A new bid to help mothers who have children with special needs has been launched by an independent publisher – inspired by one of its journalists.

DC Thomson has announced the launch of a new podcast called The SEN Mums’ Career Club, which aims to help working mothers aiming to balance careers while parenting children who need significantly heightened care.

The podcast is hosted by the publisher’s head of audience development and mother-of-three Leisa Millar, pictured.

Leisa’s eldest daughter Beatrix, six, has a rare genetic condition called Kabuki Syndrome which affects her physical and cognitive faculties.

Leisa said: “The SEN Mums’ Career Club is an inclusive space for women like me to come together and discuss work and ambition through our unique lens of special needs parenting.

“We’re actually a sizeable group. We’re just largely invisible.

“Most women worry about how raising a family will hurt their career – is it little wonder that one raising a child with significantly heightened care needs might choose not to publicly shout about that fact?

“I occasionally meet or virtually stumble across brilliant women who have both impressive careers and children with SEN.

“It’s difficult to put into words how much it means to me when this happens.”