Young Voices and young people with SEND

Introduction
What does SEND mean?
'SEND' stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Who can take part in this project?
We are for all young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) up to the age of 25 years old who live or study in West Sussex.
People have their own identities and ways to describe themselves, and we respect that. Not all young people who take part in our projects would describe themselves as having 'SEND' (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). For example, some people might use the word 'neurodivergent' to describe themselves. Link to the Brain CharityContinue reading
Introduction
What does SEND mean?
'SEND' stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Who can take part in this project?
We are for all young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) up to the age of 25 years old who live or study in West Sussex.
People have their own identities and ways to describe themselves, and we respect that. Not all young people who take part in our projects would describe themselves as having 'SEND' (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). For example, some people might use the word 'neurodivergent' to describe themselves. Link to the Brain Charity website explainer on neurodiversity ( opens in a new tab)
You do not need to have a diagnosis or Education Health Care Plan to take part.
What about access needs and other ways to take part?
Please contact us if you need any support. We want to remove barriers and are always happy to learn what works and what doesn't.
You don't have to speak or write to have a say
Perhaps you are non-speaking or communicate best through pictures, signing or symbols? We have virtual 'scrap books' and sensory art sessions you might be interested in.
If having a peer 'buddy' would support you to take part in our projects please contact us.
Who do I contact if I need help?
Please email Rachel.Sadler@westsussex.gov.uk
What about parent carers?
The West Sussex Parent Carer Forum can help you with parent carer voice. Link to West Sussex Parent Carer Forum website
Accessibility statement:
If you need this information in an alternative format, please contact us on 0330 222 6678 and rachel.sadler@westsussex.gov.uk. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 0330 222 6678.
We are committed making this website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Details about the general accessibility of the Your Voice Engagement Hub can be found by clicking on the 'Accessibility tab' right at the bottom of the page. Please review our Accessibility Statement (opens in new window).
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us at haveyoursay@westsussex.gov.uk.
Non-accessible documents
Some PDF documents may be inaccessible however alternative accessible formats are provided.
Data Protection/Privacy Notice
The Voice and Participation Team collect personal and special category data the processing of which is necessary to enable us to be compliant with the law (general well-being duties), and for reasons of substantial public interest. The data will be processed in accordance with the 2018 Data Protection Act, the General Data Protection Regulations, and any subsequent data protection legislation. The data we collect be securely stored and kept for period of up to 2 years before being appropriately destroyed. The data we will collect will not be used for any other purpose than that stated above without your prior written consent. West Sussex County Council is registered as Data Controller (Reg. No. Z6413427). For further details and information about our Data Controller, please see our privacy policy. Review our West Sussex County Council Data Privacy Policy (opens in new window).
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What's on this term
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkYoung people with SEND, we need you!
We are Young Voices, the county council’s youth forum for SEND children and young people in West Sussex. We work with services as experts by experiences, making sure young people’s voices are heard. We’d love to welcome some new members to help us with our projects.
Come along to one of our regular fun events to find out more and meet us.
Tuesday 22nd February Lunch, games and chat, Chichester (16 to 25s only)
After school Zoom chat and games (all ages)
Weds 23rd February Bowling, Worthing
Weds 1st March Pizza party, Horsham
Thurs 9th March Bowling, Worthing
Tuesday 21st March Lunch, games and chat, Chichester (16 to 25s only)
After school Zoom chat and games (all ages)
Weds 22nd March Go Karting, Brighton
Plus lots of fun stuff coming up in the Easter holidays including art and craft, sensory play, noodle making and more!
Our hot topics this term
- Autism acceptance and celebrating neurodiversity
- Moving into adulthood- what’s important to you? what would you like to do in your community? what employment and volunteering are you interested in?
- Family hubs- where to find them and what’s on offer
To find out more or book your place at an event email rachel.sadler@westsussex.gov.uk
or find us online Young Voices webpage
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Join in with our quiz!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkTake part in our quiz. Link to our online festive quiz
The quiz is a mix of Christmas fun and ideas for 2023. We hope you enjoy it.
Merry Christmas!
