TWO mothers in Launceston are hoping to introduce a hub for children with special educational needs and their families in Cornwall and Devon.

Founders Angie Cantelow and Maria Lawson run the LanSEN Together group once a month from the Gateway Centre in Launceston, providing a self-funded service offering home education and a youth group to those with special education needs (SEN) in town.

However, despite the efforts made by Angie and Maria, they feel limited in what they can offer. Angie said: “As we’re both single parents on benefits, we’re really limited to what we can offer. We really need somewhere that can be tailored to needs of all affected by SEN.

“There is nothing in north Cornwall for SEN children and their families, and like us most parents can’t work due to family demands, so travelling to where the resources are isn’t always possible.

“It’s a much-needed service that we are really passionate about.”

Now Angie, Maria and the LanSEN Together supporters are appealing for donations and awareness to enable them to get their own premises, where they can introduce special sensory rooms, ‘chill-out’ rooms and more resources for both children and their families from Cornwall and Devon.

The hub will be available for five days a week from 10am until 6pm, providing an IT area, a ‘chill out zone’ with a TV and floor cushions, a comfortable sofa and an area for crafts and a home education group. There will also be exercise classes, an information area that will also consist of a private meeting area for parents to use, a café selling tea, coffee and cake, and a seating area.

The group needs to raise £10,000, and has set up a Just Giving page so people can donate to the cause. To support them in their venture, donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lansentogether