Are you a parent carer in Hartcliffe or Withywood of a child or young person who may need more support with special educational needs?

Join Bristol Parent Carers for a relaxed and friendly discussion on Tuesday 15th September between 9.15-10.45am at The Gatehouse Centre in Hartcliffe.

This is an opportunity for you to share your experiences, the challenges you face, and the support you'd like to see for families in Hartcliffe and Withywood. Our in person sessions are a great way to connect with other parent carers in a welcoming space, learn more about local services, and help shape future activities in your community.

Places are free and refreshments will be provided for everyone attending. All views are welcome.

In this session we will explore the following questions:

As a parent of a child with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND), what are your biggest challenges as a family in your local area?

What are the main reasons it is difficult for your family to access SEND support locally?

What changes would you like to see in local SEND support services that would make you want to use them?

What would you like to see locally that would make you and your family feel more connected, informed and empowered?

Your voice matters and can shape the support available for families like yours – help us make sure it’s heard. As a thank you for attending and sharing your experiences, we will send you a £10 voucher.

Bristol Parent Carers engage with thousands of parent carers every year through our peer support, practitioner-led sessions and our annual SEND event.

The feedback we hear the most is that parent carers are not listened to early enough. We know there are many reasons for this, such as school capacity, budgets, lack of knowledge and understanding of lived experience.

The impact on families is huge, causing financial issues, an increase in health conditions for parent carers and the general wellbeing of the whole family.

These experiences are exaggerated for parent carers from under-represented groups, particularly parent carers from areas of high deprivation, a Global Majority background, and Gypsy Roma and Traveller groups.

If you cannot make this session but would still like to share your views, please complete this short survey here: HARTCLIFFE & WITHYWOOD: EARLY LISTENING, STRONGER OUTCOMES – Fill out form

*Please note, to attend this session you must live in Hartcliffe or Withywood, or your child must attend a school in the Hartcliffe and Withywood area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.

Description supplied by the event organiser.