A specialist Greater Manchester charity celebrated its 20th birthday at the weekend at a picnic in the park.

Respect for All (RFA), which provides unique support for people with autism and those with learning disabilities and their families and carers, was founded in 2002 by just four counsellors.

Now it has 35 councillors and is working with 280 individuals across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester and has a waiting list of more than 320.

Three of the original four – Alix Otten, Gill Linden and Pat Ashworth – joined the gathering at Longford Park in Stretford on Saturday.

They were joined by more than 30 colleagues past and present, family and friends of the charity to celebrate the anniversary.

The Bolton News: The party (Picture: Jean Friend)The party (Picture: Jean Friend)

In 2002, the three and colleague Harold Flowerdew were talking at a meeting of Counselling North-West when they realised there was gap in the provision of affordable counselling for those with autism and with learning disabilities, their families and carers.

Starting with just a handful of clients they built the charity up from small beginnings with the aid of cash from a variety of organisations including The National Lottery, the Co-op and recently the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.

Now, still going strong, Respect for All has a four-year business plan to expand and boost provision including recruiting more staff and providing group work, peer support and advocacy.

Current chair Judy Turner, 65, from Westhoughton, who has been a trustee for a decade, said: “We have had our peaks and troughs and times when we thought the charity could not continue but we are now on a stable footing and seeking to expand further.

“There is clearly a great need for our services which is getting greater.

“We are unique and the demand for the counselling we offer is growing with more than five requests coming in every day.”

The Bolton News: RFA chair Judy Turner (Picture: Jean Friend)RFA chair Judy Turner (Picture: Jean Friend)

The Bolton News: Alix Otten, Gill Linden and Pat Ashworth (Picture: Jean Friend)Alix Otten, Gill Linden and Pat Ashworth (Picture: Jean Friend)

Ms Otten, 73, said: “When we started we did not really think about the future. We just saw a gap that needed filling.”

Mrs Ashworth, 80, said: “I am just amazed and delighted Respect For All is still going strong.”

Mrs Linden, 64, said: “It is astonishing to think we have been going for 20 years.

"There was a clear need for our services and that need is still there and getting greater.

"It is a really valuable charity which makes a real difference to people’s lives.”

The Bolton News: Gill Linden, Judy Turner, Pat Ashworth and Alix Otten cutting RFA's birthday cake (Picture: Jean Friend)Gill Linden, Judy Turner, Pat Ashworth and Alix Otten cutting RFA's birthday cake (Picture: Jean Friend)