Every month we hold a range of face to face events, such as Branches, SEND Stay and Play, SEND Social Club, Breakfast Events, Coffee mornings at schools and Community events.
Branches
Branches is our face to face support group. Each month alternate between meeting in the morning and evening. We have guest speakers. It is an informal relaxed atmosphere, and you have a brilliant opportunity to meet other parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. You don’t need to book a space, just turn up! It’s FREE to attend!! Check out our Upcoming Events page to see when the next session is.
March 2026 Breakfast event
It is a busy week for SSFV. We hosted a breakfast event today, and it was wonderful to see so many parents join us. It offered a chance to learn more about SSFV and the support we provide, but most importantly, it created space for parents to meet one another, share experiences, and simply exhale.
March 2026 Becky Richens at our PINS event
SSFV recently hosted a PINS event today with Becky Richens, who delivered an insightful session on ADHD in women, including the impact of hormones and menopause. The event also provided a valuable opportunity for parents to connect, share experiences, and feel a sense of belonging in knowing they are not alone.
We extend our sincere thanks to all the parents who attended. These events are organised especially for you, and we truly appreciate your engagement and support.
For more information about Becky Richens – Independent Mental Health Nurse, please use the link below;
https://www.facebook.com/beckyrichensnurse/?locale=en_GB
March 2026 SEND Event at Trampoline Park
Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted a SEND family event at the Link Centre Trampoline Park, and we are delighted to share that it was a truly joyful evening event. Parents were able to bring their children to enjoy a fun, relaxed session while also connecting with other families,an opportunity many tell us they often miss.
We are grateful that external funding enabled us to offer this inclusive event and create a space where families could come together, have fun, and feel supported as part of a wider SEND community.
March 2026 Branches with Guest Speakers
Branches took place today, in attendance we had Nicola Ponton- Head Of SEND, Hannah Freeland – Designated Social Care Officer, Sarah and Amber from HAF and Becky Cox from Inclusive Cycling.
Offering an important opportunity for SSFV and parents to raise the concerns, issues, and daily experiences that families are navigating, as well as to ask for solutions for the future.
We are grateful to all the guests who attended, and we hope the matters raised can move towards a meaningful resolution.
At SSFV, the parent voice always remains at the heart of everything we do, and we will continue to ensure it shapes every meeting, conversation, and decision.
Feb 2026 Pins Event with Kirk Anderson at Badbury Park
Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted another PINS session at Badbury Park, where Kirk Anderson joined us to share practical insights and strategies around behaviour.
It was a relaxed space for parents and school staff to chat, ask questions, and connect with one another. The SSFV team were on hand throughout to offer support and signposting.
Feb 2026 SEND Event for 6-10 years old at Jungle Kingdom
Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted another SEND event for children aged 6–10 at Jungle Kingdom, and it was wonderful to see so many families join us. The children had the chance to play, explore, and enjoy a soft play session that many may not usually feel able to access.
Parents also had valuable time to meet one another, share experiences, and build connections. It was a great opportunity for SSFV reps to listen, signpost support, and gather insight into what families would like from a potential 6–10 Social Club in the future.
It was an evening enjoyed by all. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended.
Feb 2026 Branches with Kirk Anderson
Branches took place this evening with Kirk Anderson as part of our PINS project. Kirk delivered an informative and well‑received session on sleep, a topic that continues to be one of the most frequently raised by parents.
A Microsoft Teams link was also provided to enable families to join the session remotely.
These events are organised to offer parents and carers the opportunity to engage in focused learning on subjects of interest, while also providing a supportive space to connect with others who share similar experiences.
Jan 2026 Contact & NNPCF Conference
Swindon SEND Families Voice attended the Contact – For families with disabled children and National Network of Parent Carer Forums in Sheffield, a valuable opportunity to connect with other Parent Carer Forums, strengthen relationships, and share learning.
We contributed our feedback on shaping a better future for our children and young people, championing inclusion, equity, and meaningful change. The passion across the room was unmistakable: a shared commitment to ensuring every CYP is valued, heard, and given the same opportunities as everyone else.
Together, we continue to push for a future where inclusion isn’t optional, it’s the norm.
Jan 2026 Pins event with Becky Richens at Badbury Primary
Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted an engaging PINS session at Badbury Primary School alongside Becky Richens, creating a warm and open space for parents to explore mental health, ask questions, and build meaningful connections.
The session also offered families the chance to meet members of our SSFV team and learn more about the support available within their school community.
https://www.facebook.com/beckyrichensnurse/?locale=en_GB
Jan 2026 Branches with Sue Barnes & Dr Molly Moffat
Another busy day for Swindon SEND Families Voice.
Branches took place today with Sue Barnes and Dr Molly Moffat, along with our Young Persons Champion. This session offers parents and carers the chance to gain information and speak with professionals in a relaxed, informal setting.
A heartfelt thank you to our speakers for joining us and taking time out of their busy schedules to support Branches. Their contribution is truly appreciated.
