News and Resources

This page will be populated by co-produced resources, information about practitioners' work, and news for neurodivergent families.

Please find below information and resources from the events that took place on the 26th February, 19th March, 23rd April and 16th June 2026:

1. Presentation from Louise Baxter, MBE

Louise Baxter is a consumer champion with a real passion for supporting vulnerability. She graduated with a law degree started work for East Sussex Trading Standards. In 2011 Louise got frustrated by the system in relation to support of scam victims and started what is now the National Trading Standards Scams Team. In 2015 Louise was given a Hero’s Award from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). In 2017 Louise was awarded a CTSI Fellowship and an MBE for Protecting Vulnerable Consumers from Financial Abuse. Louise is CTSIs current Lead Officer for consumer advice education and vulnerability. She is a Non-executive Director for the Property Ombudsman Board the TrustMark Board, London Fraud Forum board member, Consumer Protection Panel Chair, Chair of the Scams Team Research Innovation & Collaboration Taskforce and involved with several other government boards, she is also previous chair of CTSI (2021). Louise is joint CEO of www.consumerfriend.org.ukLink opens in a new window. An organisation set up to provide information, advice and education to consumers on their consumer rights with a focus on consumer vulnerability. Contact details: louise@consumerfriend.org.uk

2. Presentation from Sarah White

Sarah White is a qualified Physiotherapist with over 25 years’ experience specialising in persistent pain. She has worked across hospital services and within multidisciplinary teams delivering specialist pain management programmes, with a focus on supporting people with long-term conditions and mindfulness-based programmes, and has undertaken additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, DNA-V and Mindfulness-based interventions. Since 2020, she has worked within the Community Pain and CFS/ME service. Alongside her NHS role, she volunteers as a parent support worker with the Nottingham CAMHS Eating Disorder Team. Contact details: sarahelizabethwhite7@gmail.com

3. Presentation from Dr Karen Neil

Dr Karen E. Neil is a Specialist Pharmacist, Public Health Consultant and a member of IHPE. She also manages Mindful MedicineLink opens in a new window which provides a range of services, including one-to-one and group mindfulness courses, health promotion workshops and coaching, mindfulness teacher mentoring, and professional development. Her approach is rooted in inclusive, person-centred practice. Karen advocates for children and young people, especially neurodivergent individuals aged 18-25 and young carers. Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience in mental health and neurodivergence, she aims to positively influence local and national policy. Karen has over 30 years of experience across mental health, pharmacy, health promotion, and wellbeing. Contact details: k.neil@mindfulmedicine.co.uk. Presentation can be found here.

4. Presentation from Dr Marion Rutherford

Dr Marion Rutherford leads the National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT), She is at Queen Margaret University in Scotland. Contact details: MRutherford@qmu.ac.uk

5. Presentation from Cathy Wessel

Cathy Wassell. Cathy runs Autistic Girls Network and The Haven (online provision for neurodivergent girls and non-binary young people) and I am based in Stratford upon Avon although we are a national charity. Contact details: www.autisticgirlsnetwork.org Link opens in a new window& www.thehavenonline.schoolLink opens in a new window

6. Presentation from Dr Hayley Crawford

Hayley is an Associate Professor at the University of Warwick. Contact details: Hayley.Crawford@warwick.ac.uk

7. Presentation from Jenny Quinn

Jenny Quinn is a registered Occupational Therapist, with an MSc in Sensory Integration. She works with a wide range of client groups including neurodivergent adults and children. Jenny has a particular interest in developmental trauma and attachment, specialising in sensory-attachment based work. Jenny is the

Clinical Director of Children's Sensory Therapy. Contact details: jenny@childrenssensorytherapy.co.uk

8. Summary of presentation by Jenn Hodge from Doing Education Differently:

Jenn Hodge is a writer, consultant and advocate focused on transforming how education supports young people — especially those who think and learn differently. She is widely recognised as a leading voice in neurodiversity and school reform, empowering families, organisations and policymakers to create environments where learners can truly thrive. Jenn founded and is CEO of a highly innovative education centre in South West England. She draws on her diverse lived experience and work supporting home-educated and neurodivergent young people to challenge assumptions and drive meaningful change in educational systems. Jenn is an expert practitioner in all matters related to home education Contact details: jenn@jennhodge.co.uk ; doingeducationdifferently.co.uk ; facebook.com/doingeducationdifferently/

9. The Legal Challenges Faced by Autistic Young Women. This was presented by Satnam Baley and Bonnie Bullivant

Satnam Baley who is a qualified solicitor with over 20 years’ experience specialising in criminal law, he has worked on a variety of cases involving serious crime, multi-handed defendants, organised crime, and criminal cases with international connotations. Presently, Satnam is a senior lecturer and programme lead for law degree programmes at Birmingham Newman University where he has introduced new law modules and pathways exposing students to practice and procedural elements of law. His research activity and interests involve areas of criminal law legislation, its theoretical basis and practical legitimacy. To contact Satnam, please email him at S.Baley@staff.newman.ac.uk

Bonnie Bullivant a senior lecturer at Birmingham Newman University and a phd student at the University of Warwick doing a cutting edge research on sexual abuse and exploitation and child safeguarding. Bonnie is also a tirelessactivist who has worked hard to bring about changes to The Victims and Courts Act 2026 which received Royal Assent, introducing a range of reforms aimed at strengthening victims’ rights and reshaping their role within the criminal justice system. The legislation places new limits on the exercise of parental responsibility by offenders convicted of serious child sexual abuse. Contact email: bonita.bullivant@gmail.com

Resources and networks 

DNA-V for Young People - Youth Model of Mindfulness and ActionLink opens in a new window

PINS Project: Elizabeth Ashton is a member of Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice and recommend it for parents- please visit the link below:
PINS Project - Warwickshire Parent Carer VoiceLink opens in a new window

SENDS4Dads as men are often under-represented in parent forums. SENDS 4 Dad – Support for Dads and male carers who have a child or adult with special educational n…Link opens in a new window

IHPE-Position-Statement-Young-Carers-and-Young-Adult-Carers-UK.pdfLink opens in a new window

 IHPE-Position-Statement_Mental-Health-at-Work_Jan-2026.pdfLink opens in a new window

About the All-party Parliamentary Group (APPG) - Carers TrustLink opens in a new window 

Helen Neale: She is an AuDHD therapist working with kids and adults, and currently trying to create a neurodivergence working group within the BPS (British Psychological Society): Neurodivergent Nook: https://neurodivergentnook.riverside.com/ ; Link opens in a new windowhelen@saffronwaldencounselling.co.uk

Have a look at the https://cerebra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Systems-Generated-Trauma-Report-web.pdfLink opens in a new window, a report published by Cerebra, a charity for children with brain disorders. It aligns with the notion of school generated harm discussed in the event.

Sam Craven runs YP Forum for SEND called IMPACT and we created a short film about experience in school - www.warwickshire.gov.uk/wrongsize Link opens in a new window

Sam said: There is a strong commitment to coproduction with CYP and Parent Carers. We have Working Together Charter and we have YP sitting on strategic Partnership Boards, commissioning activity and there are many projects that YP are involved with, based on their priorities. www.warwickshire.gov.uk/sendcharterLink opens in a new window Locally Senior Leaders are seeing the benefit of working with YP. My Team work with YP and support them to be involved.