A father of three has created a new app that could revolutionise the future for both SEND families and UK organisations working to support them.
Thirty-eight-year-old Colin Jones, from Warrington, has shared how he and his wife were left to face a “cold and faceless” system alone after his eldest son, Coby, who has Down’s Syndrome and autism, was born.
Determined to prevent other parents and carers from experiencing the same struggles, he created the UK SEND Compass, a free online hub that connects families with vital services and resources.
In his interview with Naidex, Colin explains how the app could become the missing piece of the jigsaw, helping to mend a fragmented system and build a bridge between families and support organisations across the SEND landscape.
What inspired you to launch UK SEND Compass?
The inspiration behind The UK SEND Compass can be summed up in one word: Coby.
When my son Coby was born, our world was filled with so much love, but very quickly, it was also filled with a terrifying amount of fear. As a family, we were suddenly thrust into the dark, tangled maze of the UK’s SEND system.
My wife and I faced years of gruelling, isolating battles, crying tears of sheer exhaustion over kitchen tables littered with endless paperwork, trying to fight a system that felt completely cold and faceless.
I remember looking at my boy one night, seeing his innocence and his beautiful potential, and feeling a fire light up inside me. I wanted better for my son and for my family.
The UK SEND Compass started with only my boy in mind. But as I began pouring my heart into creating it, I looked around and saw the heartbreaking truth: there are thousands of mums, dads, and carers sitting at their own kitchen tables tonight, drowning in that exact same maze. They are exhausted, they are terrified, and they are feeling completely invisible.
That is the exact moment my mission changed. What began as a lifeline for Coby became a sacred duty to the entire SEND community. I didn't have tech training, but I had a father's love, and that proved more powerful than any code.
How does the app work and what are its key features?
At first glance, The UK SEND Compass functions as a highly specialised, SEND-only directory. This is the tip of the iceberg. It also gives users instant, localised access to grassroots organisations, local and national charities, SEND professionals, and critical government help.
However, what makes us stand out far more than any other platform is that we are an all-in-one daily survival and communication toolkit. The app operates through several revolutionary, proprietary features designed to bring peace of mind, communication, and structure to the SEND community:
The Encrypted SEND Passport: This is our flagship feature. It allows families to create a deeply detailed profile outlining the exact, specific needs of the person they are caring for. To protect sensitive data, each passport is fully encrypted and generates a unique QR code. You hold the keys - you must explicitly authorise access every single time a professional, doctor, hospital, or school wants to view it, putting control back into the hands of families.
COBIA (Customizable AAC Device): Named in honour of my son, COBIA is a fully customisable Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tool built directly into the app, helping non-verbal or communication-limited individuals express their needs effectively.
The Ultimate Sensory Toolkit: We provide instant access to vital therapeutic tools, including colour therapy, visual timers, and guided breathing exercises to help manage sensory overload in real-time.
Communication & Awareness Hub: The app includes dedicated Makaton and British Sign Language (BSL) resources, alongside a deep educational database breaking down over 124 distinct disabilities to foster true understanding and awareness.
Sensory Logs & Daily Diaries: Users can track behaviours, triggers, and daily triumphs, creating a clear, evidence-based history of a child's or individual's day-to-day well-being.
The Intelligent Appointment Feature: This tool doesn’t just record the dates of meetings and medical appointments; it takes minutes during the meeting itself, automatically generating a downloadable PDF summary of the data and discussion points so families never miss crucial details.
Situation & Routine Guides: Step-by-step visual and text guides explicitly designed to help navigate highly stressful transitions, public outings, and daily routines.
Who benefits from using the app?
The UK SEND Compass was built to unite and support the entire ecosystem surrounding a person with additional needs: parents and carers, individuals with SEND, schools, medical professionals, local authorities and businesses.
Ultimately, anyone who touches the SEND community benefits from the app because it replaces a broken, fragmented system with a single, deeply compassionate digital home.
Why do you think there is so little support out there for SEND families? And what gap did you see in the system that no one else was filling?
There is a massive misconception when it comes to the SEND landscape. The truth is, it’s not that there isn’t support out there – there are some brilliant initiatives and local charities doing phenomenal work. The real crisis is that this support is completely scattered across a broken, fragmented jigsaw puzzle.
Even if you are highly tech-savvy and incredibly clever, the system is so disorganised that you will still struggle to find what you need. There could be a tiny, grassroots charity right down the road from you that holds the exact lifeline your child needs, but you will never know they exist because they don't have the marketing budget to be found.
That is the exact gap I saw, I didn't want to just create another standalone service; I wanted to build the bridge. The UK SEND Compass isn’t just helping families find providers; we are helping the providers be found.
But what truly sets us apart is that we are not just a directory – the platform integrates essential tools, as mentioned earlier.
In addition, my core goal is that as the UK SEND Compass grows and begins to generate a profit, a dedicated portion of those returns will be pumped straight back into the SEND community. I want to fund the small, grassroots charities and local support groups that kept us afloat, ensuring they have the resources to grow and keep providing their vital services.
What impact has the app had on families so far?
The impact of The UK SEND Compass has been a massive eye-opener. In just our first 30 days of launch, we have welcomed over 8,000 users to the platform.
This incredible momentum has already captured major headlines in national and local news publications. On top of that, we have proudly won our very first accolade: the Global Recognition Award.
Beyond the numbers and the media recognition, it’s the human connection that has been the most overwhelming. My inbox has been flooded with emails from parents and carers from across the SEND community, simply saying "thank you." To hear from a parent who finally feels seen, or a carer who managed to find a local resource in seconds that they had been hunting for years, is incredibly emotional for me and my family.
The impact is also rippling out into the sector itself. We are now experiencing a shift where local charities, Community Interest Companies, and non-profits are actively reaching out to us, asking how they can become a part of the UK SEND Compass family.
What are your short- and long-term goals for UK SEND Compass?
In the short term, our focus is all about building bridges, gaining trust, and expanding our network.
I am actively looking to connect with like-minded pioneers, create vital new contacts, and find passionate individuals and organisations who want to support and join my vision. I want The UK SEND Compass to become universally recognised as a safe haven and a true digital lighthouse for everyone stepping into this world.
Looking to the long term, I want to build an unstoppable ecosystem by partnering with as many SEND professionals, local authorities, schools, and businesses as humanly possible. I want a seamless, interconnected network across the entire UK where absolutely everyone is getting the help, the visibility, and the respect they deserve.
My biggest dream is for this platform to be a definitive part of the solution, not another question or another problem.
Finally, how can families and others in the SEND community access the app?
Unlike traditional mobile apps, UK SEND Compass is not hosted on commercial app stores. This deliberate design choice ensures two major benefits for our community:
Zero Ad Bombardment: We believe families navigating the SEND system deserve a calm, distraction-free environment.
Universal Access on Any Device: There is no need to download storage-heavy files or run constant updates. Because the platform is built entirely for the web, it is instantly accessible to anyone, on any device.
To access our full suite of accessible tools, interactive directories, and the secure Digital Passport Hub, simply open your browser and visit: uk-send-compass.com