Jan 2026 Pins event at Grange Juniors with Jodie Clarke
SSFV held another session at Grange Juniors for PINS (Partnerships for Neurodiversity in Schools) Project. This initiative is all about empowering schools, families, and communities to better support young people who may be neurodivergent or struggling with their emotional well-being.
Jodie Clarke offered staff and parents a meaningful opportunity to deepen their understanding about Burnout. Our SSFV representatives were also on hand throughout the session, providing support and helping to create a welcoming, reflective space for everyone involved.
Jan 2026 Pins event at Peatmoor primary with Becky Richens
SSFV held another session at Peatmoor primary for PINS (Partnerships for Neurodiversity in Schools) Project. This initiative is all about empowering schools, families, and communities to better support young people who may be neurodivergent or struggling with their emotional well-being.
Becky Richens offered staff and parents a meaningful opportunity to deepen their understanding of mental health. Our SSFV representatives were also on hand throughout the session, providing support and helping to create a welcoming, reflective space for everyone involved.
2025 Events
Dec 2025 SSFV’s Christmas Dinner
Swindon SEND Families Voice held our Christmas Dinner, a wonderful chance to relax, share laughter, and enjoy time together.
We work tirelessly in everything we do, alongside our strategic partners, always ensuring that the voices of parents and carers remain at the heart of every meeting. As parents and carers of children and young people with SEND ourselves, we truly understand the challenges and the importance of being heard.
We are very excited for January 2026, with a whole calendar of events ahead, and we look forward to welcoming you.
Most importantly, we want to thank each and every one of you for supporting us on this journey. Without your encouragement and involvement, none of this would be possible.
From all of us at SSFV, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year! 🎄✨
Dec 2025 SEND Christmas Party
What a night at our SEND Christmas Party!
Tonight we welcomed children and young people aged 10–25 for an evening of music, laughter, and festive cheer at our SEND Christmas party.
With a DJ, a surprise visit from Santa and his Elf delivering gifts. There was plenty of delicious food and it was a celebration evening to remember.
A heartfelt thank you to our SSFV reps and the incredible volunteers who worked tirelessly to set up and tidy away, you made the magic happen.
Dec 2025 Pins Community Event with Becky Richens
Swindon SEND Families Voiced hosted a PINS event (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity) at our Branches session today with the wonderful Becky Richens, following parents request for an event focused on sleep.
Becky delivered an engaging and insightful lecture, offering practical strategies and knowledge to support our children and young people.
For more details about Becky please use the link below;
https://www.facebook.com/beckyrichensnurse/?locale=en_GB
Nov 2025 Pins Community Event with Kirk Anderson
Kirk Anderson delivered an insightful session on Managing Behaviour as part of the Pins (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools). It was wonderful to see many parents attending and receiving the support they needed.
At Swindon SEND Families Voice, we are proud to be part of Pins and remain committed to standing alongside our parents, providing guidance, signposting, encouragement, and a community that truly cares. 💙
Nov 2025 Carers Rights Day
Swindon SEND Families Voice was proud to host a stall at Carers Rights Day, always a joyful and meaningful event.
It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with carers from all walks of life, offer support, and share signposting information tailored to their needs.
Nov 2025 Branches
Swindon SEND Families Voice held another Branches session today. Huge thanks to our wonderful speakers for taking time out of their busy schedules to share insights with families, and to all the parents who joined us. Your presence and engagement are deeply appreciated.
https://www.facebook.com/FranHanrahandrawingandtalkingswindon
https://www.inspire-enrichment.org.uk
Nov 2025 Project Search Interest Event
Swindon SEND Families Voice was proud to take part in the Project Search Interest Evening alongside Swindon Borough Council, New College, Project Search DfN, Horizons College, Amazon, and Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
It was fantastic to see so many parents and young people attend, bringing thoughtful questions and genuine enthusiasm. We are honoured to be part of a project that opens up meaningful pathways and possibilities for young people.
Oct 2025 Halloween Party
🎃 A spooktacular time was had by all at our Stay and Play Halloween party! This year, we were thrilled to extend the celebration to include young people aged 10–25, alongside their parents and carers. The atmosphere was full of laughter, creativity, and connection — a joyful reminder of the power of inclusive community spaces.
Oct 2025 Pins Graduated Response event
Last night, Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted the Graduated Response for PINS, an evening of emotion, and connection.
We are deeply thankful to our guest speakers, Claire James for Supported Internships and Swindon SIAS for sharing their time and insight with our SEND parent community.
These events are created by and for SEND parents , and they are never just presentations. They are spaces where lived experience is honoured, where tears are welcome, and where the reality of SEND parenting is seen and felt.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, held space for one another, and reminded us why voice and visibility matter so deeply.
Oct 2025 South West SEND Regional Conference Collaboration & Peer Challenge
Swindon SEND Families Voice recently attended the South West Regional Conference Collaboration & Peer Challenge in Exeter, alongside representatives from the Swindon Borough Council, ICB, and Social Care.
It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with parent carer forums from across the region, share experiences, and strengthen collaborative relationships.
