AuKids magazine, based in Old Trafford, is celebrating after scooping the FSB award for Social Enterprise/Not for Profit Business of the Year.

The magazine, run by a parent of twins with autism, Debby Elley, and a professional speech and language therapist, Tori Houghton, gives friendly, practical advice to parents of children on the autistic spectrum, and has proved a lifeline for many.

Collecting the award at the Hilton, Deansgate, co-editor Debby Elley told the gathering of regional businesses that supplying parents with knowledge was essential. “If you’ve ever had that feeling of not being able to help your child, you’ll know that it’s heartbreaking,” she said. “Yet parents of kids with autism experience that weekly, if not daily.”

She added that the FSB award was important because it would help to boost the social enterprise’s mission. Speaking later, she said: “Saying you’re an award-winning magazine is like a shortcut. People automatically know that you’re serious and committed to what you do and that you’re succeeding in your aims. When you’re applying for grants, that’s very helpful.”

There are many magazines relating to disability on the market, but AuKids is the only practical parenting guide in the UK. Its aim is to make learning about autism fun and its material relates to daily struggles as well as championing the positive side of autism.

“I’m a parent myself, and I used to flick through this dull, dry material feeling really uninspired. Parents of children with autism haven’t lost their sense of humour – in fact they need it even more – so why couldn’t there be a magazine which was spirited and joyful? That’s the thinking behind AuKids,” says Debby.

Last year AuKids scooped the title of Best Specialist Magazine at the Prolific North Awards, which celebrates media creativity in the North West.

But the small team behind the not for profit quarterly says that in order to reach more families and give them the support that they need, AuKids needs to expand.

“The feedback from our subscribers is that it has a really positive effect on how they respond to their child’s diagnosis, but they want more of it!

“We’d love to expand the magazine but we need a new injection of cash to meet the extra cost of production,” says Debby. “We are urging companies seeking a good community cause to get in touch with us and ask about sponsorship.”