An employee at the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Sidcup site has nominated the National Autistic Society for a £10,000 donation from his firm.

Maintenance manager, James McColgan, chose the charity following the support that his family received after his four-year-old son, Albie, was diagnosed with autism.

He said that the charity was “truly changing the world for autistic people”.

James also organised a sponsored 6k walk with 60 of his friends and family and fundraised an additional £3,880.

The National Autistic Society offers support and guidance as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities for autistic people.

Coca-cola hosts a ‘Support My Cause’ initiative where staff can nominate a charity to donate to and colleagues vote for the winner.

The donation will help the National Autistic Society fund resources like diagnosis centres, training and specialist peer support groups.

James McColgan, Maintenance Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said: “Since Albie’s diagnosis, the National Autistic Society have been a huge support to us as a family.

“They’ve helped us to understand and accept his autism, as well as offer practical advice and techniques to help Albie communicate how he’s feeling and what he needs, despite being non-verbal.

“Seeing the way that other people sometimes react when Albie is experiencing a sensory overload shows the strong stigma that continues to be attached to the condition.

“But the National Autistic Society are truly changing the world for autistic people, shifting perceptions and tackling inequalities.

“I just want to say thank you for all that they’ve done for my family and so many others, and I’m pleased and proud that CCEP is joining me in helping to support them.

“The National Autistic Society is all about celebrating the differences in everyone, while CCEP is a business that embraces a diverse workforce, so I’m glad we’ve been able to come together to celebrate this shared ethos.”

Gaby Richardson, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the National Autistic Society, said: “We’re really grateful to James and CCEP for this generous donation.

“There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK and more than 3 million families and carers, including James.

“We want to make sure we’re offering information, advice and support to as many people as possible, and we rely on donations to make this possible.

“CCEP’s donation will help us continue our vital work creating a society that works for autistic people, for instance, via our volunteer-run branches and social groups, including the one we run for siblings, which Albie’s brother, Olly, is part of.

“These groups are a huge support to their members, offering a space to share their experiences and make connections with others in a similar position.”

Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletters to get updates sent straight to your inbox.