Contact
M: 07745 057 815
Email: thrive063@gmail.com
Welcome to
THRIVE SEND SUPPORT C.I.C
We are a community interest company based in York.
We work with parents and professionals to enable them to provide better support for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).
We launched as a company in March 2025 and as we grow, we plan to offer more support and services to the SEND community.
At the moment we offer 4 main services:
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Education support and advocacy for parents
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Parent support sessions
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Family events
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FASD training for schools and other professionals
Education support and advocacy for parents
We support parents who have children and young people who are struggling in school and college. Through one to one sessions, we unpick children's education needs and identity what support they require, enabling them to have a positive school experience. We sit along side parents in school meetings to advocate for better support, always ensuring a positive working relationship with school, keeping the goal of helping the child or young person as paramount.
Support for Parents
We deliver one to one sessions for parents who have children with additional needs, SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities)and adopted children.
We enable parents to address their own needs and find ways forward to supporting their child at home and in school. Essentially, we help families recalibrate their lives.
Please see below for our new group support for
Neurodivergent Adults Raising Neurodivergent Children
FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Training
We provide FASD training and support for schools and other professionals.
Through our bespoke packages, we enable people with FASD to be better understood and ensure their needs are met.
Family Events
We enjoy hosting events for families who have children with additional needs. These events include; park meetups, picnics, arts and craft sessions, and trampolining. Many of these events are free. Please contact us for an informal chat to find out more.
Origins of Thrive SEND Support C.I.C.
Joy Richardson & Colette Watson
Thrive Send Support C.I.C. was founded by Joy and Colette, experienced teachers and mother's to children with additional needs.
They have spent more than a decade on the rollercoaster of parenting children who never quite get all their needs met.
For many parents it is a continual battle to get timely support and ensure that all professionals understand the complex situations in which families find themselves.
They are passionate educators on FASD.
Having supported families for several years, helping children with FASD to get their needs met in school and wider society, Colette and Joy now bring this experience into the public realm, training schools and college staff to help them understand the complexities of FASD and how best to support the children and young people they teach.
Joy and Colette also work with other professionals such as social workers, foster carers and medical professionals to help inform on FASD.
Meet the Team
THRIVE SEND SUPPORT C.I.C.
Director & Trainer
Colette Watson
Colette is a qualified and experienced teacher and mother to an adopted child with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. She is an expert by experience on FASD and SEND.
She has received FASD training from FASCETS established by the world-renowned Diane Malbin in Canada and focuses on the neurobehavioral approach to supporting children and young people with FASD
She has been delivering FASD training for schools and other professionals for several years.
Colette brings together lived experience and draws on practical strategies for support, warmth, humour and a non-judgemental approach to her work on FASD.
She has a unique understanding of FASD, as both a teacher and a mother, which enables her to deliver realistic approaches to supporting a person with FASD characteristics or an FASD diagnosis.
Director, Trainer & Mentor
Joy Richardson
Joy is a qualified coach, mentor and teacher. She is passionate about children getting their rightful education and ensuring parents wellbeing. As a mother to children with additional needs she is experienced in navigating the SEND system and dealing with the rollercoaster of demands and emotions that can so often lead to parental burn out. Her years working for Adoption UK a leading charity, enabled her to develop her support skills for parents, her education advocacy work and introduced her to FASD training.
Specialist Advisor
Ruchi Gulati
Ruchi is a paediatrician with over 20 years’ experience and an advisor to Thrive SEND Support C.I.C. As the mum of an adopted child with ADHD, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, supporting families and advocating for children with additional needs.
EVENTS
We have a range of events for families and parents. These events are for children with additional needs, SEND and adopted children. Siblings and friends without additional needs are welcome.
We would love to hear from you and find out what kind of events and activities you would like us to develop.
Next events
Park Meet Up
Sunday 20 September 11.00am-1.00pm
Rowntree Park, York
Join families for an informal gathering in the main play area. A chance to chat, and make connections with families similar to your own.
Bring your own drinks, snacks or packed lunch.
Drop us an email or text to let us know you are coming and we will look out for you!
Ninja 90 Session
Sunday 18th October 11.30am to 1.00pm
Agility Parks, York
Join us for family fun at Agility parks indoor soft play assault course. A chance for the kids to run off some steam for and parents/carers to have a coffee and chat.