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Lunch and learn workshop for practitioners
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe were scheduled to deliver a 'lunch 'n' learn' workshop for practitioners in December 2022 but sadly we had to cancel. Anyone interested in this workshop can view the slides here download the slides as a PDF
Or join us on January 25th at 12pm by emailing rachel.sadler@westsussex.gov.uk
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Countdown to Christmas!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkOur very own elf has been working on our online advent calendar for 2022 and this time it's truly epic!
This year's calendar celebrates the amazing work of CLAB, Young Voices, CICC and Youth Cabinet; the whole West Sussex youth voice family. Take a look to see what we've all been up to this year. A door opens each day from 1st to 24th December.
Link to our epic advent calendar
If you love a bit of singing and signing why not check out the Makaton Charity's Christmas countdown? Link to Makaton Christmas count down
As a reminder that there's many different ways to have a good Christmas... link to 'autistic not weird' article
link to elf on the shelf article
To look after your wellbeing in the run up to Christmas take a look at the West Sussex Educational Psychology Service's calendar Link to wellbeing advent calendar
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Read Grace's blog for FLARE
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkGrace, Young Voices Youth Ambassador, is part of the FLARE the national SEND youth advisory group to the Department for Education.
In her latest FLARE blog Grace has written about her experience teaching professionals about co-production at the Making Participation Work Practitioners Conference in October. Grace outlines the themes her co-developed and co-delivered workshop explored, mainly around the different types of co-production children and young people are engaged in. She also explains the benefits of listening to children and young people directly for practitioners, and professionals can make it easier for them to share their ideas.
Read the blog to find out more about Grace’s ideal vision of co-production and her top tips for children and young people planning on speaking to professionals!
You can read Grace’s blog on the link below
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Young NCB advisory group
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkSharing this amazing opportunity on behalf of the National Children's Bureau...
The National Children’s Bureau is looking for children and young people aged 11-18 and aged 11-24 for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, to be part of our Young NCB Advisory Group.
What is the Young NCB Advisory Group?
The YNCB Advisory Group is made up of children & young people (11- 24) who get together to help decide and plan what work Young NCB does, including the issues it deals with and the activities and events it organises. Being a member of the Advisory Group is an excellent way of getting your voice heard and representing the views of other YNCB members.
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SEND and Inclusion Youth Board
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCalling all 11 to 25 year olds with SEND !
Help us plan a new SEND and inclusion youth board and find out how you can take part. Interactive activities and fun ways to have your say.
UPDATE change of date- Online open evening Weds 2nd November 4pm until 6pm
or contact rachel.sadler@westsussex.gov.uk
Lunchtime drop in Weds 26th October 12pm until 1.30pm @ Creative Heart community hub and café, Littlehampton. Refreshments provided. No need to book, just pop in and say hello. Parent carers will need to stay on site but can relax in the café once their young person is settled and signed in .
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My Independence, My Health, My Life
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkBarnardo’s West Sussex Health Project: My Independence, My Health, My Life.
FREE online project providing health and life skills workshops for young people aged 14-25.
There are spaces left for Thursday’s activity day (27th of October) and the Health Skills Group starting Thursday the 3rd of Nov!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch using the contact details below
Jack Lloyd (he/him)
Barnardo’s Health Skills Mentor
Email: Jack.Lloyd@barnardos.org.uk
Phone: 07872049000
Tues 9:30am-1pm, Wed 9:30am-5pm, Thu 9:30am-5pm, Fri 9:30am-5pm
Barnados website (opens in new link)
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World Mental Health Day
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkOctober 10th is World Mental Health Day.
Take a look at the links below for resources and support.
West Sussex Single Point of Access (SPoA) for emotional wellbeing and mental health support
Allsorts ( support for LGBT+ young people)
Read some mental health top tips from our very own Youth Ambassadors link to download the pdf
Hear Jay, Youth Ambassador, talk about about how emotional and sensory regulation are linked for Autistic people in a video. YouTube link to emotional regulation video
Family Hubs offering drop-in support
There are 12 Family Hubs across West Sussex with drop-in opening times for families and young people needing support.
Our ‘Find it Out’ offer is available to all young people in the county aged between 11 and 19. We also support young people up to 25 who have additional needs or who have experienced care.
