What is SEND Voices RBWM?
An independent group of parent carers of children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND. SVRBWM is the recognised voice of SEND families in RBWM, working strategically with the Local Authority, education, health, and social care.
What does SEND Voices RBWM do?
1. Represents parent carers in strategic decision‑making
They attend regular meetings with:
• RBWM Council
• Education leaders
• Health services
• Social care teams
Their role is to ensure that real lived experience shapes SEND policies, strategies, and services.
They also contribute to borough‑wide SEND boards and strategy groups, including work on:
• Co‑production and communication
• Inclusion in mainstream schools
• Preparation for adulthood
• Reducing exclusions
2. Collects the views of local families
They gather feedback through:
• Surveys
• Coffee mornings
• Events
• Consultations (e.g., SEND Reform consultations)
This ensures that decisions are based on collective experiences, not just individual stories.
3. Supports co‑production
SEND Voices RBWM works alongside professionals from the start of projects, not just at the end.
They help design and review:
• SEND strategies
• EHCP processes
• Local Offer improvements
• School inclusion initiatives (e.g., PINS – Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools)
4. Builds community and peer support
They run:
• Coffee mornings
• Information sessions
• Opportunities for parent carers to meet, share experiences, and learn about services
They also have a growing team of parent carers who help share information with schools and feed back issues from the community.
5. Provides trained parent representatives
The forum has:
• A steering committee
• A team of parent carer representatives who attend strategic meetings
These reps bring both lived experience and professional skills (e.g., law, customer service, design, engineering) to influence local SEND work.
Why is this work important?
SEND Voices RBWM ensures that:
• Families’ voices are heard at every level
• Services are shaped around real needs
• Co‑production is embedded in RBWM’s SEND system
• The Local Authority meets its duty to involve parent carers
They are essentially the bridge between SEND families and decision‑makers.