Two Newcastle mums are launching a free event this month to bring together SEND families across the North East, creating a community where they can connect and support each other. The SEND Club CIC event takes place at the Newcastle United Foundation on Saturday 7th November, from 12:30pm until 4:30pm.
The event is free for all who wish to attend, with the goal of bringing together children, young people and adults with SEND alongside their families and carers. Organisers Emma Amos and Leah Evans-Dodsworth aim to create a special day of connections, support and opportunities.
Why the SEND Club was founded
Emma and Leah both searched for a local place to connect, build friendships and support each other but found there wasn't one, so they decided to create it. Emma said: "We are both parents of children with additional needs, we just felt there's no community. We went over to America. We did lots of research and I really threw myself into the knowledge with these families. There were groups and conventions in the US but nothing like it in the UK."
Emma's journey began with her son, who has a rare condition called 1P36 deletion Syndrome, and her background in the corporate world, education and wellbeing. Leah's journey began with the birth of her son, who has complex additional needs including Smith-Magenis syndrome, TRIO gene syndrome, AuDHD and other complex health conditions. Leah is the Chief Executive of NAPI (North East Action for Children, Parents and Inclusion), and Emma also runs Wellness by Emma.
What to expect at the event
The SEND Club event will have a wide range of activities and speakers for all families, including arts and crafts, sports and wellbeing, gaming, and a quiet zone for those who may need to decompress. Organisations attending include Speech and Language Therapy with Nicola, Special Lionesses, Roll & Reflect, Specialised Escapes, Little Leprechauns, and many others.
Leah said: "We're trying to bring everyone together within the North East. We've got lots of great partners working with us. All accessible, inclusive partners who deliver special SEND activities and have their own businesses." With over 30 vendors and speakers attending, the mums have used the rooms provided by the Newcastle United Foundation to create smaller, quieter rooms for those who need them.
Focus on siblings and community
The activities are not just for those with additional needs but for their families as well, with particular focus on the family's other children. Emma said: "A big one for me is siblings, We've got a SEND siblings club. When we ran the Great North Run we decided to put that money towards our siblings club."
The SEND Club has been founded to ensure that no SEND family, including everyone in that family, ever feels alone. Emma said: "Everybody now knows somebody or has needs themselves but there is no network, there's no community."
To bring awareness, the Millennium Bridge will be lit up at 5pm and the Newcastle Civic Centre at 6:30pm on the day of the event. Emma said: "We're not doing this for any financial gain, we want to be those people who bring everyone together. We want people to go 'That person changed my life because I now know I can go here and get this.' For a lot of people that village doesn't exist, we want to be that village."
The free event is open from 12:30pm on Saturday 7th November at the Newcastle United Foundation.
