This Christmas, Autism Unlimited is working to raise £5,290 to create a brand-new Animal House at Portfield Sixth Form, a welcoming space where students can learn, grow, and experience the calming, joyful connection that comes from caring for animals. 

For many autistic young people, time spent with animals offers something truly special. It can reduce anxiety, build confidence, and offer responsibility and learning opportunities. Whether feeding, cleaning, or simply sitting quietly together, these moments help students feel calm, capable, and connected. 

With your help, we’ll create a dedicated animal care area featuring our first residents - two friendly female rats and a tortoise! Students will learn how to handle, feed, and care for them as part of their daily timetable, with guidance from a local veterinary partner to ensure every animal is happy and healthy. 

The animals will be taken in from rescue centres and we hope to build the number and species of our residents in years to come. Once established, the animal house will also provide the basis for our students to achieve level 1 and 2 BTEC qualifications, in which they will find out about life cycles of animals, animal care, how to rear them, or go on to breed – there's a whole skill base they will start to learn and gain skills in – improving futures for both students and animals alike!  

“When students spend time with animals, you can see a real difference, calmer moods, more communication, more smiles. It’s a gentle kind of therapy that supports learning in a natural way.”- Gill Barrett, Education Lead for Autism Unlimited.

Every donation, large or small, helps us make the Animal House a reality: 

  • £10 could buy food and bedding for a week 

  • £25 could provide enrichment toys and care equipment 

  • £50 could help set up safe habitats 

  • £100 could help build the Animal House itself 

Together, we can give our students the joy of animal care and make this Christmas one they’ll never forget. 

“Animals can spark communication where words are hard to find, progress appears quietly, through smiles, gestures and calm. -  Gill Barrett, Education Lead

Donate today and help bring Paws for Portfield to life, a place where care becomes confidence, and calm leads to connection.