This weekend I will be cycling from Edinburgh to Newcastle with my friend Darryn Bradley to raise money for Special Friends, a play and support group for families with children with additional needs in Belper and the neighbouring areas. Special Friends has supported my daughter Tara, who has complex special needs and the whole of our family and this is my chance to give something back. The 170 mile ride over 2 days will take us over bleak and coastal terrain and is sure to be challenging.

Special Friends aims to offer support through friendship and shared experiences to families of children with additional needs from the early stages of their journey, with the hope that they need never feel alone. As well as their monthly playgroup sessions, they organise regular sensory swim sessions, private hire soft play, outdoor adventures and more. “Special Friends aims to consider every aspect of being a special needs family; providing activities that will be suitable for the wide-ranging needs of our children, as well as supporting their siblings and the parents and carers themselves,” explains Chair, Lucy Sarna.

Special Friends has been running since Summer 2014 having been formed by Lucy, a mum of two children with diverse and complex needs, after struggling to meet other special needs families in the area. The support group now has over 70 families who are benefiting from its activities and has recently been awarded registered charity status.