills South Tyneside learners have joined up with a local training provider to help contribute to the Borough's response to COVID-19.

Autism Able, an education, wellbeing and employment centre for individuals with Autism Spectrum Condition and learning differences has been nominated as part of the council's #ProudtoSupport campaign for creating hand sanitiser for South Tyneside residents.

Lexi O'Connor, 24, Dee Sisterson, 17 and Adam Wilde, 17 are Skills South Tyneside learners who have been working together at Autism Able to create bottles of hand sanitiser which they have donated to local food bank, Hospitality and Hope and also included in food parcels for vulnerable residents.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Norman Dick, said: "On behalf of the people of South Tyneside, The Mayoress and I would like to convey our gratitude to Lexie, Dee, Adam and Autism Able for creating their own hand sanitiser and helping to provide food parcels for vulnerable residents in the community.

"We are thrilled to see the way young people in South Tyneside are playing a part in helping us address this challenge in an extremely positive way. We are extremely #proud and would like to say a huge thank you."

Autism Able provides positive educational, social and work experiences for all learners enabling them to develop personally, vocationally and academically within an Autism Friendly environment.

Councillor John Anglin, Lead Member for Regeneration and Economy at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, said: "The skills that Lexie, Dee and Adam have developed at Autism Able have been brought to light during this crisis, they have not only turned their sanitisers in to a mini brand but they have looked beyond the classroom and shown real engagement with the wider community and a desire to help those most in need."

Skills South Tyneside learner, Lexi O'Connor, said: "Being able to come to Autism Able is really important for my routine and mental health, so it's great to be able to contribute back to the community in a time like this. The hand sanitiser project was fun and educational and we will be creating more batches for the families who use Hospitality and Hope and others within South Tyneside."