SEND Directory

Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you are 16 or older and have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of a course at a college or training provider in England.

Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks.

If you’re studying a level 3 qualification, you might be eligible for an ‘Adult Education Budget’ grant instead of an Advanced Learner Loan. If you get a grant, you do not need to repay it. Ask your college or training provider about grants before you apply for a loan.

Apprenticeships are an opportunity to combine paid work with training and receive nationally recognised qualifications along the way. People of all ages from 16 and over are welcome to apply.

Mums In Mainstream is a support group for Mums of kids with an autism diagnosis. We provide a peer network and a supportive environment for all stages of the autism journey.

It is not a group for professionals working within the field of autism and is not a general SEN group. Our ethos is "neurodiversity-positive" meaning we exist to support ourselves and our kids through their autistic journeys and consider autism as a different way of being and not a deficit or illness which needs curing.

The following bereavement charities all offer help, support and information for parents, siblings and other family members who are grieving the loss of a child.

Camp Simcha exists to provide practical and emotional support for Jewish families where children are suffering from serious illness including premature babies.

Support is provided throughout the whole of the UK to families who have children and young people aged 0-18

CARIS advice service is designed to assist homeless families in Haringey in dealing with their everyday challenges, including evictions, benefits decisions, debt, violence, unemployment, poverty, lack of opportunity and isolation. 

How to get support:

To receive support from CARIS, a referral form must be completed by a professional. However, you can contact CARIS if you have any questions.

Chance UK is a London-based charity with over 25 years of experience working with children who have faced trauma. It provides evidence-based interventions tailored to each child's needs through one-to-one mentoring, group sessions, and school workshops. It also offers specialist support to families, helping them build knowledge, skills, and resilience. When needed, it collaborates with schools and other support services.

Mentoring Programmes for Children Aged 5 to 13:

Sunny Days Children's Fund is a national registered charity that raises funds to help children under 18 with a wide range of adverse medical conditions, including Leukaemia, Cerebral Palsy, the Deaf and Blind, Terminal Illnesses, and all other life-hindering conditions.

They provide small grants to help as many children and their families as possible, whether for day trips, medical equipment, respite, hospital travel, or making children's remaining time as comfortable as possible, to include, where achievable, children's last wishes.