In 2019, Maggie Cleary, the co-founder and CEO of STRM, set up the charity after struggling to find suitable support for her neurodivergent child. Maggie found it challenging to understand the complex SEND system and believes that providing a family-centred approach could significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
As a parent, Maggie felt incredibly isolated and had no idea where to start. She was struggling to find a way to connect with others who were experiencing similar issues, particularly when a child was experiencing mental health issues. During this challenging journey, she met a group of like-minded parents who shared her struggles, and they decided to come together and create this charity to help others experiencing similar challenges.
"I absolutely love attending STRM sessions! Every time I go, I learn something new and exciting. Plus, hearing about other people's experiences always helps me gain a better understanding." STRM Registered Member
- SEND the Right Message Charity (STRM) formed as a constituted charity on 17th February 2021. Our mission is to improve the lives of families in Southend and Essex where a child has been identified or is suspected of having specific educational needs and/or disabilities.
- We achieve this by providing a range of services and training sessions.
Our charitable objects are:
For the public benefit, the relief of neurodivergent and disabled children, young people and adults and their parents or carers in Essex and Southend, in particular, but not exclusively, by:
- Providing support services, assistance, information, activities, and training programmes;
- Relieving financial hardship;
- Creating opportunities for respite breaks;
- Promoting social inclusion and raising awareness and acceptance;
- Developing and promoting innovative and early interventions for the health and well-being of beneficiaries.
We provide an extensive range of support and information about our wide range of services. From our Disability Benefit Services, Coffee mornings, Topic Talks, Bouldering Sessions, Carers breaks, and Cost of Living Support to our Community Office in Benfleet helping disabled and neurodivergent families - we're here for families every step of the journey.
Why financial well-being is important:
Poverty
Disabled families are highlighted as one of the groups affected by food insecurity. They are 5 times more likely to be affected than those of a non-disabled family. *Source: Disability Rights UK/Food Foundation. Disabled people aged 21 to 64 years were less likely to have a degree (23.0%) compared to non-disabled individuals (39.7%).
Approximately 52.1% of disabled people aged 16 to 64 were employed, compared to 81.3% of non-disabled individuals. Disabled people are less likely to be involved in social participation in England but are more involved in civic participation (e.g., signing petitions) than non-disabled people (41.5% vs. 35.1%). Housing for Disabled people were less likely to own homes (40.9%) than non-disabled individuals (53.4%). More disabled people rented social housing.
Disabled people reported poorer well-being regarding happiness, satisfaction, and worthiness. Disabled individuals in England reported feeling lonely “often or always” at almost four times the rate of non-disabled people (13.9% vs. 3.8%).
These disparities highlight the importance of addressing barriers and promoting inclusivity to improve outcomes for disabled individuals. Additionally, children and young people with disabilities or special educational needs (SEN) also face challenges in education and higher education participation. Outcomes for disabled people in the UK - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) Reducing inequalities and enhancing support systems are crucial for a more equitable society.
In terms of the impact of food insecurity on mental health, the report highlights that many of the interviewees had either developed mental health problems, had existing mental health problems exacerbated, or, at the very least, were showing warning signs of poor mental health such as disturbed sleep and physical manifestations of sustained stress.
Wellbeing
The number of cases of autism and ADHD in adult women and their children is increasing, leading to a high demand for mental health services, especially due to the pandemic. Locally, the Lampard Enquiry is underway.
However, disabled and neurodivergent individuals, particularly women and children, continue to struggle to access the necessary support. Recent research shows that autistic people without learning disabilities have a reduced life expectancy, emphasizing the urgent need to address inequalities and improve healthcare and support.
Disabled people aged 16 to 64 years had poorer ratings than non-disabled people on all four personal well-being measures; average anxiety levels were higher for disabled people at 4.6 out of 10, compared with 3.0 out of 10 for non-disabled people(year ending June 2021).
Studies show that, on average, neurodivergent people are at significant risk of premature death compared to their neurotypical peers. Autistic people, in particular, are more likely to die 16-20 years earlier than the average population. While the direct cause is unclear, the studies show that autistic people are at increased risk of taking their own lives and are more likely to experience barriers when trying to access health care.
Summary
The Marmot Review - Ten Years On (2024) has revealed that there are 'left behind' communities within Essex, Rochford, Castle Point, and Southend areas. The review has shown a significant decline in the 'left behind' areas of social deprivation, where the loss of assets affects community and voluntary services, including healthcare, education, and social support. The review also revealed how the lack of support and resources within these austerity measures has damaged health, well-being, and positive interactions, with the largest affected group being mothers. The impact of austerity measures continues to harm health, well-being, and positive interactions within caregiver support networks.
