A CHARITY supporting families of children with autism in Bradford is celebrating winning a national award for its excellent service.

Barnardo's Cygnet service won the Innovative Family Support prize at the Autism Professional Awards.

The service, which helps families across the district, started in the city in 2005. Since then its work has been used by 120 different organisations in the UK and as far away as Greece.

Families with a child aged between seven and 18 can meet and talk with experts and each other, about the issues they and their child face.

Judges said: "They [Barnardo's Cygnet] provide an excellent service that supports families in many different ways through all the educational stages. They are constantly thinking of new techniques and approaches that can aid development."

The charity's international co-ordinator Andy Morris said: "We couldn't have done this without the support of parents and the network of workers across Bradford that support the service.

"The service has gone from strength to strength and we're always trying to move it forward. We never want to stand still. It is great that this has been recognised."

The organisation hopes that families will lose the sense of isolation many of them feel through using its service. Although parents are often offered support when their child is first diagnosed, the Cygnet service gives advice and support to families of children when they are older and likely to facing different issues to young children.

Lisa Bottomley of Thackley has a nine-year-old son called Samuel who is autistic.

She said: "It is great to come here and bounce ideas and experiences off each other. With the medical services you seem to get a diagnosis and then they say, 'that's it. See you later.'"

Sarah and Andrew Sharp from Wyke have a nine-year-old son called Jack.

Mrs Sharp said: "It is good to know you're not the only parents in this situation. You learn why your children do certain things, and it means you can be more positive. Without support like this you can think I'm not doing well as a parent, but you learn so much from here."

John Philip, from Keighley, also has an autistic son who is nine, Ben. He said: "When you have a child with autism it is like you have a lot of loose ends and this helps tie up some of them."

An awards ceremony was held in the Royal Hall in Harrogate and brought together charities, teachers and schools across the UK to recognise their work supporting people with autism.