February 2026

This April, Nick Beaumont will be lacing up his running shoes to take on the iconic London Marathon, all in support of IPSEA. Nick and his partner Lyndsey are passionate advocates for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and aim to raise as much as possible to help families get the vital advice and support they need. 

Nick’s motivation for this challenge stems from a personal experience with his daughter, Amelia. Amelia was non-verbal at the time she started school, and although she had an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan that said she must receive 1-2-1 support and speech and language therapy, this support was not provided for her. Amelia left mainstream education, and a place couldn’t be found for her in a special school.  

“We immediately started scrolling the internet for advice and came across the IPSEA website. We contacted the helpline and were immediately given the support we required. We were given a wealth of information including free legal guides and letter templates. We used the letter templates to send to our local authority to get Amelia the education she deserves and is entitled to by law.”

With the advice that Nick and Lyndsey were provided, they were able to find an independent school that was suitable for Amelia. Amelia has now been at her school for approximately six months and is thriving.

Although Nick is a keen runner, the London Marathon presents a significant personal challenge for him. He is determined to complete it so that other families, children and young people can receive the support they require. Nick discovered his love of running during the COVID-19 pandemic and has never looked back. Nick often enjoys running with his daughter, which can be anything from a fun run in their local area to travelling the world participating in half marathon races with Amelia in her specialist wheelchair.

“The support given by the IPSEA team at a time of huge stress and importance will never be forgotten and we are hoping to raise awareness and support for IPSEA wherever possible.”

Their fundraising efforts will raise vital funds towards supporting other families with our free, independent advice and support as they navigate the SEND system. All children and young people with SEND have a right to an education that meets their individual needs. However, many tens of thousands of children do not get the support that they are legally entitled to. With supporters like Nick and Lyndsey on board, IPSEA aims to change that and ensure the law is upheld.

Madeleine Cassidy, Chief Executive of IPSEA says, “We are incredibly grateful to Nick for taking on this monumental challenge of running the London Marathon for IPSEA. Nick’s commitment and determination show the true power of community in empowering families of children with SEND. The entire IPSEA team is 100% behind Nick and we couldn't be prouder.”

You can cheer Nick on with his training for the London Marathon by donating to his fundraising page.

Support Nick here