Stamford Hill mum to turn in-demand support group for parents of kids with additional needs into charity

Two mums who set up a support group for parents of children with additional needs want to register it as a charity after demand soared.

Charlotte Pearson, whose son Chayce, five, is autistic, and Kiesha Mcinnis, mother to Kyanna, nine, who also has additional needs, founded AS1 last year.

Now their monthly coffee mornings at Hackney Ark in Downs Park Road are attended by up to 30 people.

“As parents to children with additional needs, we both felt there was not enough support out there for us as carers,” said Charlotte, of Stamford Hill. “It’s kind of like therapy. Everyone seeks advice from each other if they are having a bad time.”

As1 also has a Facebook group with more than 1,000 members and a WhatsApp support chat with 80. Now Charlotte and Kiesha are applying for it to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

“It’s got bigger than we expected it to,” Charlotte added. “We’ve got a mission statement and a constitution and now we need trustees and a treasurer. It’s important we find the right people.

“Since we’ve started we’ve both had babies and we’re just two mums with no experience trying to work our way through.”

Anyone interested in becoming a trustee or treasurer can email asoneas1asone@hotmail.com.

The pair have also set up a fundraiser to help pay for biscuits and refreshments for the coffee mornings. Click here to view the page.