NeuroAware CIC

Hi all,

A few quick links and you could help NeuroAware CIC be in with a chance of receiving £5,000 💚

I have so many plans for my business but at the moment receive no wage and no funding.

Receiving this would enable me to run the Neurodiversity and SEND Drop in sessions, open a Home Education Group with Greenhills Centre, further develop my 10 week 'Confidence through Adventure' programme for SEND childremuch needed Neurodiversity Awareness training to local businesses and organisations.

Please do nominate us - I really appreciate your time!

We could receive a £5,000 donation with your help through the Movement for Good Draw. We could receive a £5,000 donation with your help through the Movement for Good Draw.

🥊 Help Us Keep Boxing Free for Local Children 🥊

At Alpha Boxing Gym, we’re committed to providing young people with a safe, positive environment where they can build confidence, discipline, fitness, and life skills — completely free of charge.

To continue offering these opportunities, we’re looking for local businesses and community partners to become sponsors.

By sponsoring our gym, your business will receive:
✅ Brand visibility inside the gym
✅ Promotion across our social media platforms
✅ Recognition in training and event videos
✅ The opportunity to make a real difference in young people’s lives

Your support doesn’t just help a boxing gym — it helps children access mentoring, fitness, friendship, and opportunities they may not otherwise have.

If your business would like to get involved or learn more about our sponsorship packages, please send us a message or contact us directly.

Together, we can continue changing lives, one child at a time.

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF NEUROAWARE 💚

I'm launching a small SEND Support Pilot Session through NeuroAware at Wheatley Hill, Co. Durham and I'd love your help to shape it.

The aim is simple:

🌿 A welcoming, informal space
🤝 Meet other parents, carers and neurodivergent individuals
📚 Ask questions about SEND, EHCPs and neurodiversity
💬 Share experiences and help shape what NeuroAware becomes
☕ Tea, coffee and friendly conversation
🔊Relaxing Soundbath included free for all participants (maximum of 10)

Before I arrange anything, I'd love to know what days and times would work best for you. I want to make it accessible to people so please do also let me know if you would need any adjustments to help you access.

Please vote in the comments:

📅 Preferred day:
⬜ Monday
⬜ Tuesday
⬜ Wednesday
⬜ Thursday
⬜ Friday
⬜ Saturday

⏰ Preferred time:
⬜ 9am – 12pm
⬜ 12pm – 3pm
⬜ 3pm – 5pm
⬜ 5pm – 7pm

📍 Venue: Wheatley Hill, Co. Durham

Whether you're a parent, carer, neurodivergent adult, or simply interested in creating a more inclusive community, I'd love to hear from you.

This is just the beginning, and your voice matters.

💚 NeuroAware – Supporting Neurodiverse Mind

Department for Education - new school guidance relating to communicating with parents about absence.

Many of you will have received 'one of those' shaming attendance letters despite multiple conversations and evidence as to why your SEND child is absent from school.

Well, that MAY change soon.

The newly released guidance states schools should note-:

🔊Attendance can be more complex for some families. Use welcoming language,
celebrate progress and involve SEND or safeguarding staff when shaping your messages.
🔊What day, and time of day are you planning to send the communication? Very early or
busy times reduce open rates of messages. Sending late on a Friday closes any chance
of dialogue with a parent or carer until the following week.
🔊The importance of adapting tone and message method, particularly in relation to SEND children absence.
🔊To celebrate and recognise small wins and progress and 'thank parents for their efforts'.

To those who have battled for schools to see that 'parental preference' isn't the reason your child can't attend school, this may prove interesting reading.

🥊 ALPHA BOXING GYM OPEN EVENING 🥊

We would like to welcome everyone to come along tomorrow between 5pm–7pm and have a look around our amazing new gym!

Come and see what we have built, check out our facilities, take a look at our class timetable, and find out everything we have to offer. Whether you’re a complete beginner, looking to get fit, or an experienced boxer, we’d love to meet you and show you around.

We are proud to offer a range of classes for all ages and abilities, including FREE classes for children with SEN (Special Educational Needs) as well as non-SEN classes, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy boxing, fitness, and being part of a supportive community.

This is a great opportunity to ask questions, meet the team, and see if Alpha Boxing Gym is the right fit for you.

We are incredibly excited to finally open our doors and share our new home with the community.

📍 Open Evening: Tomorrow
⏰ 5pm–7pm

We can’t wait to welcome you all! 🥊🔥

NeuroAware CIC - what is it?

