


Having experienced many difficulties with the SEND system I was eager to become involved with the Parent Carer Forum as a way to try to influence change locally.
I am currently a member of the steering group and attend the EHCP task and finish group.

I joined the parent Carer forum initially to keep me informed on what was happening in Dudley Send services. But also to help me to meet more parent carers as our lives can be quite isolating.
Getting together with other parent carers at our Steering group meetings is informative but also a lot of fun. You come away after hearing latest news and having a giggle feeling like we do matter and someone is listening.
I attend the EHCP task and finish group with other parents and although it can be frustrating because of the speed of progress it is really useful to hear what is happening within the SEN team.
I was invited to sit on the SEND Improvement Board and give a parents point of view on what’s happening or not.

I joined the Parent Carer Forum over 4 years ago with the hope of making it easier for others travelling a similar route by improving understanding of the parent carer and child’s view point and to hopefully improve and simplify the routes to getting and maintaining the help and support and education our children need and are entitled to. We have a long way to go, but I feel I’m playing a small part in hopefully improving things going forward.
I sit on the Forum Steering Group as well as the EHC (Educational, Health and Care Plan) subgroup and recently I have been representing Dudley at the Regional Parent Carer Forum also.

Nicki Burrows and Donna Roberts
Nicki and Donna are excited to be working together along with parent carer groups across Dudley borough and we are very keen to build on the excellent work that is already happening across the borough. We are committed to ensuring that parent carer voices are heard to influence decisions and improve changes to service delivery and redesign.
Dudley CVS have recently been awarded the contact a family contract to work with parent carers and facilitate the development of the Dudley parent carer forum 2014/2015. Working together for change is an independent parent carer forum that is endorsed by DMBC and working closely with the Clinical Commissioning Group. We are very keen to build on the excellent work that is already happening across the borough.
The independent forum is supported by staff from DCVS who will host and facilitate the project for 2014/15 with a view to the forum being fully constituted and a stand alone organisation by 2015/16. Working together for change is endorsed by DMBC and works closely with clinical commissioning group who are supporting the development of the forum by contributing staff time and resources.