BBC: The Loneliness Of Autism

For five years, Manchester Camerata has been working in partnership with the Royal Exchange Theatre to deliver Songlines – a special opportunity for young people aged 10-14 on the Autistic Spectrum and their non-autistic peers. Research shows the project improves self-confidence, self-efficacy, teamwork, and parent/child relationships.

Supported by Children in Need and Youth Music, Songlines uses music to help youngsters with autism make friends, communicate and have fun. At the end of the project a special performance takes places at the Royal Exchange theatre, where both groups come together to stage their own new piece of musical theatre.

Watch this video from A Life Less Lonely, a series of programming that explored the huge spectrum of loneliness in the UK today. Here, we hear from Brandon, 13, and his mum Caroline, on how Songlines has helped him make friends and change his life.