SSAFA’s RAF PS&SWS launch pioneering group for SEN military families

04 August 2026

“The SEN group has been invaluable to our family. It has provided friendship, support, and reassurance during challenging times, helping us feel connected and understood within the military community.”

Living with first-hand experience of parenting a child with special educational needs (SEN), SSAFA Welfare Officer Sophie Allport and Warrant Officer Chris Daykin, Station Families Housing Officer, pioneered an SEN parent group at RAF Marham. After bonding over their individual challenges as parents of children with additional needs, the group was designed for families like theirs offering the opportunity to build connection and community, ensuring no family is left to battle alone.   

SSAFA's RAF Personal Support and Social Work Service (PS&SWS) recognise the importance of creating a space where parents and carers of SEN children, of all ages, can find reassurance, share experiences, and feel supported by others. 

Launched in February 2025, the group, which meet once a month, sit outside of chain of command and provide a safe space for families to offer peer support.

Sophie Allport said: “Raising a child with SEN can be a uniquely rewarding journey, but it also comes with challenges that not everyone fully understands. This group is about building community, offering validation, and reminding each other that you’re not alone. 

“We understand that for many families, the path of navigating SEN can feel isolating at times – especially within the military lifestyle, where support networks may shift frequently due to postings and deployments. This group exists to help bridge that gap a little.”

The monthly sessions are held in the Chaplaincy with no specific agenda. Some parents come to ask questions or share recent challenges, while others come to listen, reflect, and enjoy a brew, among people who understand the emotional weight of the SEN journey.  

Sophie added: “Parenting can be tough enough without added pressure, and we’re here to offer support, not opinions. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or navigating a difficult week, you’ll be met with empathy and encouragement.”

EJ, the spouse of a serving person said: “It's been great to meet other military families in similar situations. The SEN group has made us feel so supported and heard.”

Another member of the group shared: “The SEN Group is a great space for serving personnel, family members, contractors, and the wider force a-like to meet over a cuppa and share their experiences of managing those close to them who are SEN or even rely on one another as a sounding board. 

“We all have lived different experiences and often we learn from one another. Just one to two percent of knowledge is the difference between surviving and thriving through the difficult times and upcoming challenges. The space is safe and whatever is shared within the group is kept within the group.”

Inspired by the success of RAF Marham’s SEN group, RAF Honington and RAF Benson have launched their own SEN parent group.

For more information, please contact the RAF PS&SWS team here.