CASE STUDY: Building Belonging From the Ground Up
How lived experience, love, and sheer determination led Sheena Cleator to launch BASE CIC — a safe space for neurodivergent families in North East Lincolnshire
When systems fail, communities often step in. That’s exactly what happened when Sheena Cleator — a parent, practitioner, and advocate — reached a breaking point after years of fighting for support for her children, her family, and herself.
Sheena is the founder of BASE CIC, a grassroots organisation offering support to neurodivergent children, young people, and families in North East Lincolnshire. But BASE isn’t just a service. It’s a lifeline — and a movement for real, inclusive change.
A Deeply Personal Beginning
With 19 years of professional experience in children’s learning, development, and family support, Sheena already had the tools and knowledge to help others. But it was her personal journey that truly shaped her mission.
As a parent of two autistic children — and someone living with Stiff Person Syndrome and Myasthenia Gravis herself — Sheena knows firsthand what it feels like to be misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and left behind.
From late-night battles perfecting EHCP paperwork, to hearing her young son express heartbreaking thoughts about not wanting to exist, Sheena has faced every inch of the system’s shortcomings with strength and resolve. Her daughter’s journey was no easier — left undiagnosed until 15, bullied, misunderstood, and unsupported by systems that couldn’t see her for who she truly was.
Despite these devastating experiences, Sheena never gave up. Instead, she asked one powerful question:
“If there are community nurses and GPs… why isn’t there a Community SENDCO?”
BASE CIC was her answer.
What BASE Does — and Why It Matters
BASE stands for Belonging, Acceptance, Space for Everyone — and those aren’t just words. They’re the principles that guide everything Sheena and her team do.
BASE CIC offers:
Sheena enjoys working collaboratively with families and professionals to deliver the greatest impact. She provides tailored support packages and welcomes partnerships that centre empathy, flexibility, and inclusion.
It’s a space where people are met with understanding, not judgement. Where lived experience leads the way. And where no diagnosis is required to access support — because Sheena knows the wait is often too long and the need too urgent.
Community Involvement: Football, Festivals & Fun
Alongside her work at BASE, Sheena is also Welfare Officer for Grimsby United Football Club, where she supports children’s development and family engagement. She attends the club’s Saturday Soccer Club at Sidney Park, bringing a holistic approach to inclusion, wellbeing, and play.
She’s passionate about bringing people together through community events and has helped organise family fun days and festivals at Sidney Park. Looking ahead, she hopes to host an Autumn Festival and a Christmas event, continuing to bring light, joy, and connection to the local area.
“It’s not places that make spaces — it’s people. And that’s why I love what I do.”
Responding to Real Need — Not Just Policy
Sheena is clear: families in our area are exhausted. The systems they’re navigating — from education to health to mental wellbeing — are fragmented, under-resourced, and often inaccessible.
BASE is responding by offering what the system can’t:
💬 Listening without judgement
🤝 Practical, peer-led support
💚 Consistent, trusted presence
👣 Activities designed around each child’s needs — not the curriculum’s
Sheena’s vision includes a future inclusive hub where multiple services can be accessed under one roof, easing the overwhelm families often face when managing multiple appointments and systems.
The Impact: “It’s Not Places That Make Spaces — It’s People”
The change BASE is making can’t always be measured in data — but it’s felt everywhere:
🌈 Children too anxious to leave the house are now dancing at BASE youth clubs
💬 Teenagers are co-designing projects and finding their voice
💞 Parents once broken by the system now feel equipped to advocate
🌟 A young autistic man, once disconnected from community, now volunteers with confidence and purpose
BASE is building a network of people who see each other, support each other, and show up — again and again.
“Our impact isn’t just visible. It’s felt.”
How You Can Support BASE
At present, BASE is self-funded — raising money wherever possible to keep support free for families who need it most.
Sheena is currently seeking:
This is grassroots work — powered by lived experience, empathy, and belief in what’s possible.
“You don’t have to be a professional to make a difference. You just need to care.”