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Parent Carer Forums

Parent Carer Forums bring parent carers together to improve services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), aged from birth and 25 years. They seek the views of parent carers to better understand their needs and the challenges they face.  With a collective voice, parents can then help to shape the education, social care and health services provided for their children within their local area by working with the local authority.

There are four Parent Carer Forums operating independently within Milton Keynes, Luton, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough.

If you are the parent of a child or young person with a disability or additional need, and you would like to get involved, please contact your local forum using the links below:

  • Central Bedfordshire: Special Needs Action Panel  (SNAP PCF)

SNAP Parent Carer Forum (Special Needs Action Panel) is a Parent Participation Forum enabling parent carers to participate in developing and influencing local services. They work with service providers, individuals and organisations to bring a real-life perspective and experience to the planning and development of the services families use. They focus on helping to raise the standard of Social Care, Education and Health Services within Central Bedfordshire, to ensure that these services are provided in a way that meets the needs of all disabled children and their families locally.

To become a member of SNAP PCF you must be a parent of a child or young person with SEND aged 0-25 and live in Central Bedfordshire. Fill out a SNAP Membership Form to join.

http://www.snappcf.org.uk/

Supporting your Neurodiverse child / young person is a free downloadable digital booklet written for parents, by parents. It contains a wide range of information and advice on where to get help on a range of issues, including sleep, sensory needs, dysregulated behaviour, struggles in school, dietary and day to day life along with many others. Please follow: https://www.snappcf.org.uk/supporting-your-neurodiverse-child/

  • Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum

Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum (BBPCF) works alongside Bedford Borough Council (BBC) and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) as a strategic partner and critical friend. The Forum has built strong working relationships and has a trusted role as parent carers of children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 in Bedford Borough. They are experts by experience and as such, have a unique understanding of how challenging life can be raising a child or young person with SEND. 

Membership is open to any family members or carers of any child or young adult with special educational needs or a disability, up to the age of 25 years and who live in or access services in Bedford Borough.  You do not have to have a diagnosis to become a member, please complete their membership form here.

Home | Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum (bbpcf.co.uk)

Supporting your Neurodiverse child / young person is a free downloadable digital booklet written for parents, by parents. It contains a wide range of information and advice on where to get help on a range of issues, including sleep, sensory needs, dysregulated behaviour, struggles in school, dietary and day to day life along with many others. Please follow: https://www.bbpcf.co.uk/reports

  • Luton: Empowering Parents, Influencing Change 

EPIC (Empowering Parents, Influencing Change) Luton is the official Parent Carer Forum for the Luton Borough. They are a voluntary and independent group of Luton Parents and Carers whose purpose is to become the bridge between services and families and a collective voice representing all members and all disabilities.

Their aim is to empower parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with additional needs/ special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) within the Luton Borough to ensure services in the area meet the needs of children and young people and their families.

Home (epiclutonpcf.org)

Understand Autism Spectrum is a link to an information video about autism spectrum disorder. It was created by a partnership between the University of Leicester, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, and was funded by Carlton Hayes Charity. The material can be accessed on most devices, including phones and tablets and is available in a number of different languages, including Urdu / Hindi, Punjabi, Gurjurati and Benjali. 

  • Milton Keynes: Parents and Carers Alliance 

PACA is an independent forum for parent carers of children and young people with disabilities or additional needs who live in the city of Milton Keynes.

They share their experiences with decision makers to bring about real change to develop local services and to make lives better for families. They gather your opinions in response to proposals e.g. consultations and surveys.

Join their mailing list to receive regular news and updates. Have your say at meetings and local events. Become a mystery shopper. Help them with surveys and questionnaires.

PACA MK | An independent voice influencing change by representing what matters to SEND families in MK

Supporting your Neurodiverse child / young person is a free downloadable digital booklet written for parents, by parents. It contains a wide range of information and advice on where to get help on a range of issues, including sleep, sensory needs, dysregulated behaviour, struggles in school, dietary and day to day life along with many others. Please follow: Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child - PACA MK