👉 Read Our Stories

Services

Support

At SEN-FSG, we believe every child, young person, individual, and family deserves to be heard, respected, and supported in their journey towards growth and fulfillment.

Guidance

We are needs led and provide support and guidance which is tailored to meet the needs of each individual and their situation.

Tailored Solutions

We provide personalized guidance to help individuals and families navigate challenges, ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive in their environments.

Resources

Our platform offers a variety of resources designed to empower individuals and families, fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.

Workshops

We provide learning workshops in an informal environment which have been designed to give each individual a chance to learn and also to gi e them a voice for what we need to provide for them to flourish.

Engaging Learning Sessions

Join our interactive workshops that focus on skill-building and personal development, creating a supportive space for learning and connection.

Comprehensive School-Based Intervention

Background

Nadine is a college student who after having surgery on her spine and moving to a new area was finding it difficult to move around and be independent and make new friends.

Intervention

Nadine's college initiated a comprehensive intervention program and with input from Nadine, and us at the charity SENFSG she gained some counselling, peer support groups, and this helped Nadine to get transport options from her home direct to the college. Make new friends and feel supported.

Approach

Counselling: Nadine received individual counselling from a school psychologist trained in disability and independence. The sessions focused on addressing the underlying issues contributing to her isolation and mobility issues, such as stress and pain management.

Peer Support: Nadine joined a peer support group where students could share their experiences and coping strategies. This group fostered a sense of community and reduced the stigma around seeking help. The local authority helped by providing a taxi

to and from College to Nadine's home.

Outcome

Nadine successfully integrated in to her new peer group[, gained confidence getting to college independently with some support. She learned healthier coping mechanisms and strategies to manage stress. The supportive college environment and her new peer group played a crucial role in her recovery, highlighting the importance of early intervention and comprehensive support systems.

Nadine's Feedback:

"Before the college-based intervention program, I felt trapped and overwhelmed with no support or friends. The individual counselling sessions were a game-changer for me. My counsellor helped me understand the underlying issues I was facing and taught me healthier ways to cope with stress and pain. The peer support group was incredibly supportive. Knowing that I wasn't alone in my struggles made a huge difference. Today, I'm proud to say I've regained control over my life. I'm healthier, more focused on my studies, and I have a strong support network at school. The program truly saved my life, and I am forever grateful."

WE DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN”

Names have been changed to protect the family’s identity.

We are Wei and Mei, parents of seven-year-old Jian.

When our son became seriously ill, our whole world changed.

We were frightened. We were exhausted. And we did not know where to turn.

Suddenly, we were surrounded by doctors, surgeons, nurses, social workers, schools and other professionals. Everyone seemed to speak a language we did not understand.

There were medical words we had never heard before. Diagnoses we could not understand. Treatment decisions, meetings, forms, letters and procedures.

People were talking about our little boy’s life and future, but sometimes we did not even understand what they were saying. English was not our first language. We were trying to translate complicated medical information while coping with the possibility that our son might not get better.

Jian was not just a diagnosis.

The mountain of paperwork was explained in our own language. Medical terminology was broken down into words we could understand.

Before important meetings, somebody sat with us and helped us prepare. We discussed what had happened, what worried us and what we wanted professionals to know.

Most importantly, we were helped to He was our seven-year-old son.

And we were not simply “the parents”.

We were a family in crisis.

Our problems did not stop at the hospital door. We needed help with housing, money, schools, Social Services, doctors, hospital appointments, paperwork, food, clothing and the needs of our other children.

We also needed someone who understood that our culture, beliefs and faith mattered to us.

Everything had become overwhelming

SEN-FSG also helped Wei prepare for an interview for a full-time job at Trafford Park.

He got the job.

Nearly a year later, he is still working there.

Our family is together at home again.

And Jian, the little boy we once sat beside in a hospital bed frightened about his future, now attends a specialist school that can support both his medical needs and his academic potential.

WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT SEN-FSG?

We still think about this.

Who would have explained those medical words?

Who would have helped us understand the paperwork?

Who would have arranged an interpreter?

Who would have prepared us for meetings with several different agencies sitting around one table?

Who would have helped our other children?

Who would have helped us with housing, schools, food and the basic things a family needs to survive?

Perhaps eventually somebody would have helped with individual pieces of the problem.

But who would have looked at all of us and seen one family?

That was what we desperately needed.

Not another form.

Not another referral.

Not another person telling us which department we needed to telephone next.

We needed somebody to see our family, stand beside us and help us find our own voice.

Sixteen months later, we no longer needed somebody to speak for us.

We had learned how to speak for ourselves.

That, for our family, changed everything.

THEN SEN-FSG CAME INTO OUR LIVES A DOCTER PUT US IN TOUCH WITH THE CHARITY AND ARRANGED FOR US TO MEET IN THE HOSPITAL RESTAURANT

For the first time, somebody sat with us and said:

“Tell us what is happening. Tell us what you need. We will start by listening.”

SEN-FSG arranged a Chinese interpreter so that we could properly understand what professionals were telling us.

communicate Jian’s wishes, needs and best interests.

Nobody told us what to think.

They helped us find our own voice.

16 MONTHS OF SUPPORT

At the beginning, our family needed help five days a week.

Gradually, as our confidence and understanding grew, that reduced.

Five days became fewer days.

Eventually, after 16 months, we needed support only one day a week.

That reduction was not because our family stopped having challenges.

It was because we had learned how to face them ourselves.

We could attend meetings and speak.

We could ask questions.

We understood much more of what professionals were telling us.

We knew that it was acceptable to say:

“We don't understand. Please explain that again.”

Our family eventually moved into suitable, supportive housing. SEN-FSG helped us find donated and second-hand furniture, flooring, bedding and other essentials.

Our children received therapeutic support to help them understand and cope with what was happening to their brother.

The children attended integration. Activity Weekends. To integrate them into their new community. Make new friends. And have a new purpose.

The charity runs the number of Forum Events. Whether you invite. Services. To meet with groups of parents. Covering everything you can think about. Where could we get free information? Excellent advice. Follow up meetings was arranged with the people. We now have a network. Of over. 9 organisations. That work with my family. We are no more frightened for the future. It feels like our family had been blessed The SE Family Support Group. Introduced us slowly to. Organisations and people That teachers. Support us. And when needed, wrap their arms around us.

Negotiations took place with local schools so that our children could have appropriate school places.

People donated clothing, shoes, toiletries and food hampers when we had very little.

Abdul’s Journey to Stability

Background

Abdul * is a 15-year-old Muslim boy with severe learning disabilities, had been living in temporary accommodation after being abandoned by his family. He struggled with dependency on alcohol and was frequently involved with local gangs.

Intervention

Abdul * was referred to our service by a concerned teacher. We provided intensive specialist help, including regular therapy sessions to address his mental health and addiction issues. Our team also taught him essential life skills, such as managing finances and basic cooking, to foster his independence.

Outcome

Abdul progress was significant. Through our advocacy, he secured stable housing, reducing his risk of homelessness. His involvement in gangs diminished as he found new interests through our recreational programs. Regular nutritious meals improved his physical health, and therapy reduced his alcohol dependency. Today, Abdul*is engaged in a vocational training program and is on a path to self-sufficiency.

🌟 Special Educational Needs Families Support Group

Join our Special Educational Needs Families Support Group, where we provide a welcoming environment for families navigating the complexities of special. Connect with others, share experiences, and access valuable resources to empower your journey.