V.A.S.E.N Advisory C.I.C

Helping families navigate SEND. Empowering people. Promoting inclusion

VASEN Advisory CIC

SEND, family empowerment and accessible support

Helping families and disabled residents understand their options, make informed decisions and access the support they need.

VASEN Advisory CIC is a community-focused organisation working to improve inclusion, confidence and access to support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families and disabled adults.

We provide accessible information, practical guidance, family support and community-based activities. We help parents understand school support and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), prepare for meetings, organise their concerns and identify appropriate next steps.

Our work also includes early family guidance around learning differences, literacy difficulties, autism and social communication, alongside practical support for disabled residents who encounter barriers when accessing information or navigating services.

We believe families should be listened to, people’s strengths should be recognised, and support should reflect their current circumstances—not just an old report, a label or a diagnosis.

Who we support

Who We Help

Children, Young People and Families

Helping parents and carers understand SEND processes, explore available support and communicate their children's needs and views.

Helping families exploring emerging needs before diagnosis.

Disabled Adults

Supporting access to information, communication and services, including for blind and severely sight impaired people.

Individuals and Communities

Helping people experiencing barriers to information, services or participation identify practical ways forward.

Community Partners

Working with schools, community organisations, professionals and other partners to promote inclusion and respond to community needs.

What we do

How We Can Help

SEND Information and Family Guidance

Understanding SEND processes, available support and next steps.

EHCP and Annual Review Support

Preparing for reviews, organising information and communicating changing needs.

Advocacy and Participation

Helping individuals and families express their views and participate in decisions.

Dyslexia, Literacy and Autism

Educational guidance on learning difficulties, literacy, social communication and routes to appropriate support.

Accessible Information and Disability Support

Helping disabled people, including those with sight loss, overcome barriers to information and services.

Complaints Guidance and Service Navigation

Understanding how to raise concerns and access appropriate advice and support.

Community Projects and Workshops

Promoting awareness, peer support, participation and inclusion through community activities.

Find Out More About Our Support

Our Approach

We work alongside families and residents, recognising their knowledge, experiences, strengths and priorities. We aim to complement schools, local authority services, SENDIASS and specialist organisations by helping people understand their options and connect with the right support.

VASEN Advisory CIC does not replace statutory services, clinical diagnosis, regulated specialist advice or legal representation. Where needs fall outside our role, we aim to signpost or refer people to an appropriate service.

Our aim is simple: greater confidence, better-informed choices and more inclusive communities.

We believe that people should be able to access understandable information, have their experiences taken seriously and participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives.

Our work is guided by five principles:

Accessibility — making information easier to understand and helping people identify ways to overcome barriers.
Dignity and respect — listening to people's experiences and recognising their individual circumstances.
Empowerment — building confidence and helping people communicate their needs.
Inclusion — working towards communities in which people can participate meaningfully.
Collaboration — working with families, disabled people and community partners to identify needs and improve access to support.

About V.A.S.E.N Advisory CIC

V.A.S.E.N Advisory CIC is a community-focused organisation informed by extensive experience in education, SEND and inclusion.

Our Founder and Programme Lead, Tricia Charles, has more than 20 years of professional experience across teaching, SENCo leadership and local authority SEND advisory and casework roles, including work in the UK and internationally.

This experience informs our commitment to helping families navigate SEND processes, making information more accessible and strengthening people's participation in decisions that affect them.

Learn More About Us

Our Community Projects

We want the experiences of families and disabled people to help inform more accessible and responsive support.

Through community consultation, information resources, workshops and partnerships, we aim to identify barriers, highlight unmet needs and support meaningful participation.

Accessible Support

We aim to make our support accessible to people who may otherwise struggle to obtain the information or guidance they need.

Depending on the nature of the request, individual circumstances, organisational capacity and available funding, support may be offered at no cost or on a low-cost basis. We cannot guarantee that every service will be available at all times.

Our work provides non-legal guidance and practical support. We do not replace statutory services, statutory advocacy or specialist legal advice.

Work With Us

Are you a parent or carer seeking information? A disabled person experiencing barriers to access? Or an organisation interested in promoting inclusion?

We welcome enquiries about our work, community projects and opportunities to collaborate.

Together, we can help build more accessible, inclusive and supportive communities.

Contact V.A.S.E.N Advisory CIC

Read Tricia’s Full Profile

Meet Our Founder

Tricia Charles – Founder and Director

Tricia Charles is an experienced education and SEND professional with more than 20 years of experience supporting learners and families in the UK and internationally, including Asia and the Caribbean. Her background spans mainstream and specialist teaching, SENCO and inclusion leadership, and local authority SEND advisory and casework.

She brings substantial experience of EHCP assessment, drafting and amendments, co-production meetings, annual reviews and advising families and schools. Holding qualifications in education, psychology and educational assessment, Tricia founded V.A.S.E.N to help families navigate the SEND system and access practical guidance.

Through VASEN Advisory CIC, she is committed to making support more accessible, empowering families to express their views and helping disabled people participate more confidently in decisions that affect their lives.

Our approach is rooted in experience, inclusion and the belief that every family deserves to be heard.

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