CIC given nearly £20k from National Lottery to deliver SEND families project - and the 1st is in Bedford
A Bedfordshire-based CIC (community interest company) has been awarded £19,865 from The National Lottery Community Fund.
The company – Just Being Me Events Collective CIC – will use the cash to to deliver its new Where Everyone Belongs events for SEND families.
The organisation is providing inclusive SEND soft play and sensory sessions for children and young people aged three to 18 with disabilities and additional needs across Bedfordshire, London and surrounding counties.
And – the first one is in Bedford, at John Bunyan Sports & Fitness Centre, on October 24.
The project has been developed in response to feedback from SEND families, who highlighted the difficulties many children face accessing mainstream leisure activities. Busy, crowded and overstimulating environments can create significant barriers for children with autism, sensory processing difficulties, learning disabilities and physical disabilities.
Just Being Me Events Collective CIC aims to create calmer, more welcoming opportunities where children can participate at their own pace.
And what’s more – families will be able to attend free of charge thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund cash.
The project is particularly personal to the two sisters behind Just Being Me Events Collective CIC. Co-founder Rina is a mum to two children with SEND, while her sister and fellow co-founder Gabi lives in Bedfordshire and is auntie to Rina’s children.
Rina said: “We wanted to create something where families don’t have to worry about whether their child will fit into the environment. Instead, we want children to be able to come along, have fun, explore at their own pace and simply be themselves.”
Gabi added: “This project is incredibly close to our hearts as sisters and as a family. Being based in Bedfordshire, we are particularly excited that our first funded session will be taking place in Bedford and that local families will be among the first to benefit.”