At the Nigel Prosser Foundation, we’ve always believed that every family deserves somewhere they belong. Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund over a year ago, that belief has become a reality for hundreds of local families through our SEND Community Share & Care project.
Over the past year since our SEND Community Project Funding Announcement, our weekly SEND Support Groups have continued to grow, creating a welcoming, understanding space where children with additional needs can simply be themselves, and parents and carers can connect with people who genuinely understand the challenges they face.
What started as a weekly Wednesday session at Brookside Family Hub has become so much more than an activity group. It’s become a community.
More families than ever before have been helped our SEND Community Share Progress in the last year
As word spread over the last year, more and more families joined us through recommendations from others who had experienced the difference our sessions make. Demand grew so quickly that our Wednesday sessions reached capacity, leading us to launch a Friday session with temporary support from Smile of Hope.
While this has allowed us to support even more families, it has also highlighted the growing need for long-term funding so we can continue both weekly sessions and ensure no family misses out on the support they need.
A place without judgement
For many parents, finding our group has meant finding people who understand.
Our sessions offer children the opportunity to play, learn, build confidence and explore new experiences at their own pace. Parents and carers can relax, share experiences and access support without feeling judged.
Every session also includes an optional two-course family meal, catered by Black Feenix Catering. For many children with sensory differences or feeding challenges, these shared mealtimes have become an important part of building confidence around food in a safe and pressure-free environment.
Working together with our SEND community for a year
The SEND Community Share & Care Project has grown thanks to the incredible support of our volunteers, partner organisations and local community.
Throughout the year we’ve welcomed specialists from organisations including The Feeding Trust, SENDIASS, Mentor Link and Voices United Worcestershire. By bringing these services directly into our sessions, families have been able to access expert advice in a familiar and supportive setting, often leading to life-changing conversations and practical support.
Families themselves have also helped shape everything we do. Their feedback has influenced activities, meal choices and even the expansion of our support sessions.
The difference we’re seeing due to this project
While statistics are important, it’s the personal stories that truly show the impact of the project.
Children are growing in confidence, forming friendships, trying new activities and, for many, exploring foods they would never previously have considered.
Parents tell us they feel less isolated, more confident and better connected to their local community. Many describe the group as the highlight of their week, somewhere they can finally breathe.
Since the project began, we’ve delivered dozens of support sessions, welcomed hundreds of children and parents, provided hundreds of family meals and benefited from hundreds of volunteer hours, all helping to create a stronger, more inclusive community.
Looking ahead to next year
We’re incredibly proud of everything our SEND Community Share & Care project has achieved over the last year, but we know there’s still much more to do.
Our goal is to secure sustainable funding that allows us to continue expanding our support, ensuring every SEND family who needs us has somewhere safe, welcoming and understanding to turn.
To every family who attends, every volunteer who gives their time, every partner organisation that shares their expertise and every supporter who believes in our mission, thank you.
Together, we’re proving that no family should ever have to face their journey alone.
We will be moving venues from September 2026 after forming a partnership with Wyre Forest School, our sessions will now be held on Thursdays 4.15pm-5.45pm at Wyre Forest School where we have access to more equipment and facilities.
