DOZENS of special needs pupils and their teachers took to the seafront wearing glitter and blue paint for a fundraising walk to raise awareness of autism.

The group from St John’s School and College in Brighton embarked on a four mile walk along the promenade this morning, heading from the college site in Kemptown to The Meeting Place Café on King’s Road and back.

Everything that the school does focuses on teaching the students about key skills, communication, independence, employability and how to be mindful of their wellbeing.

Alexandra Harris, 40, a pathway leader at St John’s, said: “I think it has gone really well.

“The only thing is we didn’t get a licence to collect money on the walk in time.

“Normally we have pots with us to raise money for the National Autistic Society, so that was the only thing missing today.

“We do the walk every year.

“In the afternoon we go back to the college and the teachers deliver activities like looking at students’ strengths.

“I started 12-years-ago and it has been a big learning curve.”

The walk was organised to support the college itself as well as The National Autistic Society to coincide with Schools’ Autism Awareness Week.

The college has been caring for children and young people for almost 130 years after it was originally founded as a seaside convalescent home, before being transformed into a school for children with learning disabilities in 1956.

Staff work with young people aged seven to 25, who have complex needs, including autism, Downs Syndrome, Asperger’s Syndrome and severe communication difficulties.

St John’s student Gus Rubens, 21, from Seaford, said: “It has been really good to walk and see everything. The group have done really well.

“I enjoy being at St John’s and my favourite part is doing the relaxation and drama classes. I would maybe like to do drama after leaving.

“I also do work experience in the Buddhist Centre, cooking for other people’s relatives and doing meditation with a monk.”

Rory Cook, a tutor and learning support worker at the college, said it is important for the students to be out in the sun and staying active.

The 26-year-old, who is from Edinburgh but now lives in Brighton, said: “I am responsible for my group of guys and it has been a nice walk along the seafront.

“Everyone has really enjoyed it. They enjoy being outdoors and getting off site.”

For more pictures showing the students and staff on the walk see our Youth in Action pages in Wednesday's Argus.