29 Sep Maggie Cleary, CEO of Send the Right Message Receives Citizen of Southend GOLD Award
Citizen of Southend GOLD Award Ceremony
“I am extremely honoured to receive such an important award, Citizen of Southend GOLD Award. I am so grateful for the recognition and the nominations from our families, but it would not have been possible without the charity’s team and our management committee that supports the work we do for the local community in Southend.
My autistic child had a terrible time at senior school and was totally misunderstood. He didn’t have his needs met and eventually was seriously ill.
Four years on, he is much better again but has had no school placement along with school trauma, and as a family we have had very little support. We felt frightened and alone.
This is how the charity started 18 months ago. I didn’t want any other parent to feel alone or unknowledgeable about how to best support or advocate for their child like I did.
I would like to thank our funders, supporters and SAVS that have supported our work, along with our families in Southend that have children and young people with SEND. These families, who have felt marginalised and unheard for such a long time, now have the tools via our work to effectively advocate for their children. Along with not feeling so alone, they are now part of a community.” – Maggie Cleary, CEO of SEND the Right Message
