Catherine Beaman, who runs a SEND Group in Sedgley, wants to spread the word about how important she thinks the group is for the SEND community.

Transcript

00:00So my name is Catherine Beaman. I run a weekly parent carer support group for parents and carers with special needs children.

00:10I run it every Friday termly and then in the half terms and holidays we try to meet up somewhere else.

00:17I run this group because I think it's so important to the community. We don't have anything like this in the area.

00:26I'm a SCN1 myself. I also have autism and ADHD and dyslexia.

00:32So I can understand from a children's perspective as well as a parent and carer's perspective of what they're going through.

00:39And I just think it's so important to come together, share each other's stories, give each other support, tips and tricks, that sort of thing.

00:53So nobody feels like they're on their own, nobody feels isolated because in the SCEN community we tend to feel like that.

01:01And until people have started coming together that's exactly how they felt and they shouldn't ever feel like that.

01:09I also run this group because I'm trying to get the word out there that we need a lot of help and support.

01:17Our children are suffering and are struggling, particularly in education because there isn't enough provision.

01:24We're struggling with EHCPs. We need help.

01:28Even if you just want to come along and you don't want to give any information, you just want to come and be, have a cuppa.

01:34You don't have to share any information, you don't have to disclose anything about yourself at all.

01:39If you just need that break because you're finding it hard, that's okay.

01:44So we run it every week at the Jubilee Hall in Sedgley.

01:49A lot of people know it as the Scout's Hub, from half past ten till twelve every Friday.

01:55If you have got children, I will never exclude anybody from coming to the group.

02:02So if you've got young children or if your child's off for the day or whatever the reason it may be, bring them along.

02:10Please bring them along.

02:11I've got a table set up with some colouring things and some sensory toys.

02:16If you do want to get in touch, I do have an email address, which is on the leaflet.

02:23And I also have, obviously, my phone number, so it's 077 395 34702.

02:31That is my own number.

02:33But yeah, if you want to get in touch, get in touch. It would be lovely to have you all there.