We are witnessing this impact during guest talks, Cost of Living drop-ins, and benefits appointments, where reduced assets and services continue to affect community and voluntary services and access to the right support. Our services and support sessions aim to promote women as caregivers and prioritise their voices (UNCRC, 1989). We have found that parent carers need time for their stories to be heard, and as each journey is individual, we guide the mother through our targeted and personalised sessions. Upon receiving help and information, the mothers are equipped with additional support, knowledge, and an action plan to empower them. The support we offer provides opportunities for each mother to choose, join a community, belong, and empower themselves within their individual journey, improving financial outcomes, access to statutory services, and health and family well-being information. Our new welcoming environment is nurturing and calm, providing a safe space for enabling positive interactions and well-being during each session. The overwhelming relief experienced by the parent carer often means their first interactions at the session can induce strong emotions and many tears. It is crucial for mothers that someone listens to them, understands them, and makes them feel safe, which aligns with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (1954).
Additionally, the parent carer may experience social, communication, and emotional difficulties, including significant financial loss, which can affect their well-being and mental health. The evidence is clear that most parent carers who are autistic or ADHD children potentially are also undiagnosed. Being an undiagnosed ADHD adult is a confusing and traumatising experience with profound and enduring repercussions, particularly for females.
What we are offering and expanding to offer our beneficiaries:
Financial Well-being Courses:
Participants are taught tools to create a simple budget, separate luxury items from essentials and manage their spending effectively. The course then focuses on creating positive relationships with money, and how to tackle emotional spending and income-related anxiety. It includes a bespoke 1:1 session where participants can get advice and support for their individual financial concerns.
Keeping safe online Well-Being courses where we will focuses on ways you can keep your personal information safe when shopping online and we will work together to identify how some online scams work and what to do to avoid falling victim to them. Some basic maths will be covered relevant to buying and selling online giving you the opportunity to refresh or develop your skills in this area in a safe, supportive environment and helping you to determine if something you see advertised online is a genuine bargain.
Community Outreach :
Cost of Living Event
Providing Energy Advice, Carbon Monoxide Monitors, Fuel Bank Top ups, Food Bank Referrals and Shopping Vouchers
Disability Benefit Service
The Disability Benefits Advice: Financial guidance and 1-1 support for caregivers to access benefits and grants. Meaningful interactions empower them to seek advice on other services to reduce child poverty, fuel poverty, and access knowledge to support their child.
Our one-to-one sessions are designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively bring about positive social outcomes, such as reducing poverty. The tangible impact of these sessions is a clear testament to the effectiveness of our program.
We believe that together, we can make a difference in the lives of disabled and neurodivergent children, young people and parents by building a more supportive and inclusive community for all. Join us today and help make our mission a reality by donating to our cause.
"These sessions are invaluable. The freedom for everyone to talk, ask questions, and express opinions is amazing. The subject speaker was out of this world. The reassurance to continue fighting for our children was needed. The stark facts of the road ahead were needed, and reignited my drive to push further and harder." Registered STRM Member
In the UK, 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent, they have learning and thinking styles that differ from what’s considered typical.
"My daughter attended the bouldering club for the first time on Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed it. She got chatting to other children and it was great for helping her to relax/burn off some energy after a day at school. The work you do is fantastic and I’m so pleased that I’ve found STRM" Registered STRM Member
What is neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to the different ways the brain can work and interpret information. Neurodivergent individuals naturally think about things differently. They have different interests and motivations and are naturally better at some things and struggle at others.
Children, young people and adults who “think differently” including those who are Autistic, have ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Tourette’s Syndrome, are currently NOT receiving the necessary support they deserve.
The facts
- Adults with ADHD are five times more likely to try to take their own life than those without ADHD
- 40% of autistic children have anxiety disorders compared with just 3% of non-autistic children
- Around 28% of autistic children also meet the criteria for ADHD.
- 7 out of every 10 children excluded from our schools are neurodivergent
- Neurodivergent people are 3-8 times more likely to be unemployed than people without disabilities.
- Autistic adults with no learning Disability are 9 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.
- Up to 4 in 10 people with epilepsy are also autistic
- 20-35% of adults with anorexia are autistic
- 4x Autistic people are four times more likely to experience depression than non-autistic people
- Disabled women are more than twice as likely to have experienced domestic abuse (17.3%) than non-disabled women (7.0%)
- The average disabled household faces £975 a month in extra costs.
- 20-35% of adults with anorexia are autistic
"Fantastic event for the kids and helps them to feel included in a community without judgment. A place for them to be themselves. We need more of these for our children. Thank you, Maggie and team!" Registered STRM Member
Our charity requires core funding to ensure its long-term sustainability. This essential funding will enable us to provide much-needed support to individuals and families, empowering us to drive positive change within our community.
Often, caregivers have experienced negativity, cuts, and delays from professionals, community services, and social stigma; they may have a learning difficulty and be neurodivergent themselves (Marmot, 2024). Therefore, each session is unique and often requires the Send The Right Message support worker to offer emotional support in addition to creating an environment that is a calm and safe space to support caregivers’ privacy and emotional regulation.
By securing core funding, we will be able to change the narrative surrounding our cause and offer vital assistance to families who are desperately seeking our support.