Noa's Place · SEND & community
Launching Noa's Place: building a community movement for SEND families
How we helped Calderdale's first sensory-first community hub secure BBC coverage, over 2,000 supporters, and more than £20,000 in funding within three months.
Client overview
Noa's Place is a newly established, community-led charity founded by Josh and Mattea Barnes. After navigating a fragmented Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system with their son, Noa, who struggled with complex sensory needs, the Barnes family envisioned a solution. Their goal was to build Calderdale's first 5,000 sq ft inclusive, sensory-first community hub in Halifax, providing sensory rooms, an inclusive indoor playground, and a community café.
The challenge
Despite the staggering need, with over 1.7 million children in England having identified SEND needs and 90% of families waiting beyond the 13-week target for autism assessments, families often remain unseen and isolated. Josh and Mattea knew that to make Noa's Place a reality and launch their £132,000 to £214,000 capital appeal, they needed to prove undeniable community demand. They needed a launch campaign that would amplify their story, attract local families, and capture the attention of major funders and the media.
Our approach
Video production: authentic storytelling
We knew that the heart of Noa's Place was the family's lived experience. We recorded and produced emotionally resonant video content that told Josh and Mattea's story. The videos highlighted the reality of their journey, including Noa's heartbreaking seven-day hospital stay due to sensory issues with food textures and the profound loneliness the family felt when told to simply "wait" for a diagnosis. By putting a human face to the failing SEND system, we created highly shareable content that immediately connected with other families facing similar crises.
Accessible and interactive web design
We designed and launched an interactive website (www.noasplace.org.uk) that served as the digital home for the campaign. Keeping the charity's core values (Kindness, Belonging, Listening, Calm, and Growth) at the forefront, we ensured the site was fully accessible. It was optimised not just to share their vision, but to capture individual donations, host the case for support, and allow families to seamlessly sign up for the community Family Forum.
Targeted press releases and media relations
To generate immediate regional authority, we drafted and distributed press releases framing Noa's Place as a crucial, community-led solution to a well-documented national crisis. We pitched the story to top-tier regional broadcasters and publications, focusing on the urgent need for early, holistic support before families reach a breaking point.
Results
- Broadcast and print media coverage: our PR efforts secured a dedicated feature on BBC Look North on 15 September 2025, alongside widespread coverage in the Yorkshire Post, Halifax Courier, and Yorkshire Live.
- Explosive community growth: within just four days of launching the vision online, over 500 people, including parents, doctors, and headteachers, signed up to support the project.
- Over 2,000 supporters in two months: by the end of our initial two-month marketing push, we had successfully helped Noa's Place build a backing of over 2,000 community supporters.
- Over £20,000 in funding in three months: with the help of our work, Noa's Place secured more than £20,000 in funding within just three months, turning campaign momentum into real financial backing for their capital appeal.
Campaign films
Founders video
BBC regional news story
Charity announcement video
Conclusion
By combining accessible digital design with powerful video storytelling and strategic PR, we helped Noa's Place lay a robust foundation for their Year 1 fundraising targets. The overwhelming momentum proved to grant-makers and corporate partners that Noa's Place isn't just a good idea. It is an urgently needed lifeline for Calderdale, backed by a community ready for change and over £20,000 in funding secured within three months.