Tourette's syndrome support charity faces closure

A charity supporting people with Tourette's says it is facing an uncertain future after funding bids were rejected.

Kim Mitchell, founder and CEO of Tourette's Syndrome Inclusion in the Community (TIC), said the organisation's core funding ended this week and unless it secured more funding, it would only be able to run until August.

She said it would be "devastating" if TIC, which has been running for six years across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, was to shut, adding that families said it was an important service.

"For a lot of our families, we spend more time sat on the sofa crying because the family feel somebody understands what they're going through," Mitchell said.

Hundreds of people attended a fundraising walk across the Humber Bridge on Sunday.

Lizzie, who has a son, Bailey, and daughter, Miley, with Tourette's, said: "We go every Wednesdays to the TIC support groups.

"They've helped Bailey cope with these tics, they've helped Miley accept her tics because she used to mask them quite a lot, whereas now she feels like she can just be herself."

Miley, 14, said she struggled at school and the charity had "helped me massively" to understand the condition.

"They've given me different options to do, they've helped me get other diagnosis and it's just great," she said.

Hull actor Robert Aramayo's recent Bafta award for his portrayal of John Davidson in the film I swear helped highlight Tourette's to a global audience.

However, Mitchell said the ceremony left her with mixed emotions due to the controversy surrounding Davidson shouting a racial slur while two black actors were on stage during the ceremony.

She said it had led to a "really, really tough week for everybody".

"We seem to have taken a little step back, having to explain the basics all over again", she said.

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