Hubs can also help families with a range of other things, including; finding childcare, parenting, health advice, and help on how to access support to financial, legal or housing advice.
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Half term online workshop with Kids
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkSharing on behalf of Kids
Exciting news!!
You can still join our Collective Get Together on-line via Teams
Date – Friday 28th October 2022
There will be an on-line session in the morning 11am – 12pm and an afternoon session 2pm – 3pm
If you can only join one then that is fine, but please sign up to both if you can make the morning and afternoon.
Below is the invite…
you can scan the QR code which will take you to the link to register or you can click the link here → https://forms.office.com/r/617hmAfQaJ
Hope you can make it!
Best wishes
Heather, Aisia and Tabs
Who's Listening
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Phone 07734000401 Email rachel.sadler@westsussex.gov.uk -
Voice and Participation Team Manager
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Events and sessions calendar
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26 October 2022
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26 October 2022
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02 November 2022
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11 October 2022
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10 October 2022
Requests from services and involving young peoples' voices in your work
Videos
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Click here to play video Hearing the voices of SEND young people in residential settings
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Click here to play video Emotional and sensory regulation Youth Ambassador, Jay, talks about their lived experience of how emotional and sensory regulation are related and gives tips on supporting young people .
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Click here to play video Autistic pupil voice The first in a short series of videos for practitioners exploring pupil voice with one of our Youth Ambassadors
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Click here to play video Introducing Hollie, Participation Assistant
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Click here to play video Autumn crafts -sensory potion bottles
FAQs
- What is the age range?
- Do you work with over 25s?
- Can any young person with SEND take part? Do you have 'eligibility criteria'?
- I'm a parent carer; how do I know my child/young person is in safe hands?
- With everything being online at the moment, what about digital safety?
- Who are the Young Voices forum?
- How will you support my needs, so I can take part?
- What do children and young people get out of taking part?
- What do you do with my comments and outcomes from these projects ? How will taking part make a difference?
- Will you still be offering virtual and online sessions, once Covid restrictions are lifted?
- I can only access face to face, virtual doesn’t work for me. Is it still worth signing up?
- What if I don’t have access to the tech I need to take part?
Tips and tools for practitioners ( documents to download and print)_
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Lunch and Learn Role of Youth Voice workshop slides (29 MB) (pptx)
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Inclusive Youth Voice Tips and Tools v2.pdf (151 KB) (pdf)
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Guest professionals guide to attending Young Voices Zoom meetings (326 KB) (docx)
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practitioner and service guide Young Voices FINAL .docx (116 KB) (docx)
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West Sussex Introduction to Mind of My Own app (2.2 MB) (docx)
National research findings and practice guides
Downloads and printables
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Young Voices leaflet text only version .docx (140 KB) (docx)
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Young Voices and Youth Board easier to read with visuals .docx (46.3 MB) (docx)
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Young Voices intro leaflet PDF with images (1010 KB) (pdf)
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youth board v2.pdf (1.23 MB) (pdf)
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youth board open evening agenda (30.7 KB) (docx)
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An introduction to Young Voices .ppt (6.79 MB) (pptx)
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An introduction to Young Voices for parent carers (8.44 MB) (pptx)
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Information pack for parent carers (1.18 MB) (docx)
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ICAN - Let our children be heard rescource (411 KB) (pdf)
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young voices intro presentation .pptx (6.65 MB) (pptx)
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Pupil voice tips for practitioners .docx (55.5 KB) (docx)
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Manchester trip letter with itinerary and ground rules Word doc (75.6 KB) (docx)
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SEND_Review_consultation_Easy_Read.pdf (2.93 MB) (pdf)
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Flyers for our projects .pptx (1.8 MB) (pptx)
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WSCC CYP Participation Strategy (1.56 MB) (pdf)
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Easy read - Crawley Workshop Requests.docx (181 KB) (docx)
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youth ambassadors online meeting agenda Oct 2022 .docx (215 KB) (docx)
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youth ambassadors meeting agenda Oct 2022.docx (261 KB) (docx)
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SENCO conference mental health hand outs.pdf (2.61 MB) (pdf)
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Manchester conference CYP information sheet 2023.pdf (230 KB) (pdf)