Pictured at the launch of SEND Wolves Forum on Monday are Sue Brunton, Admin Secretary; Tessina Fernandes, Member; Stacey Wooldridge, Co-Chair; Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education; Natalie Brewer, Membership Secretary; Janet Grant, Member; and Emma Tweddle, Vice Chair
SEND Wolves Forum has officially launched following a well attended event at Life Springs Church this week.
The new parent carer forum will give parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) in Wolverhampton a stronger voice in shaping local services.
Run by family members of children and young people with SEND, the forum will represent parents and carers in strategic discussions with the SEND Local Area Partnership, ensuring that services reflect the needs and experiences of local families.
Alongside this, SEND Wolves Forum will also provide space for families to share experiences, access information, and strengthen their support networks.
Co-chair Stacey Wooldridge said: “SEND Wolves Forum was born out of a simple but powerful idea that families and carers should have a strong voice in shaping the services, policies, and support that affect their children and young people with additional needs and disabilities.
“Caring for a child or young person with extra challenges brings moments of joy and pride, but also times of uncertainty, isolation, and frustration, and that’s why we’re here – to listen, to connect, and to amplify those voices that way too often go unheard.
“The recent launch of the forum marks a truly special milestone by which we come together as parents, carers, professionals, and partners to celebrate the start of something meaningful; a forum built by parent carers, for parent carers.”
Fellow co-chair Trishna Burke-Braham added: “Our goal is simple but vital: To ensure that the voices of parent carers are not just heard but are at the heart of every decision that affects our lives.
“Our aim is to create a safe space for all. Whether you’re in the early years of your family’s journey, or a veteran of the special needs minefields, we’re here to listen, to build a strong community of togetherness, to be a voice for our families, and to work together with our local service providers so that our children and young people get the best of what’s available to them.
“Together, we can create a future where families are listened to, included, and respected at every level of decision making.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, added: “Parent carer forums play a vital role in empowering parents to influence decisions, ensuring services meet families’ needs, and raising awareness of the challenges faced by 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 the SEND Local Area Partnership looks forward to working closely with SEND Wolves Forum to help shape the best possible services across our city.”
SEND Wolves Forum is now encouraging parents and carers to get involved – including those interested in joining the forum’s steering committee. To find out more, visit SEND Wolves Forum or email info@sendwolvesforum.org.