RBC awards over £2,000 for inclusive family cooking and peer support sessions
Last updated: 30/10/2025
Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has awarded over £2,000 from its Community Wellbeing Fund to help deliver inclusive family cooking sessions and peer support activities for families of young people with special educational needs (SEND).
The free sessions organised by SEND Parents and Carers Together (PaCT) Notts give children and young people with SEND the chance to enjoy cooking and creative activities in a relaxed and sensory-friendly setting.
During the sessions parents and carers can also connect with each other, share experiences and receive emotional support.
SEND PaCT Notts CIC provides a network of support for families across Nottinghamshire. They deliver regular workshops and host a Facebook group where parents and carers can come together and seek advice.
RBC’s Deputy Leader Cllr Abby Brennan recently visited one of the cooking sessions at Cotgrave Methodist Church, where families made fresh fruit crumbles with Fun Little Foodies.
Cllr Brennan said: “I really enjoyed visiting this ‘cook, explore and create’ session and meeting the families who were making delicious fruit crumbles with seasonal produce.
“These free activities offer families of children and young people with SEND a fun, safe and supportive environment and we’re pleased we could support the delivery of these sessions through our Community Wellbeing Fund.”
SEND PaCT Notts CIC Co-Owner and Director Leanne added: “We are so pleased to have received this funding from RBC’s Community Wellbeing Fund. It has been great to be able to provide these sessions to the Rushcliffe area.
“Being a SEND parent can be so isolating. For us to be able to provide a safe space for children, young people and their families to attend means the world to SEND PaCT Notts.
“Sessions such as these are so important to break down barriers, create spaces where children and young people can be themselves and be included in provision that supports them to create memories together.”
The next session will take place on Wednesday November 12 at Cotgrave Welfare Scheme, Woodview NG12 3PJ, where participants will be creating fun Christmas crafts. The next ‘explore, cook and create’ session will return in December. For regular updates join the SEND PaCT Notts Facebook Group.
The Community Wellbeing Fund is supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