Book your tickets directly with the venue. Agility online tickets - Products Meet in the upstairs viewing area at 11.30am. Message us in advance so we know you are coming.
Relaxed Activity Time for Children with SEND
Friday 30 October 10.30am-11.30am (Half term holiday)
Acomb Explore Library, York
Join us for this FREE relaxed activity session at this wonderful York library. A range of arts & crafts activities, plus games, puzzles and sensory toys are on offer for children to explore at their own pace and in their own way. Children with additional needs, SEND or adoptive children are welcome. This session typically suits children aged 4-10 years .
Call Acomb Library on 01904 552651 or use this link Book your free place – Relaxed Activity Session for Neurodivergent Children – Acomb Explore, Front Street, Acomb
Call/Text/Email for more information:
07745 057 815 Email: thrive063@gmail.com
Mentoring for Neurodivergent Adults Raising Neurodivergent Children
The wonderful people at York CVS are funding a project we are starting at the end of September for parents and carers.
We are running six, online, monthly sessions of group support, for Neurodivergent Adults Raising Neurodivergent Children/Young People.
Strategies for parenting, wellbeing, communication, anxiety, & time management. Achieve a better balance in life, gain clarity. Co-creation of themes.
Be part of a supportive, caring group.
Gain from the sharing of valuable knowledge and lived experience.
Address the competing needs of you and your child.
Make positive changes to your life.
Please share the attached information with your relevant networks and friends.
Do get in touch to find out more!
Expressions of interest by 22 September.
Many thanks to York CVS's CVSC Small Grants Fund for
Neurodivergent Community Projects.
Testimonials
I have recently had some Education Advocacy sessions with Joy as my daughter is transitioning to Secondary school. She is adopted, has a trauma history & SEND. Joy helped me to get organised, gave me tips & strategies for meetings & communication with school, & provided me with the session notes that I could refer back to. I felt comfortable in the sessions, was heard & not judged. Knowing that Joy speaks from experience was a huge motivator for choosing her service. Thank you for getting me on track!”
Tracey, Business Owner/Director & Adoptive Mum
My name is Lynn Shilling and I work as a Post Adoption Support Social Worker. I hold a Psychology BSc. Hons degree and a Masters Degree in Social Work.
I have worked with Joy over the last three years delivering a support programme for adoptive parents and I am aware that she also provides training for prospective adopters.
The support programme for adoptive parents has received some very positive feedback. Whilst it is an evidence based programme, the support, advice and lived experience that Joy brings to the programme is invaluable. This helps the programme to be delivered ‘with’ adopters rather than ‘to’ them.
Joy has experience working as a Peer Mentor for adopters which is a service that helps adoptive parents to access support when their own support networks struggle to understand the complex needs of an adopted child. Joy’s experience as an adoptive parent and her training as a Peer Mentor helps parents to understand that there is a shared experience of adoption which reduces their feelings of isolation.
I have observed Joy to take a professional approach to her support and she brings a good understanding of the issues of adoption from everyday life issues to other areas such as education and special educational needs. Joy is able to connect easily with others as she is approachable, with good listening and communication skills.
I have recently worked with Joy offering support on a one to one basis with a family in crisis. Joy helped parents to clarify some of their biggest challenges and discussed strategies for parenting in a therapeutic approach. Although this was a very short intervention it helped the family through an extremely challenging period in their family life and they were incredibly thankful for the support given.
Lynn Shilling, Post Adoption Social Worker, Hull
I have worked with Joy in my role as Art Therapist to her children and as facilitator of a therapeutic parenting group she was part of. This involved various trainings, where Joy was incredibly positive, curious, interested, and reflective. She has gained invaluable experience from this and is able to share her progress with therapeutic parenting, challenges she faced and how she overcame them.
Her capacity to manage challenging situations whilst remaining calm and therapeutic is incredible. Joy is an asset to our group. I asked her to keep coming not because I think she needs to, but to support other parents. She can actively listen to parents share their struggles, be empathic, responding with kindness and giving them tools to use.
Her direct experience turns an abstract idea into something concrete that tired parents can hear. I have been able to ask for her support and directed some parents to her, so she could give specific advice in relation to educational needs for example.
Joy is able to offer clear, tried and tested, guidance. I think the role of mentor and coach is ideal for Joy and believe she will be an amazing source of support to a parent or carer in need of direction and help.
Samantha Stubbs, Art Therapist
Helping Families Flourish