The Vilij

The Vilij, an online support community for SEND families in the UK

The Vilij is a subscription-based online community aimed at parents, grandparents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It was founded by Charlie, described as a SEND mum, and Steph, described as a SEND nan, who present the platform as the resource they wished had existed when navigating diagnoses, school meetings and hospital appointments. Membership costs £10 a month, with instant access on joining and the option to cancel at any time from the member account.

The service is organised around five distinct areas, each addressing a different kind of need rather than a single forum.

The Café: peer support without the backstory

The Café is the community space where members can ask questions, vent, share experiences or simply connect with others in similar situations. The platform stresses that users do not have to explain their circumstances from scratch. Specific Café conversations are set up for grandparents, foster carers, adoptive parents and siblings, and there is a circle dedicated to early concerns for families without a diagnosis yet.

The Expert Hub: education, health, money and future planning

The Expert Hub gathers specialists across education, health, money and legal and financial future planning. The site states that these experts are personally known and vetted and that they understand SEND rather than acting as generic advisers. One of the themes highlighted is future planning, framed around the question of what happens when a parent is no longer there.

The Vilij Hall: stories, interviews and live chats

The Vilij Hall hosts real stories from SEND families, expert interviews and live chats with specialists, alongside what the platform calls tiny wins worth celebrating. It functions as the more editorial and event-oriented side of the membership.

The Wellbeing Centre and The Library

The Wellbeing Centre is presented as support adapted to what a member needs and how much energy they have, with practical ways to move forward through a realistic plan. The Library holds guides, documents and templates intended to save time and stress, including material for EHCP meetings: which questions to ask, what the terminology means and where to turn when unsure. The platform also mentions transition support for children starting a new school and templates for preparing appointments.

Who the membership is designed for

The Vilij states that families join at every stage, from first worries and waiting lists through to adulthood, and that a diagnosis is not required to join. It is open to families of children and young people with any special educational need or disability, not only autism. Grandparents, carers, foster carers, adoptive parents and siblings are explicitly included.

Moderation, anonymity and safeguarding

According to the site, the community is moderated, has clear community guidelines and a simple route to report a concern. Each member uses a nickname so that participation can be anonymous, and the safeguarding policy is published openly. The platform positions these features as the difference between its paid, moderated environment and large free groups.

Company details

The Vilij Limited is registered in England and Wales under company number 16718802, with its registered office at The Meakin Suite, Ravenscliffe, First Avenue, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 8QX. The site also publishes a WhatsApp contact number and an email address, and offers a newsletter subscription.