Advice and support (primary)
Who to talk to, and what support is available for young people in the SEND community.
Wiltshire has a wide range of great independent bodies and council funded programmes designed to help in a range of life situations. If you are not finding the guidance you require from the below services we would love to hear about it at localoffer@wiltshire.gov.uk, we may be able to help signpost you or your feedback might help us develop improvements for everyone.
Advocacy services are designed to give you impartial support in a range of situations. This may be to help formalise a child or young persons voice in a discussion or decision-making process. They are also a key aspect of mediation and legal proceedings when required.
For further details please visit: Advocacy services.
Citizens Advice provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities, for example consumer rights or applying for benefits.
For further details please visit: Citizens Advice.
The WPCC provides a specialist consultation and participation service that enables parents and carers to voice their opinions about the services and support that their families receive. They also run a service called SENDIS which helps signpost users to the right information.
For further details please visit: WPCC.
The following document is a summary of WPCC in leaflet form:
WPCC Information Leaflet (OpenDocument text format) [1MB] (opens new window)
Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living (CIL) provide a range of services to support disabled people who live or work in the county. They also provide disability advice, information and training to interested organisations, professionals or individuals.
They are based in centrally-placed, accessible premises in Devizes but are also happy to visit you in your home, at your convenience.
For further details please visit: Wiltshire CIL Homepage.
Wiltshire SENDIASS is the statutory information, support and advice service for Wiltshire, provided by Family Action, a national charity that hosts nine SENDIAS Services. They offer free, independent and impartial information relating to education, health and social care for children and young people (0-25) with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and their families, to empower them to make appropriate and informed choices.
Services include:
- providing impartial and confidential advice and information for children, young people and families on SEND around education, health and care
- offering support with education, health and care plans (EHCP), including annual reviews, informal and formal mediation and tribunals
- supporting you to work with education providers to ensure your child/young person's needs are met
- offering support and advice on transport, exclusions - related to SEND, disability discrimination, elective home education and personal budgets
- support with writing letters and completing forms, and assistance with discussions and meetings with schools, the local authority SEN team and SEND professionals
- support with resolving disagreements helping you to consider and determine the best way forward
- providing information and signposting to support services in your area
For more information please visit:
You can also call the service: 01225 255266
To email the service please use: wiltshire.sendiass@family-action.org.uk
Wiltshire Council provides a range of sessions on parenting across various ages and specialities.
Time Out for Parents
No diagnosis or EHCP required.
Children with Special Needs (TOFP) is for parents and carers of children with additional or special needs aged 3-11 years. TOFP courses are 2 hours per week for 7 sessions and are free of charge. A medical or formal diagnosis is not required for parents and carers to attend. Wiltshire Council are working in partnership with the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council to offer these courses.
For further information and how to book courses please visit:
Autism Parent Programme
SWAPP is a partnership programme between parents and their child's setting or school that aims to build an understanding of autism and the challenges and delights it can present.
The programme aims to empower families and staff who are closely involved in supporting a child or young person with autism.
Sessions cover all aspects of autism including communication, sensory issues and behaviour.
For more information and booking details please visit:
For further parenting programme details please visit: Parenting Programmes.
Barnardo's Healthy Minds Wiltshire
The On Your Mind website has lots of information, practical tips and advice about supporting children and young people's emotional wellbeing. The service is there to help young people aged 5-18 registered with a GP in Wiltshire who are experiencing a range of early mental health difficulties through group work, activities in the community and counselling sessions for those young people who need more intensive support. We are also an all year round service and so our support does not stop in school holidays.
- for advice, information and signposting - Early Mental Health Directory
- for positive activities both online and in person, with a wellbeing focus - Therapeutic Positive activities
- therapy (including online) - Counselling/Therapy
- decider Skills workshops - these are groups (occasionally delivered 1:1 if need dictates) that are based on CBT/DBT, the aim is to help CYP deal with different emotions and tolerate distress, developing coping strategies etc. - Decider Skills
For more information about what Barnardos offers and how to contact/self-refer, please visit:
On your mind
Wiltshire SHOUT
Wiltshire residents can text WILTS to 85258 to access free, confidential mental health support from a trained volunteer who will aim to get them to a safe and calm place. This will include coming up with a plan around how they are going to support themselves moving forward, and signposting to local support agencies where appropriate. They can help with anxiety and stress, depression or sadness, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, panic attacks, loneliness or isolation, abuse and bullying.
This service is available to Wiltshire residents of all ages, it is available 24/7 and won't appear on the texters bill.
FearLess are the domestic abuse support service in Wiltshire. They provide trauma-informed, person-centred support to victims of domestic abuse and their families. They provide this support to both adults and children who are victims of, or have been impacted by domestic abuse.
For support and further information please visit:
Wiltshire Together
The digital platform that connects people, groups and organisations in Wiltshire to their community. It features support, volunteering, group listings and relevant events.
Our Community Matters
Local interactive notice boards which everyone can use to highlight and discuss local news events and ideas
Getting online and engaging with the digital world is an important part of modern life. It is increasingly how we access and engage with our services, where we find information, and how we communicate with each other. On this page you will find information on how to get online in Wiltshire, safely, and where to get support.
Related links
Worried about a child or young person?
If you believe a child or young person is at risk, go to Child Protection for information about what to do.
Direct Payments and other money advice
Information about Using direct payment (what is it, how to get it and support available).
More Money advice.
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