SEND charity expanding thanks to Comic Relief cash

Su's son Liam attends Dingley's Promise in Berkshire

A charity that supports children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is expanding thanks to Comic Relief funding.

Dingley’s Promise, based in Reading, Berkshire, was set up at Battle Hospital in 1983 by a group of parents who felt there was not enough support available.

Lucy Staveley, who runs the charity’s centre in Wokingham, said demand for its help was getting “bigger and bigger”.

The money has been used to create training for others working in the field, with 12,000 people now signed up for courses.

Su said her son's “confidence is growing every day."

Wokingham is one of three sites the charity runs in Berkshire, with sites also in Southampton and Gloucester. Next month a sixth site will open in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Dingley’s Promise aims to prepare schools for the children it supports.

Teachers are invited to meet children before they transfer so they can see how the centre meets their needs.

Ms Staveley said: “We’re getting referrals every day.”

She added the Wokingham centre currently had a waiting list of almost 30 children.

Comic Relief money has been used to create training for others working in the field

Su's son Liam is one of six children attending a weekday afternoon session at Dingley's - he has autism and global development delay.

Su said: “Generally, Liam is a very, very happy and contented boy, but he was never interested in what others were doing.

“He would often not be aware of his surroundings, if we were doing something or just talking, it would seem like he was completely oblivious to it.”

A year after he got a place at the Wokingham centre his family has noticed a change.

Su said: “His confidence is growing every day.

“It’s making him happier, as well as making us much happier, because he’s coming out of his shell.”

Jo Evans said the funding from Comic Relief "has been amazing"

Jo Evans, from Dingley's, said: “We have our five centres with specialist staff delivering amazing one-to-one interventions with these children.

“Comic Relief has enabled us to do that."

Red Nose Day, which is taking place on Friday, is an annual event run by Comic Relief.