A fair question which I'm happy to expand upon! NeuroAware is a platform for championing, and advocating for, rights of neurodiverse and SEND individuals throughout County Durham, the North-East and beyond (based in Blackhall, Co. Durham).

💚NeuroAware exists because navigating SEND and neurodiversity support systems is not just complex, it is relentless.
I didn’t set out to become a Neurodiversity and SEND Advocate.
I became one because our child needed me to be. I was relatively settled in an environment that gave me some flexibility. Alongside advocating for our child, I was quietly unravelling, trying to hold down a full-time job, be a supportive spouse and occasionally remember to eat cheese.
And then - Mother of God the SEND system opened its cruel arms and welcomed me into the void 😬

💚The emotional toll of living in constant fight-or-flight, the pressure of holding systems to account, and the invisible labour of SEND parenting pushed me out of the world of employment I once felt safe in.
Through this journey, I was diagnosed as Autistic and ADHD (because, you know, why just have one emotionally overwhelmed, internally hyperactive household member).

💚NeuroAware was born from this experience. I understand how deeply this process impacts families and individuals. I understand you are labelled as 'difficult' by schools, Local Authorities, employers and systems for daring to uphold your legal rights.

💚 I provide support and advocacy services in relation to:
- Navigating the SEND process with schools/LA
- Peer support following neurodivergent diagnosis
- Applications for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), as well as full reviews of EHCPs in accordance with SEND legislation.
- Advocacy services (schools, employers, LA)
- Drop in services such as coffee mornings
- Activities, training and social opportunities

NeuroAware exists for you to know your rights and to give you the knowledge and confidence to stand up for yourself and/or your child, by refusing to accept less than what the law requires. Join us!

Thank you to Jonathan Brash MP for Hartlepool for organising and hosting the first in a series of Community SEND Listening Event at Hartlepool College.
Jonathan has promised this will be the first in a long line of such events and will give Hartlepool parent/carers the opportunity to create an 'Expert Panel' to both inform and hold policy makers to account.

From my own personal viewpoint as a parent/carer and professional, and this being the first time I have met and interacted with Jonathan, I found him to be open, empathetic and willing to listen. (I appreciate others may have starkly different views and that is ok). A personal thank you to representative who provided a phenomenal summary speech that encapsulated what it means to be a parent/carer).

To build trust in this process, we are hopeful we will begin to see positive action, progress and improved communication surrounding children and adult services. Proud to be a small part of this hoped change.

The Wellbeing Hub Stockton and Daisy Chain are running FREE wellbeing sessions for those with ADHD and/or Autism.

Breathe, Sense, Move are small group sessions offering an introduction to:

🧘🏼 Relaxation Techniques
🧘🏽‍♂️ Breathwork
🧘🏻‍♀️ Movement
🧘🏾‍♀️Exploring your sensory needs

These sessions are free for people living in Stockton aged 18+, who are pre- or post-diagnosis.

I've been looking at the latest ADHD and Autism assessment waiting list data across the North East and, honestly, some of the figures are difficult to ignore.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust reported for 24/25:

📌 4,741 adults waiting for an ADHD assessment
📌 6,003 children waiting for an ADHD assessment

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust reported for 22/23:

📌 11,075 people waiting for an ADHD assessment

Meanwhile, Autism waiting lists continue to grow. Data published by the North East Autism Society showed that the number of people waiting for an Autism assessment in County Durham increased from 2,095 in October 2021 to 3,820 by March 2023.

Behind every number is a person or family waiting for answers, support and understanding.

A diagnosis isn't a magic wand and support shouldn't depend on a diagnosis alone. However, for many people, diagnosis can help provide understanding, validation, access to support and appropriate adjustments at school, college, university or work.

One positive development is that increasing numbers of people are now exploring the NHS Right to Choose pathway, which allows eligible patients in England to choose an alternative NHS-funded provider for ADHD and, in some areas, Autism assessments. For many families this can significantly reduce waiting times compared to local pathways.

I'd be really interested to hear from people across the North East.

🔹 Have you or your child been referred for an ADHD or Autism assessment?
🔹 How long have you been waiting?
🔹 Which NHS Trust or assessment pathway are you under?
🔹 Have you used Right to Choose and, if so, what was your experience?

Please feel free to comment below or send a private message if you'd prefer.

The more we understand local experiences, the better we can support each other and raise awareness of the challenges many neurodivergent individuals and families continue to face.

💚 NeuroAware CIC
Supporting Neurodiverse Minds