Brick by brick a group for children and young people with autism is hoping to build communication skills – and they're doing it with Lego.

Eastern Daily Press: A lego club set up a Sunbeams Play in Great Yarmouth is hoping to help fathers and other male family members communicate better with children on the autistic spectrumA lego club set up a Sunbeams Play in Great Yarmouth is hoping to help fathers and other male family members communicate better with children on the autistic spectrum (Image: Submitted)

Sunbeams Play opened on Gapton Hall Road, Great Yarmouth, in 2014 as an out-of-school centre for children on the autistic spectrum.

The centre provides families with respite while youngsters can make friends and have fun in a caring and happy environment.

Since then it has gone from strength to strength, attracting charitable donations, and now has introduced a new session to help men communicate with children with autism.

On Wednesday evenings, fathers, granddads or any male carers are invited along for Dad's Lego Club. The aim is through building and playing together the pairs will have fun, build confidence and share ideas.

Eastern Daily Press: A lego club set up a Sunbeams Play in Great Yarmouth is hoping to help fathers and other male family members communicate better with children on the autistic spectrumA lego club set up a Sunbeams Play in Great Yarmouth is hoping to help fathers and other male family members communicate better with children on the autistic spectrum (Image: Submitted)

Support co-ordinator Sue Carr said: 'It's a way of getting involved. They can just come along and we have a big sheet down with the Lego all spread out.'

Mrs Carr said this was sometimes called brick therapy, where people worked together to build models and develop social skills such as turn-taking, collaboration and social communication.

The key is how much fun the children have while doing it.

'The bricks help to get the dads and children talking,' said Mrs Carr.

'For example, we might ask them to build a big tower – some will build a straight line of blocks, some will build something completely different – that shows how we're all different but all achieve the same things.'

To mark Euro 2016 the centre is holding a themed Lego Club tomorrow, where pairs can also take part in a table football tournament on the same night.

Each session costs £2.50, which includes drinks and snacks for carers and children.

Mrs Carr stressed the club was open to girls too.

For more information, call 01493 442181 or 07436 794967 or email info@sunbeamsplay.org.uk