Disability events charity 'utterly life-changing'

Parent Elaine Gregersen said the sessions helped her child try new things

A charity which organises events, activities and support for children with disabilities and their families has been called "life-changing" by parents.

Two mums of profoundly disabled children set up the charity Little SENDsations in County Durham, after they struggled to find care outside term time.

The charity currently uses Shildon’s Jubilee Fields Community Centre, but is fundraising to find a permanent home.

Mum Elaine Gregersen said she travelled about an hour with her four-year-old son from their home in North Tyneside to attend the sessions.

The charity was founded last year by Hayley Clark, from Newton Aycliffe, and Sam Ferguson, from Spennymoor, to help parents during the school holidays.

The weekly holiday sessions have been a "lifeline" for Ms Gregersen and her four-year-old son Blake.

“It’s utterly life-changing," she said. "Before I had a disabled child I didn’t know how difficult it would be; how lonely it would be.

“It gives us an opportunity to have a break and for the children to try new things.”

'Inclusive and accessible'

Hayley Clark co-founded the organisation, which received charitable status in January

Ms Clark's nine-year-old son Harrison has a rare neurodegenerative condition called KIF1A.

"We’d been along to a lot of groups and I found that my son didn’t really fit into those groups,” explained the mum of three.

“We didn’t feel like it was somewhere we belonged, because he had such high needs and there wasn’t a lot in school holidays.

"Some places do a SEND session once a month for an hour and that’s all.”

Since getting charitable status in January, Little SENDsations has held a number of weekly holiday sessions for parents and children, which have proved popular.

“There were no groups that catered for children like Addison in a wheelchair,” said Sam Ferguson, whose four-year-old daughter Addison also has profound and multiple learning disabilities.

“So me and Hayley decided to set up Little SENDsations and make it inclusive and make it accessible to all, whatever your needs.”

They are currently based in Shildon, but are fundraising to find a permanent home.

“We’re having to travel to find places that suit our children’s needs,” said Ms Clark. “And that would be the long-term goal, to get somewhere that is ours.

"That we can call home.”