Last month your new WPCF Steering Group (Berni, Hazel & Iona) set out our immediate priorities. These included updating our constitution. A working party was created and opened up to WPCF members and any Worcestershire parent carers that wanted to be involved. 10 parent carers took up the challenge and enthusistically contributed their expertise in governance, law and lived experience. It was a very productive 2 hours and we are enormously grateful to everyone that attended.
Following on from that work, the co-produced constitution was formally adoped by the WPCF Steering Group on Monday 15th April 2024. Critically we have formally agreed our aims and objectives, as:
- To be the strategic, consultative, and collaborative body within Worcestershire representing families of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities, and providing a liaison point for Statutory and Voluntary Agencies within Worcestershire.
- To work co-operatively and coproduce with local service providers and commissioners to enhance and develop the range and quality of services provided for all children and young people aged 0-25 in Worcestershire with special educational needs and disabilities.
- To promote and facilitate constructive but challenging dialogues between parent carers, parents’ groups, statutory service providers including the local authority, health providers and professional bodies working in education, health, and social care within Worcestershire.
- To amplify the collective voice, opinion and experiences of all Worcestershire parent carers supporting children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
- To consult with, inform, influence and advocate on behalf of our collective membership to be an independent, parent carer-led forum that determines and acts upon the priorities of its members.
- To support and raise awareness of local and national campaign groups, and activities that align with our broader aims and objectives.
- To collaborate with neighbouring, regional, and national parent carer forums to share best practice and further our broader aims and objectives.
- To undertake a range of activities with an aim to ensure that those charged with statutory responsibilities meet the needs of Worcestershire’s children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities; which enable them to maximise their quality of life, promote their inclusion in their local communities, and to help and support them to reach their full potential.
