On 20th September, we – Athaven, Penny and Sahana – will be taking on Tough Mudder to raise money for Tamil Special Children UK.

We've had the privilege of working with children and have seen first-hand that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, build confidence and feel included. For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), having the right support can make a life-changing difference—not only for them, but for their families too.

That's why we're proud to be fundraising for Tamil Special Children UK, a charity that empowers Tamil children with SEND by providing social, educational and therapeutic opportunities while creating a supportive community for families who often face these challenges alone. The charity also has an inspiring long-term vision: to create supported living for these young people, giving families peace of mind that their children will always have a safe, caring place to call home.

-----

More information about TSC:

We began in 2017 as a WhatsApp support group for Tamil speaking parents of children with learning difficulties and disabilities, including autism, Down's syndrome and global developmental delay, and we registered as a charity in 2020. Everything we offer is free of charge to our families.

We run weekly clubs and regular activities for the children, covering things like yoga, cooking, art and craft, Tamil and spoken English, along with monthly sessions focused on social and communication skills. The aim is simple: to make sure our children get as many experiences and opportunities as any other child, in an environment where they are fully included.

Alongside this, we run sessions and training for parents, delivered by professionals, as well as one to one advisory support. Raising a child with SEN is hard enough, and doing it in a country where English is not your first language can be extremely isolating. Parents often find themselves trying to navigate education, health and social care systems without knowing where to turn. A big part of what we do is making sure no parent has to face that alone, and building a community where families can share experiences with others who understand.

We also work with Tamil media and Tamil voluntary organisations to showcase the talents of our children and to challenge the social exclusion many of them face.

Our long term goal is to establish residential and supported living for our young people. Every parent we work with carries the same worry: what happens to my child when I am no longer here to care for them. Securing that future is what we are ultimately fundraising towards.

-----

The Tough Mudder will test our strength, teamwork and resilience, but the determination shown every day by the children and families supported by this charity is far greater than any obstacle we'll face on the course.

Every donation, no matter the amount, will help Tamil Special Children UK continue its incredible work and bring hope, opportunities and brighter futures to children and families who need it most.

Thank you so much for your support—it truly means the world to us. If you're able to donate or simply share our page, you'll be helping us make a real difference.