In this blog post our Founder and National Coordinator, Beth, tells us a bit about the story so far... When I founded Take 5 and chat – parenting additional needs, in 2015, I had a clear idea of what I hoped it would be – and also of what it would not be. Having...

Tears and meltdowns there have been a few! Today is different as I look at you! There is excitement and nerves and happiness too, I forgot how much school stole this from you! Today is different, something new, am sending you off to a different view, a school  where...

Michelle was one of the first parents to drop in on our very first Café Drop-in session! Here she tells us about her family's journey through diagnosis to understanding and then to starting her own Facebook Blog! Thanks for sharing your story Michelle! The day I first...

As parents we hope to create a lovely, happy Christmas for each family member. However, when we have a child, or children, with additional needs it can be even more difficult to meet the needs of everyone. Care for the Family’s Katharine Hill once said, “Begin by...

We are honoured to share this poem about domestic abuse, written by a woman known to us. The poem is not particularly about additional needs but families who are embracing and managing additional needs are not exempt from other issues, including domestic abuse. Thank...

Huge thanks to Helen for this blog post. Helen is mum to two children with additional needs and is also a primary school teacher. Here she shows us how we can plan fun weeks and create a visual timetable for a holiday week at home. "I was trying to support an Autism...

Nearly five years ago, Rae wrote the birth story for her third child, Gideon. He was very poorly when he was born and spent time in NICU and SCBU. At that time, she didn’t really have any answers and didn’t know what the future might hold. Since then Gideon has been...

Nearly five years ago, Rae wrote the birth story for her third child, Gideon. He was very poorly when he was born and spent time in NICU and SCBU. At that time, she didn’t really have any answers and didn’t know what the future might hold. Since then Gideon has been...

Nearly five years ago, Rae wrote the birth story for her third child, Gideon. He was very poorly when he was born and spent time in NICU and SCBU. At that time, she didn’t really have any answers and didn’t know what the future might hold. Since then Gideon has been...

There are many expressions and sayings that well-meaning friends and family share with us when our child has additional needs. We never believed for one moment that “God only gives special children to special parents”. Neither were we impressed with “You must be so...