AN ORGANISATION providing services to families with children living with special educational needs in Launceston has gained charitable status.

LanSEN Together, run by local women Angie Cantelow and Maria Lawson, has been up and running for around 16 months.

Group sessions are held at the Gateway Centre in Launceston, providing self-funded services offering home education and a youth group to those with special educational needs (SEN) in the town.

The pair believe that SEN services are much-needed locally, and with their new charitable status, awarded to them on January 7, they will be able to continue to provide these services for local families.

Angie and Maria are dedicated to the provision of SEN support in the town. They volunteer their time to create a safe, supportive, educational and fun environment for SEN children and their families — a place for people to chat, immerse themselves in different activities and get together.

As parents of SEN children themselves, they have first-hand experience of the lack of support available in Cornwall, striving them towards creating a supportive hub for the town. Through LanSEN Together, they aim to reduce feelings of isolation, and offer support and a wider understanding of SEN, all the while creating a social hub for local families.

Children have previously enjoyed felt workshops, learning how to grow fruit and vegetables in allotments, rock painting, scientific experiments, bingo, games and crafting — all provided in the LanSEN Together sessions and youth group.

Angie, co-founder of LanSEN Together, said: “We started to work towards getting a charity status just over a year ago, but the ball really started rolling when we attended a workshop at Launceston Matters and met Stephen Howard.

“Stephen helped us enormously with the application which we submitted in May, 2018. After lots of waiting and then tweaking our constitution, we were finally awarded with a charity number on Monday.”

The charity number will allow LanSEN Together to fundraise through this, in order to gain donations that will pay for items such as new equipment for activities and even further training for volunteers.

Angie added: “To say we are overjoyed would be an understatement. We are really excited to start making our dreams a reality!”

LanSEN Together holds their home education group every first Wednesday of the month from 11am until 1pm, at the Gateway Centre, Madford Lane, Launceston. It is £3 per family to come along and join in the activities, with free parking, a free warm drink and biscuit.

Families will be able to experience a non-judgemental environment offering a time to relax and children to play and socialise with others.

To find out more about LanSEN Together, like their Facebook page, or visit lansentogether.wixsite.com/website.

Angie and Maria can also be contacted by emailing [email protected]