ExCo
Founded in 2017 Freddie & Friends CIC was born from a personal mission: to create a community centre where people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are not only welcomed but prioritised.
Freddie & Friends Community Hub is the place we needed when our little ones were small,” explained the founders. “When structured classes didn’t work for our children and when we felt excluded, we dreamed of a hub where everyone could feel included and supported. That’s what we’ve built here.”
The goals of the hub are simple yet powerful: to strengthen local connections, signpost families to vital services, support social inclusion, and reduce isolation through collaboration and shared experiences.
More Than Just a Hub
What sets Freddie & Friends apart is its team of dedicated volunteers. Each person brings personal experience in caring for children or adults with SEND, offering not just practical support but also understanding and empathy. Visitors are encouraged to drop in for a coffee, organise a parent meet-up, or simply enjoy a safe play space for their children.
Open to everyone, inclusive to those with or without SEND, the hub runs weekly sessions during term time:
- “Try it Tuesday” (10am–1pm) – soft play, a bouncy castle, and a community café.
- “We Get It Wednesday” (10am–1.30pm) – focused on SEND services, with volunteers on hand to answer questions with food and play available too
- “Thoughtful Thursday” – a day dedicated to wellbeing and support with food and play.
Food options include sausage rolls, Jacket potatoes, sandwiches and sweet treat
Prices: One Child it £5 and £2 per sibling (up to 3 children) and this include a hot drink too.
How you can help: Freddie & Friends is always on the lookout for volunteers to lend a hand. From making teas to supporting events, every contribution makes a difference.
The hub is based at Pages Park Pavilion, next to the tennis courts. Parking is available nearby at Richmond Road (LU7 4RD) or The Vynes (LU7 4JT, a short walk away).
Rachel, Katie and Jo, and their team hope that visitors will feel the warmth and inclusivity that have defined Freddie & Friends since the beginning: “We’ve built a place for the community — but more importantly, a place where everyone belongs.”
Contact [email protected] for more information
