Special needs travel firm inspired by Worcestershire daughter

A mum has helped create a travel agents for families whose children have special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

Em Burnip, from Stourport, Worcestershire, is a travel counsellor and a mother to a daughter with special needs, including severe anxiety.

Along with her friend Bex Hamilton, the pair have co-launched the firm Calm Travel Edit – to help families plan “low‑overwhelm” holidays.

“I set out to solve a problem for ourselves but then realised there were thousands and thousands of families that are like ours,” explained Burnip.

“The feedback has been brilliant. We only started a couple months ago so we are figuring our way around stuff.”

Discussing her own family’s struggles, she said: “For us, it’s finding a space that is calm and safe from her perspective. And it works with her nervous system.

“Obviously, these very busy places with kids clubs, they’re loud, noisy and have lots and lots of people. It just doesn’t work.

“Most of these places that are advertising family holidays are like that so it kind of stops us from going on holiday as a family.”