'The system is broken': Dudley mum who runs weekly group calls on more support for parents with special educational needs children
A Dudley mum who runs a weekly support group has called on more to be done to help parents and carers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
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Catherine Beaman set up 'Unheard Voices' in September of last year after noticing there was "nothing like it" in the area.
The group, which has 25 people currently on roll and is free to attend, meets every week at Jubilee Scout Hall in Sedgley during school term time and try to meet up elsewhere during school holidays.
Catherine typically spends the first part of the session letting people catch up over a cup of tea before either inviting a professional to come in and speak to the parents, or allowing them to choose topics for discussion and share advice.
The 33-year-old told the Express & Star: "There is nothing like this in the area. The very little support we do get for parents and carers and the children is slowly being taken away from us anyway and we don't get enough as it is which is why I'm trying to get the word out there, which is that we need a lot of help.
