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Coventry Mum Fights Exhaustion With SEND Sisterhood
6 Oct
Summary
- A Coventry mum started a group for parents facing exhaustion.
- The group offers a space for parents to offload and connect.
- Coventry has a slightly higher than average number of SEN children.
Kim White initiated the SEND Sisterhood in Coventry, driven by her personal experiences with the overwhelming demands of securing necessary support for her autistic son, who also has muscular dystrophy and epilepsy. She observed widespread exhaustion, poor sleep, and inadequate self-care among fellow parents, motivating her to create a dedicated community space.
The SEND Sisterhood convenes monthly, functioning not as a formal support group but as a relaxed environment where parents can gather, share coffee and cake, and openly offload their challenges. White, who manages the Stoke Heath Community Centre, has spent 18 months ensuring full wheelchair accessibility to both its main rooms and garden, creating an inclusive and comfortable venue.
Recent government figures highlight that Coventry has 1,428 children under five with special educational needs (SEN), a rate slightly exceeding the national average for England. Within this group, 398 children have secured an Education and Health Care plan (EHCP), a figure just below the national average, indicating ongoing needs within the community.
