NEXT week is World Autism Awareness Week and there are plenty of events across Berkshire to mark the occasion.

Autism Berkshire have organised a busy programme of special events between Monday, March 27 and Sunday for people and families living with the condition.

Among the highlights is a family fun day at Bucklebury Farm Park in West Berkshire on April 2 to mark World Autism Awareness Day.

There will also be a series of activities for the Bracknell Forest area, organised in conjunction with the borough council.

Autism Berkshire’s CEO, Jane Stanford-Beale, said: “We have arranged a variety of activities to raise awareness of autism and involve people living with autism and their families.

“Anyone who would like to find out more about autism and our support services is welcome to visit us at the information events we are running, or attending around the county.”

The week kicks off with a free carers day to help the people who care for autistic adults in Bracknell Forest at the Royal Berkshire Health and Racquets Club.

A sports day (March 28) for people with autism in Bracknell Forest, will feature ten-pin bowling at The Point Bracknell Leisure Centre will also be hosting badminton, short tennis, table tennis and racquetball sessions, with no advanced booking required for the Tuesday schedule.

Autism Berkshire will be at the walk-in centre in the Broad Street Mall, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, while the most exciting part of Wednesday is a games day at the NRG Youth Centre in Bracknell.

The free event will run from 11am to 6.30pm in Coopers Hill and no booking is needed.

People will be asked to wear pink or fancy dress on Thursday in Bracknell Forest to raise money for Autism Berkshire and the National Autistic Society.

Bracknell Open Learning Centre will host a free information day on Friday from 10.30am to 3.30pm, with a picnic in South Hill Park starting the weekend schedule.

The picnic starts at midday, followed by a walk to the Look Out Discovery Centre.

Autism Berkshire will round-off the week of events with a family fun day at Bucklebury Farm Park, between Reading and Thatcham.

Unlike most of the events during Austism Awareness Week, there is a small charge for the fun day, with tickets priced at £10 for adults and £7.50 for children.

There will be a barbecue lunch and tickets can be purchased from eventbrite.co.uk or by calling 01189 594 594 for more information.