Efforts to "empower" parents have been boosted thanks to votes from Norwich Evening News readers.

The Norfolk SEN Network, based in Hellesdon, was named the Evening News 2023 charity of the year.

The charity aims to help parents of children aged 16 to 25 with special educational needs (SEN) to find the right provision to meet their needs.

It was awarded £1,000 by the charitable arm of the Evening News' parent company, The Gannett Foundation, which donated £26,000 to UK charities last year.

The funds are being used to rebuild the charity's website and to fund more training and coffee mornings for parents.

The new website will include an area where parents can access template letters as Norfolk SEN Network encourages parents to be independent in their pursuit of assistance.

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The charity's chairman, Pat Brickley, said “empowering parents” was crucial and that the money “will be brilliant” in supporting this.

Norwich Evening News: Chairman of the Norfolk SEN Network, Pat Brickley, right, at a collection for the charity at the Morrisons supermarket in RiversideChairman of the Norfolk SEN Network, Pat Brickley, right, at a collection for the charity at the Morrisons supermarket in Riverside (Image: Norfolk SEN Network)

Having moved to a new office near the airport earlier this year, Pat added: "Special education is at a crisis point across the country and all our special schools in Norfolk are full.

"The only way to get extra places is by taking cases to tribunal.

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“It’s sad as some of these children are non-verbal and autistic, they would be totally lost in a mainstream school.”

Norwich Evening News: Norfolk SEN Network moved to new offices in Hellesdon earlier this yearNorfolk SEN Network moved to new offices in Hellesdon earlier this year (Image: Norfolk SEN Network)

Norfolk SEN Network has a committee of parents of SEN children and interested professionals which meets six times a year to ensure the charity is meeting its aims.

It offers training for parents as well as a helpline Monday to Friday between 9am and 1pm.

A statement on behalf of the charity said: "Thank you to the readers of Norwich Evening News for nominating Norfolk SEN Network as their charity of the year - we are so grateful for your support."