Getting involved

The Local Offer website exists to support those with additional needs 0 to 25yrs old and those that support them within Wiltshire.

The website should provide the following:

• information on what services and support should be available to residents and related information
• detail an expanding network of ways to get your voice heard, and inform improvements to your services

One of the ways we gather feedback is by arranging visits to existing groups within the Wiltshire SEND community via the Local Offer Reference Group. To find our more visit:

Local Offer Reference Group

If you feel there is something missing from our content, that relates to the above statements, please complete our survey to help us capture ways we can improve.

Local Offer survey (opens new window)

Wiltshire council wishes to support the expansion of the provision of clubs and activities across the county for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This is to support them to participate in activities that they are interested in alongside their friends and peers.

This grant is for new provision, or expansion of an existing scheme, and not to support the continuation of existing clubs and activities.

We are inviting individuals and organisations to apply for small grants of up to £10,000 to increase the number of opportunities available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities in the Wiltshire area. This could be a new activity or club or could be an increase of something you are already doing.

It must increase opportunities for children and young people, and promote greater inclusion in activities and groups, allowing them to participate alongside their friends and peers.

To read the full terms and conditions visit:

Small Grants Scheme hub page

This scheme has been reopened as of October 2023.

Local community projects and initiatives funding

Wiltshire Council devolves significant funding to the Area Boards in order for them to invest in local community projects and initiatives that meet local priorities and deliver exceptional outcomes for residents. Grant applications must demonstrate how they will improve the local communities by addressing priorities and help to deliver to the council's business plan.

The Area Boards aim to work in partnership to achieve maximum value for its investment. They take a long term view to invest in prevention and early intervention, focusing on tackling inequalities and improving social mobility.

For more information visit:

Area Board Grants

Wiltshire Together is a digital platform that connects people, groups and organisations in Wiltshire to their community. It features opportunities to support, volunteer and find relevant events.

Wiltshire Together (opens new window)

Wessex Community Action (opens new window) is an independent body that works with and for the social sector. They provide practical support to develop products and services to build social value, stimulate connectivity, facilitate growth and build a collective voice. Offering courses like Safeguarding awareness and Hidden Disability Awareness.

Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living is an organisation that champions SEND voices by creating change and improvement to support independent living.

They are currently running a campaign to set up a group of 'Pioneers' to enable a voice for change. This is aimed at young people, between the ages of 12 to 25, with experience of disability. The vision is to allow them to voice their ambitions for the future and make connections with other passionate young people to talk about topics important to them. There will be the opportunity to co-produce social media campaigns, raising awareness on issues meaningful to them in their community.

Watch: Making a mascot for the Young Pioneers (opens new window)

If you are a young person and would like to be a Pioneer, and have your say, please contact Wiltshire CIL to get involved:

Email: userengagement@wiltshirecil.org.uk (opens new window)

Phone: 0300 1233 442

Wiltshire Pioneers information leaflet (PDF) [523KB] (opens new window)

They are many ways you can get involved at Wiltshire CIL, visit their website to find out more:

Wiltshire Center for Independent Living (opens new window) 

The Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC) is an independent voluntary organisation representing parent carers of children and young people with SEND from 0-25.

It is managed and run by parent carers, for parent carers. They provide a consultation and participation service which enables parent carers to have a voice about the services and the support their children and family use.

The WPCC also provides the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Service, which provides a wealth of information as well as signposting to specialist services.

The following document is a summary of WPCC in leaflet form: WPCC: Promotional leaflet (opens new window)

Their specific page for feedback and engagement can be found by visiting Wiltshire Parent Carer Council: What we do - Have your say! (opens new window)

To look for future events for parent/carers or young people visit: What's on (opens new window)

For more information on WPCC visit:

WPCC

Healthwatch Wiltshire is your local health and social care champion. If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, they want to hear about your experiences.

As an independent statutory body, they have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care. Last year they helped nearly a million people like you to have your say and get the information and advice you need.

To find out how you can get involved visit:

Healthwatch Wiltshire: Get involved (opens new window) 

You can also get involved in improving your local medical practices through the Patient Participation Groups (PPG), which each practice must host information about. See the website for your group practice (medical practice / doctors surgery) for details.

SEND Consultations

Public consultations are an essential part of our development, providing us with necessary feedback, enabling us to develop, change and improve our services.

For specific public proposals and consultations around SEND schools and placements you can visit our Local Offer page on the subject.

Special School and Resource Base Development Projects

Visit the Wiltshire Council consultation portal (opens new window) to find out about all current consultations, register your interest in future consultations, and see what has happened as a result of past consultations.

POET surveys

We have recently been asking parents and carers and people working with children and young people who have additional support on a number of issues around SEND. The questionnaires have provided us with a wealth of information to consider which will be put into a more detailed report but see the highlights below.
 
Parents and carers felt their views were listened to when support was planned, including for Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Children and young people were happy or mostly happy with their progress towards their goals and most parents also felt their young person was making progress towards their goals.
 
Other feedback included:

• ensuring young people, families and professionals are aware of the  SEND and Inclusion Strategy (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)
• getting the views of young people with SEND, using other tools as well as questionnaires
• people working with children and young people said we need to get views from across all types of settings

The POET surveys can be accessed at any time and it is our plan to return to responses on a regular basis. At the moment, we are seeking views about children and young people with an EHCP.

Available surveys :

Practitioners Survey (opens new window)

Children and young people survey (opens new window)

Parent/ Carer Survey (opens new window)

Contact us directly, and more information

For other ways to contact us directly with questions or feedback please visit our contact us page or use the web form:

Submit feedback

To find out more about how consultation and feedback has driven results based change please visit our, You Said, We Did page.

Wiltshire has a number of local arrangements for collaboration between institutions to support those with SEN.

If you are part of a organisation looking to work with others to improve SEND support you will find a number of existing arrangements on the following link. This will include bodies across Education, Health and Social Care.

Partnerships

If you are aware of others that may be useful for us to share please do get in touch at localoffer@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).