Hazel Lim Recognised with the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award

Presented by 10 Downing Street, the Points of Light Award recognises individuals whose dedication has created lasting positive change.

In his letter, the Prime Minister praised Hazel for producing the UK's first bilingual autism booklet in English and Mandarin, describing it as a valuable resource that helps Chinese families better understand autism while encouraging open conversations between families and professionals.

He also acknowledged the importance of the support network Hazel had built for families living with autism, recognising the meaningful difference it had made within the community.

Hazel has always believed that language should never prevent families from accessing information or support.

When she first began this work, there were very few autism resources available in Chinese in the UK. Many families struggled to navigate education, healthcare and social care systems while also facing cultural stigma and language barriers.

To address this gap, Hazel led the development of the UK's first bilingual autism booklet, providing accessible information for Chinese-speaking families and helping professionals communicate more effectively with the community. The resource became an important milestone in improving autism awareness and support within the UK's Chinese community.

Inspired by her own family's experiences, Hazel recognised how isolating the journey could be for many parents. She wanted to create a community where families could find reliable information, practical support and, most importantly, a sense of belonging.

Over the years, that vision has grown into Chinese Autism CIC, a community organisation providing bilingual resources, family support, professional training and neurodiversity advocacy, while working to improve understanding and inclusion across communities.

Receiving the Points of Light Award was not simply recognition of past achievements; it was encouragement to continue building a more inclusive future.

Today, Chinese Autism CIC continues to support Chinese-speaking neurodivergent individuals and their families through education, advocacy and community engagement. We are deeply grateful to every family, volunteer, supporter and partner who has been part of this journey.