Shachele Mulundika, Hertfordshire Family Support Service
Shachele brings a sense of joy with him wherever he goes, his enthusiasm is contagious and he quickly established himself as part of the team. He is autistic and has faced many challenges, but he does not let this define him. Instead, he uses his experiences to engage with other children on the autistic spectrum, as he is able to empathise with them and communicate with them on their level. He allows the young people to come to him, respecting their space but gradually encouraging them to join in with the activities and have fun. Shachele supports a number of groups and has become a role model for other autistic young people, showing them that there are volunteer opportunities available to them if they would like to pursue them. His involvement in the service has given staff and volunteers a greater awareness of autism, leading to more training being undertaken to ensure that staff create a suitable environment for volunteers with autism.