Parenting Through A Neurodivergent Lens

How one parent’s lived experience is creating community-led support in North East Lincolnshire and beyond*

When parenting feels isolating, and systems are hard to navigate, it’s often community that provides the missing piece. That’s exactly what SEND Friends offers — support rooted in lived experience, practical help, and deep empathy for families on neurodivergent journeys.

Founded by Leanne, a local autistic parent of three neurodivergent children, SEND Friends is a growing peer support service helping families feel less alone, better informed, and more connected.

How It Started

SEND Friends was born from personal experience. After years of navigating diagnosis, EHCPs, and education challenges, Leanne knew how overwhelming it could feel.

> “I didn’t know where to go or who to talk to. Even my friends who were parents didn’t always understand what I was going through.”

After receiving life-changing support from her local SENDIASS service, she began volunteering — then working — in the sector. Following her relocation to North East Lincolnshire, she helped set up the local Parent Carer Forum, before stepping away to focus on supporting families in new and more flexible ways.

SEND Friends is the result of that commitment: a compassionate, community-led service offering empathy, knowledge, and real-world tools to families who need it most.

 What SEND Friends Offers

SEND Friends provides a growing range of neuro-affirming support services, including:

1:1 Peer Support

Practical, lived-experience-based support for families of neurodivergent children — helping parents feel heard, resourced, and empowered.

Cosy Connections (Online)

A low-pressure, virtual social space for adults who feel isolated due to disability, caring responsibilities, or chronic illness. Cameras and mics are optional, and attendees can simply listen, craft, or chat via the text box.

Console Club

A gentle social group for 7–14-year-olds who connect best through gaming. Children bring handheld consoles and enjoy playing their favourite games in a calm, welcoming environment.

Children’s Book Series

 A 6-book rhyming story collection, written by Leanne, based on real experiences and designed to shift the narrative from “fixing the child” to understanding and adapting the environment.

These books are used in homes, schools, and community hubs — and the royalties fully fund SEND Friends’ work.

> “I want everyone to feel like they belong. That they’re not broken. That they’re not alone.”

Challenges the Community Faces — and How SEND Friends Responds

 SEND Friends focuses on key areas of unmet need:

Loneliness

Both parent carers and children who don’t “fit” mainstream environments often feel deeply isolated. SEND Friends exists to change that.

 Lack of Accessible Support

Leanne helps families understand what real support looks like — beyond jargon and diagnostic pathways — offering tools and strategies that work.

 Missing Pathways & Poor Signposting

Families are often told what’s wrong, but not what to do next. SEND Friends bridges that gap, offering gentle guidance with lived understanding.

 Neurodivergent Inclusion

SEND Friends advocates for spaces that honour neurodivergent ways of connecting — from gaming to low-stimulation social spaces.

> “If one person feels less alone because of what I’ve done, that’s enough. But already, it’s so much more than that.”

The Impact So Far

Although formally launched only recently, the response to SEND Friends has been powerful. Feedback from families and individuals shows just how needed this support is:

Peer Support Feedback:

> "The strategies that were recommended to me have been put in place now and they've made a dramatic positive change within our home. I now have the understanding to look at situations from my child's perspective... This has led to a lot of resolution and calmness. I can't thank SEND Friends enough."

> "Leanne is honestly the most non-judgmental person I’ve ever spoken to. She made me feel so understood in a time I felt so alone... She helped me with Autism profiles, coping strategies for both me and my son, and signposted us to services I didn’t even know about."*

> "Thank you for listening. Your experience and knowledge are invaluable."

Cosy Connections Feedback:

> "There was absolutely no pressure to join in, which made the session comfortable and enjoyable."

These moments of impact are what drive SEND Friends forward.

> “I don’t want families to rely on me—I want to connect them to each other. There’s so much power in lived experience.”

How It’s Funded

SEND Friends is currently entirely funded by book royalties, which have covered:

Web hosting, insurance, and admin costs

Sensory equipment and setup for events

Donation-based peer support over summer 2025

The book series continues to fund the work, and donations are welcomed to keep the service going and growing.

Buy the books or donate via the links below:

Website: www.sendfriends.co.uk