A DREAM team which is breaking down barriers around autism is now going national - after winning a big £50,000 grant.

Social enterprise group Atlas, which meets in the Reach for Autism Centre in Greenock, has secured funding from the Scottish Government to continue its much-needed work.

Their award-wining efforts include a stage play drama that attracted the attention of the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and they have also trained the Scottish Government on autism.

They have also delivered training for local police officers, teachers and people who run the children's hearing system.

Greenock's Kira McCarthy, who helps run the group along with colleague Alannah Porteous, hopes that the new funding will help them raise awareness of the condition.

She said: "We all have autism and have all been the 'problem child' in school.

"I really believe things are starting to change and there is hope.

"I think it is important that we are doing what we do and we need to continue it."

Alannah added: "We are saying what needs to be said.

"We are making things better for young people in the future."

Since the young people first started their push to change the way the public view people with autism they have won national recognition and awards.

They plan to expand their training activities, set up an awards scheme and reach out to more youngsters who need help.

The group have employed two sessional workers, Sean Baxter and Amy Gardner, to deliver support.

It was Kira's mum Vicki McCarthy who first set up Reach for Autism and since then it has gone from strength to strength.