Heartfelt Morpeth protest displays 91 pairs of children’s shoes in national call for SEND action

Heartfelt Morpeth Protest Displays 91 Pairs of Children’s Shoes in National Call for SEND Action

Families in Morpeth united to demand change in the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) system as part of a nationwide protest. On Monday, November 3, the "Every Pair Tells a Story" campaign held 80 simultaneous protests across the UK to highlight the experiences of children with SEND who have been failed by the government.

Parents across Northumberland gathered outside County Hall in Morpeth, displaying 91 pairs of children’s shoes, each representing a personal story. The protesters called on the government to increase funding for SEND schools, provide better training for teachers to support children with additional needs, and shift attitudes toward disabilities in children.

“I’m so proud of how it all came together. The families in Morpeth created something really special — calm, powerful and deeply moving.

Seeing parents and carers come together in solidarity like this is exactly what Every Pair Tells a Story was meant to represent. It is families finding strength in one another and making sure their children’s voices are finally seen and heard.”

— Aimee Bradley, founder of The SEND Sanctuary and mother of three children with SEND

Rachel Curtis, a local mother and former teacher, led the Morpeth event. She now runs Northern Lights Northumberland, a community group that organizes regular trips and activities for SEND children during school holidays.

Summary: The Morpeth protest powerfully highlighted the urgent need for better funding, training, and awareness in the SEND system through a moving display of children's shoes and united family voices.

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Northumberland Gazette Northumberland Gazette — 2025-11-05

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