Berwick MP named as new patron for support group

MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan has become a patron for a North-East group which supports parents whose children have a range of sensory processing disorders.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan speaking during the autism debate in the House of Commons.Anne-Marie Trevelyan speaking during the autism debate in the House of Commons.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan speaking during the autism debate in the House of Commons.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Parent Support Group North East England provides a forum for parents to discuss the joys and the troubles associated with raising children who have disorders such as autism spectrum disorders, Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, sensory processing disorder and Down’s syndrome.

The group offers support, advice, networking, education and strategies for children with SPD; meetings are held every four to six weeks where parents and carers can get together, have a chat, look at resources available and listen to guest speakers.

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Dawn O’Hanlan from the group contacted Mrs Trevelyan after hearing her contribution to the House of Commons debate on autism, where she shared her own experiences with battling the system for her son.

Mrs Trevelyan said: “I am truly honoured to have been asked to be a patron for the SPD Parent Support Group North East England.

“I want to be able to offer support and guidance to other parents, and to encourage the formation of a support group here in Northumberland.

“I am only too aware from my own family’s experiences of the additional stresses on families, but I also understand the benefits of a support network and to be asked to be part of that across our region is incredibly important to me.”

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The group, which is run from Tree Tops Children’s Therapy Centre in Newton Aycliffe, has appointed two other patrons alongside Mrs Trevelyan – Dawn Dunn, managing director of Tree Tops, who treats all the above diagnoses and is exceptionally passionate about this field, and Dr Joseph Elliott, principal of Collingwood College, at Durham University, who is also involved in this type of work and has a Special Needs University Team at Durham which liaises with the group.