Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone is looking for new sites in London to open treatment centres for young children with autism.
The 30-year-old said there was already a waiting list for the 20 free places at the first Petra’s Place centre in Chelsea — which opened only in November.
Her charity The Petra Ecclestone Foundation funds places for children whose families could not afford the fees. Each session costs up to £100 and a diagnostic assessment is £1,500.
The £1.7 million centre specialises in therapies and treatments for children aged 18 months to four years, an age group that the mother of three has said is “shockingly” under-provided for.
Speaking during World Autism Awareness Week she said: “The fact that the supported places were filled so quickly shows that what we offer is really needed. We need to open more. This is something that is missing in the UK.”
Experts believe early intervention gives the best chance of reducing symptoms in later life. Ms Ecclestone said she is talking to potential funding partners to help speed up the pace of opening as all the finance to date had been provided by herself and her charity.
The centre also offers two-day courses for parents to help identify signs of autism and teach how to manage their child’s condition at home.
Ms Ecclestone, daughter of racing mogul Bernie, set up Petra’s Place in Fulham Road after it was suspected her daughter Lavinia had the condition. She was initially treated in the US but Ms Ecclestone said she was dismayed by the care she received when the family returned to Britain. Lavinia was eventually determined not to have autism.
