The new forum will give parents and carers of children and young people in Wolverhampton with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) a stronger say in shaping local services.
The group will work with parents, carers and the SEND Local Area Partnership to ensure services support children and young people with SEND, and that their voices are heard.
Parent carer forums are run by family members of children and young people with SEND and represent the collective voice of parents and carers in strategic discussions with the SEND Local Area Partnership.
In addition to this strategic role, SEND Wolves Parent Voice will also provide a space for sharing experiences and accessing information, helping to strengthen support networks and improve outcomes for families across the city.
SEND Wolves Parent Voice is the successor to Voice4Parents, which supported families in the city for over a decade, and will be officially launched with a special event at Life Springs Church, Clifton Street, Wolverhampton, on Monday 16 March from 10am to 2pm. Everyone is welcome – to find out more, and to book a place, please visit eventbrite.
SEND Wolves Parent Voice is also keen to hear from parents and carers who would like to join the group's steering committee. Email sendwolvespv@gmail.com or pop along to the launch event to find out more.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education said: "Parent carer forums play a vital role in empowering parents to influence decisions, ensuring services meet families' needs, and raising awareness of challenges for children and young people with SEND and their families.
"It's really important that we have a strong parent carer forum to advocate for SEND children and young people and to ensure their families' voices are heard, and the SEND Local Area Partnership is looking forward to working closely with SEND Wolves Parent Voice to help shape the best possible services for every child and young person in our city who has additional needs."
The SEND Local Area Partnership comprises the council, NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service, Wolverhampton Voluntary Community Action, the HY5! Youth Forum and schools.
