A project bringing life skills and independence to people with autism has won a national award.

Footprints Life Camp, based at the Holmewood School in Finchley, runs during school holidays training young autistic people in essential skills for an independent life.

The project, founded last year by Holmewood teacher Naj D’Silva, is now celebrating winning “most creative community project” at the National Autistic Society’s Autism Professionals Awards.

With 14 different awards covering education, health, social care and employment, the winners were announced at a conference in Harrogate on Tuesday, March 7.

The camp, running during school holidays, also offers paid internships to young autistic people once they have completed their lessons.

Ms D'Silva said: “Our aim, over the past year, has been to give young autistic people the opportunity to be the best they can be by reducing social exclusion and increasing independence.

“We are able to deliver this through highly specialised staff and a key focus on developing social skills and key independent life-skills.

“Our goal is to have 50 per cent of our staff team made up of young people on the autistic spectrum in the next five years.”

Footprints said all of the young people who attended the camp last year and their parents believed it had increased their self-esteem, independence and social skills.

A recent NAS survey showed only 16 per cent of autistic people are in full time paid work.