A NEW company which helps support adults with autism has celebrated its official launch.

True Colours CIC is helping to strengthen the skills of adults with autism in Leigh town centre and enable them to be as independent as possible.

The community interest company hopes to set up social enterprises and increase skills and opportunities in voluntary and paid employment for its members.

It opened in October but held its official launch – attended by patron Leigh MP Andy Burnham – last week after moving premises.

Director Marian Milling said: “The launch showcased what True Colours is all about. Usually people with autism are put together with other people with learning difficulties, and this can make it very hard for them to manage because they need the right support.

“Our day service, which is open seven days a week, is specifically for adults with autism. This creates the correct environment to provide the right support to develop their skills and allow them to live more independently.”

True Colours will help its members to not only complete qualifications, but also to put what they have learned into practice through the social enterprises.

“We are looking at setting up a dating agency and a children’s play scheme, so that we can allow people with autism to give something back to their community,” said Marian.

“Because a lot of autistic people don’t have physical signs of the condition, people can just think they are being rude when really they just process things differently.

“People with autism can often be overlooked but we help them to express themselves and this, in turn, allows them to live life more like you or I would.”

To find out more, visit face book.com/TrueColoursCic.