Northumberland Community and Voluntary Action (NCVA) are proud to share that our Mind the Gap roadshow series has been featured by BBC News North East and Cumbria this week.
The report, titled “Northumberland parents learn self defence against their children”, highlights the powerful and often hidden realities faced by families dealing with challenging behaviours, and how community-led support can make a real difference.
This coverage marks an important moment for NCVA, recognising the dedication, compassion, and innovation of our team and community partners in shining a light on lived experience.
Mind the Gap: A Platform for Community Voices
The Mind the Gap roadshow series, developed by NCVA, was created to bring together families, community organisations, and professionals to explore the real-life experiences of people navigating services for support, and to identify where gaps exist in provision or accessibility.
Each roadshow focuses on a different theme, including SEND families, veterans, mental health, and farming communities, ensuring that a wide range of voices and challenges are heard.
The first event, held in Cramlington, centred on families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It provided a safe, supportive space for parents and carers to speak openly about the barriers they face and the impact this has on daily life.
Led by Lyn Horton, NCVA Community Developer, as part of our Health & Wellbeing Network, the event created an environment for honest conversation, peer support, and collaboration between services and communities.
One parent shared her family’s journey caring for her son with severe complex autism, describing the exhaustion, isolation, and resilience that so many parents experience. Her initiative, L of a Bake Café, has since become a welcoming space for families to meet, share experiences, and support one another.
Other contributors, including Inner Light Wellbeing, Unite Club, and Rise North East, echoed the importance of partnership and community connection in providing effective, person-centred support.
Key themes emerging from the roadshow included:
- The value of person-centred, community-led approaches
- The importance of peer support and community spaces
- The power of collaboration across statutory and voluntary sectors
- The need for continued investment in the VCSE sector to sustain vital work
Turning Awareness into Action: Conflict Resolution and Child-on-Parent Violence Support
Following insights gathered from the roadshow, Tony MacDonald, NCVA Key Worker, developed and delivered a ten-week Conflict Resolution course to support parents and carers experiencing violent or challenging behaviour from their children.
Drawing on his extensive background in training and de-escalation, Tony provided practical tools, emotional support, and a safe environment for open discussion. Parents learned how to recognise triggers, de-escalate volatile situations, and rebuild confidence through connection and understanding.
Delivered at L of a Bake Café, the course became a lifeline for many families. One participant described the experience as “invaluable,” saying that meeting others in similar situations “felt like taking off a heavy coat.”
This deeply moving community-led work was recently featured by BBC News North East and Cumbria, who attended and filmed one of the sessions, capturing the courage, honesty, and solidarity of local families working together to make change.
Community-Led Solutions in Action
NCVA are incredibly proud to have played a role in enabling Tony and the participating families to share their experiences, skills, and strength with others. The BBC coverage is a testament to what can happen when communities are trusted, empowered, and supported to lead the way.
This recognition highlights the power of collaboration, the importance of compassion, and the difference the voluntary sector makes every day across Northumberland.
To read the BBC article, visit:
Northumberland parents learn self defence against their children – BBC News