I AM a sibling of Andrew Gilks who attends No 1 Ledbury Road for respite care for children and young adults, the Hereford centre set to close in March.

From a young age I have found it quite challenging to cope with Andrew and did not really understand him until I got into my early teens. I found it a constant struggle to deal with the fact that he is not like me or Tim, another brother, and that he never will be.

I never understood the concept of autism when I was younger and so me and Andrew never got on. Luckily as we have both got older we have strengthened our sibling relationship and he trusts me more now.

Andrew has attended the centre for a number of years and it is vital to both him and our family.

When he first started going it was just for teatime and gave me and my family a few hours in the evening. Now that he goes every Wednesday evening for the whole night it gives me and my family much-needed time to do other family activities that would not be possible with Andrew around.

When Andrew goes on a Saturday to Ledbury Road, it gives our family an entire day and two nights to do things we did with Andrew that we can then do again but take our time – such as trips to Warwick Castle like we did a few weeks back.

If the centre was to close and not provide this respite service, then both Andrew and my family would struggle with the change.

We rely on the service to give us this break and time to have a night without worrying about Andrew and what he may need. Without it we would become more exhausted as there would then be no respite care for Andrew for another two years when he is 18.

The service is also vital for Andrew to have some independence which any 16-year-old wants. It also gives him the chance to socialise with friends in a secure environment and with no worries of hurting anyone or himself.

If this service is taken away, he will not like the change and when it then comes to sending him to respite for adults when he is 18, he will not cope with more change.

We need No 1 Ledbury Road open as it is the only form of respite care he can have and without it, we have nothing. The same will apply to other families who use the service. There are no alternatives.

We must keep it open for the children and families who attend it now and for future families who will need the service.

CHARLIE GILKS, 17, Nelson Street, Hereford