As part of Hertfordshire County Council’s commitment to improve the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), we are putting young people and families with lived experience at the heart of driving change.
Voices of Hertfordshire is the collective name for children and young people in Hertfordshire who are involved in shaping and assuring the quality of services for those with special educational needs and disabilities. All research, comments and feedback from these children and young people feeds directly into the work of the partnership of organisations committed to improving provision for young people with SEND in Hertfordshire.
Services for Young People (SfYP) already provides youth work projects exclusively for young people with SEND and inclusive youth councils and participation groups across the county. In addition to these, SfYP is now setting up youth councils specifically for young people with SEND aged 11-25.
These new youth councils will give young people the opportunity to:
- Identify, explore and discuss issues important to them, developing local projects to make a difference in their communities
- Work with Hertfordshire County Council Commissioners to bring about changes in services and opportunities for young people with SEND in Hertfordshire
- Visit organisations that provide services to young people with SEND to review the services and give feedback on how they can be improved
- Hear back from the commissioners and organisations about what affect their input has had
- Participate in regional events through the Voice of the East to meet with other young people and develop their ideas and views on social issues
If you know or work with a young person with SEND who would like to get involved, please use the SfYP referral form or contact your local SfYP Team.
