Richard Wilson: book festival appearance, and NAS Scotland ambassador

• Off The Shelf Festival of Words

One Foot in The Grave star Richard Wilson will be discussing his life as an actor, director, broadcaster and author at this year’s Off The Shelf Festival of Words.

Read more at The Star 

• Actor Richard Wilson meets NAS supporters in Glasgow

Highly-respected actor, theatre director and activist Richard Wilson OBE met recently with adults with autism in Glasgow, as he commenced his new role as Ambassador for The National Autistic Society Scotland (NAS Scotland).

The star of BBC’s popular Saturday night drama, Merlin, joined NAS supporters to discover how people with autism can be enabled to live the life they choose.

An estimated 50,000 people in Scotland have autism, with nearly 6,000 thought to live in Glasgow.

Richard Wilson commented:

    An estimated 50,000 Scots have the condition - that’s 1 in 100, and I was shocked to discover that many thousands of people with autism in Scotland and their families still struggle to access the right basic support at the right time.

    Some people with autism require a lifetime of care but many are able to study, work and take part in the community; they just need help and support at certain points. The right support at the right time can make the difference between someone with autism experiencing isolation and related mental health problems and leading a fulfilling life and actively contributing to society.

    I am backing NAS Scotland in its vital work to help people with autism access the same education, employment and social opportunities that most of us take for granted, and I encourage more people in Scotland to do the same.

Read more at The National Autistic Society