Supporting Parents of Children With Additional Needs
How Our £1,000 Grant Helped The Maze Group Make a Real Difference
At Grassroots Charity, we are committed to funding community-led projects that create genuine, tangible change for local families. Earlier this year, we awarded £1,000 to The Maze Group to support their work with parents and carers of children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions and additional needs.
Now, several months on, we’re delighted to share the impact this small but powerful grant has helped to achieve.
Growing Support for Families Since May 2025
From May 2025 to today, 461 parents and carers have attended coffee mornings across Colchester and Tendring. For many families, these mornings are a lifeline: a place to meet others who understand, to share experiences openly, and to receive guidance in a calm, welcoming environment.
The sessions have helped reduce the isolation many parents of children with SEND often feel. The sense of community that has developed is both powerful and inspiring.
How Our Funding Was Used
Our grant was allocated specifically to supporting the work of The Maze Group’s Emotional Support Workers, a team that lies at the heart of these coffee mornings.
Their role includes:
- Offering 1:1 emotional and wellbeing support
- Facilitating supportive, inclusive group conversations
- Spotting emerging needs and signposting parents to relevant services
- Creating a safe, non-judgemental space where families feel heard and valued
Feedback from parents highlights just how essential these workers have been. Their presence brings reassurance, compassion, and expertise to each session, helping families feel understood, supported, and empowered.
The Difference This Grant Has Made
Although the grant was modest in size, the impact has been profound. By helping to fund Emotional Support Workers, we’ve been able to contribute to a service that strengthens emotional wellbeing, builds confidence, and fosters genuine community connection for hundreds of parents.
The Maze Group continues to make a meaningful difference every week, and we look forward to seeing how the project grows in the months ahead.
