FAQs

What is the age range? 

Projects where young people can submit their ideas are open to young people of school age up to age 25. We recognise that for younger children and those with communication needs, they may need considerable parental support to take part.

Our online sessions are suitable for 11 to 25 year olds, with young people placed into smaller groups by age where appropriate .

Some of our projects are aimed at young adults aged 16 to 25s. We call these our 'youth ambassadors' projects. 

Young people must live and/or study in West Sussex, and have an additional need. 

Young people do not need to have an EHCP, be on their school/college’s SEND register or have a diagnosis to take part. 

If you are not sure whether our projects are something you feel is for you, then please do contact us for an informal chat. 

Young people with a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment, are particularly under-represented in our current membership, and we would especially like to hear from you if you have lived experience in this area. 

If you are interested in your child/young person joining the forum please email lauren.boal@westsussex.gov.uk or sign up online 

The top thing young people have said they really value about taking part in our projects is the boost it gives to their confidence. We focus on supporting young people’s employability and life skills through regular   skills building  such as giving a good presentation, making a good first impression, working in a team and being assertive. There is also a social side to taking part. We hold half termly social sessions for young people taking part in our projects; a chance to meet new people, and socialise in a supported way . Some young people have made lasting friendships and connections with others. We recognise young people’s contributions and achievements with certificates and gift vouchers. Young people are also offered the opportunity to work towards a Youth Achievement Award, and some have even used our projects as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.  

Our  monthly meetings currently take place over Zoom. We use visual ways to record our ideas and support understanding, and alternative methods of communication are very welcome at our meetings. 

We do ask you to let us know if you have any particular communication needs when you sign up for sessions or events, so that we can make sure you are included fully. 

Using video calls has pros and cons for inclusion and accessibility, and we are still getting used to this, picking up tips along the way, so please do help us to learn what works for you.

Not all young people find group discussions accessible or enjoyable. Some prefer to communicate with us by email, text or phone calls, rather than joining group calls. This is something we are always happy to arrange, and time is set aside time to do this one to one support if needed. 

There are also ways you can take part that don’t require verbal communication or literacy skills, such as online scrap books. These ways of taking part often need support from parent carers, and this is hugely appreciated, as we know how busy family life can be! Please do contact us for support to access these if needed. 

We have hybrid meetings every fortnight on Thursday. The in person element is currently at Chichester County Hall and the online option uses Zoom. 

We know that West Sussex is a very big county and we don't want distance to be a barrier to taking part. If you want to take part but distance is an issue, please get in touch as there are many ways to take part.  

We also offer in person social and activity days, usually in school holidays . Many of our members find this is a good way to get to know us and start taking part in a relaxed way. 

It is important that you understand how the information you give us is used. Please see our privacy statement for details on how we process personal information. Your ideas, comments and work will be shared within West Sussex County Council, and may be shared with other relevant public bodies such as the NHS or other local authorities to improve services. We will never use your name, photos or any other personal details that could identify you, unless you give us your express consent. 

What young people tell us is heard by the Children First Board and the SEND and Inclusion Forum. These are all boards that focus on improving the services that children and young people use. It really does make a difference for decision makers to hear from real young people about their lives, experiences, hopes and dreams. We are always striving to be person-centred, and to do this we need to give young people a seat at the table. 

In a more practical, visible way, we look for small changes that can make a big difference by asking young people what matters to them.  

We ask all services we work with to give us clear feedback on what they will do with the information young people have given them, and what changes we can expect to see as a result of our input.

Most of our online workshops and meetings work best on a tablet, PC or laptop.

 We appreciate that for many families, a smart phone may be the only shared device in the household, and not everyone has internet access. 

If this is a barrier to you taking part, please contact us. There are organisations that may be able help, and we are happy to pass on their details to you.

We have risk assessments and procedures in place to ensure that this is done safely. 

Any social media groups are monitored by staff, and are closed groups, which means that they are private and invitation only. 

Any inappropriate activity, including bullying, will not be tolerated. No personal details will be shared, and young people are always asked to take part using their first name only. 

Young people have told us that Zoom is their preferred and more familiar platform for group chats and calls. 

These meetings are all pre-scheduled and no ‘ad-hoc’ video calls are able to take place between members of the group and/or staff. 

Young people’s contact details to invite them to online events and calls are held securely. 

Young people are always asked to register ahead of these online events and meetings, and we will never admit someone until we know who they are.