Getting involved

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 please 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 

Our Community Together features local interactive notice boards which everyone can use to highlight and discuss local news events and ideas.

Our Community Matters

Wessex Community Action 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.

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

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 

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 Information Leaflet (OpenDocument text format) [1MB] (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!

To look for future events for parent/carers or young people visit: What's on

For more information on WPCC visit:

WPCC

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 to find out about all current consultations, register your interest in future consultations, and see what has happened as a result of past consultations.

The Local Offer website exists to support those using SEND services within Wiltshire. 

The website should provide the following:

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

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

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

Children and young people survey

Parent/ Carer Survey

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 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 please visit:

Small Grants Scheme

The scheme has now closed for 2023 applications.