Sept 2025 Breakfast event
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for our Swindon SEND Families Voice breakfast event.
Meaningful conversations, new connections, and a shared sense of purpose—what a beautiful morning.
Sept 2025 Pins event with Jodie Clarke
Swindon SEND Families Voice proudly hosted the first PINS event (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools), featuring Jodie Clarke, Children’s Well-being Practitioner & Autism Specialist.
Jodie led an insightful Q&A session with parents and carers, exploring a wide range of topics around neurodiversity, inclusion, and well being.
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful and engaging conversation.
Sept 2025 Branches
Branches took place yesterday, and we’re so grateful to everyone who joined us.
A heartfelt thank you to our guest speakers—Claire James, Steven Lacey, and Emma Shepherd—for sharing their time, expertise, and insights.
– Claire James led an informative session on Supported Internships, highlighting inclusive pathways to employment for young people with SEND. For more information about this, please use the link below;
https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org
– Emma Shephard and Steven Lacey delivered a powerful joint session on ADHD, offering practical strategies, lived experience, and professional perspectives to deepen understanding and support.
Your contributions helped make the event both insightful and empowering. Thank you for being part of it.
Sept 2025 SEND Social Club
Swindon Send Families Voice held their monthly Social Club last night. It was a full session with lots of young people and carers in attendance.
As always pizza and chips available, what more can you ask for.
July 2025 Health & Wellbeing Event
Swindon Send Families Voice had the pleasure of attending a health and wellbeing event. A great opportunity to meet with others and let them know what Swindon Send Families Voice is all about.
July 2025 Stay and Play
Swindon SEND Families Voice held their weekly Stay and Play. Our Stay and Play runs at The Meadow from 10-12 every Thursday, for families of children who have or may have SEND, aged 0-5.
Busy as always with about 40 children along with their parent carers.
July 2025 Kingsdown transition event
Swindon SEND Families Voice were invited to a SEND Transition Morning event at Kingsdown school.
A wonderful opportunity to chat to parents and school staff.
July 2025 Branches
Swindon SEND Families Voice held Branches this week. Our guest speakers were Cath from Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind, and Nicola Ponton – the head of SEND and Inclusion from Swindon Borough Council.
A big thank you to all the parents who attended and shared their views with us. You are all amazing.
July 2025 SIAS drop in
Swindon SEND Families Voice were supporting families alongside Swindon SIAS at the drop in session held at the Central library.
It was lovely to meet the parents that came along.
July 2025 Breakfast
Another breakfast event held by Swindon Send Families Voice. Great to see some new faces.
June 2025 Project Search
Swindon Send Families Voice had the pleasure of attending the Graduation ceremony of our second cohort for Project Search Supported Internship at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Swindon Borough Council.
Lots of smiles, they have come such a long way and achieved more than they could ever imagine.
3 of them have already secured paid jobs which is fantastic.
We wish them the best of luck for the future.
June 2025 Stay and Play
Another busy week at the SEND Stay and Play which is held at the Meadow, Leigh Road, SN2 5DE every Thursday from 10-12pm for 0-5 years.
Great to see new parents coming along to support their children.
June 2025 SEND Information and Support Packs (SIPS)
Swindon SEND Families Voice are very excited to announce we are once again in the process of putting together SEND Information and Support Packs for families of a child with SEND that is of the age to transition into primary school in September. This will be the 5th year of sending out these packs.
The packs will be distributed to pre-school and nursery settings that have requested them by our team over the coming weeks. We will also be delivering directly to families homes where a child is home educated, for those that have requested them from us.
We could not put together these packs without the support of local services donating their leaflets, merchandise and books. So we would like to send a massive thank you to National Literacy Trust in Swindon, Swindon Carers’ Centre, Swindon SIAS and the Local Offer Swindon Borough Council for taking part in the scheme again this year!!
Also a big thank you to the reps at SSFV who volunteer their time to help put these packs together and deliver to the schools in Swindon.
If your setting has not taken part in the scheme this year, please do come along to one of our social meets/groups or branches where we distribute leaflets, sunflower lanyards and other items to parents and carers.
June 2025 Annual SEND conference
Swindon SEND Families Voice attended the SEND Conference today at STEAM. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to network with schools and other strategic partners.
June 2025 Branches
A big thank you to our guests Fran Hanrahan, Sue Barnes and Debbie who attended Branches today.
Fran is a Drawing and Talking Practitioner who can work Therapeutically with your child.
Sue talked about bowel and bladder training.
Debbie is an outreach librarian, talking about the services
A big thank you to all the parents who attended.
South West Regional PCF meeting
Swindon Send Families Voice had the opportunity to attend the South West Regional meeting along with NNPCF, DfE, Contact and NHS England in Taunton today.
A great chance to meet with other parent carer forums in the South West but also the opportunity to give our feedback with the challenges our families are facing on a daily basis.
May 2025 GP Education meeting
Another busy day Swindon SEND Families Voice, we were invited to talk at the GP Education meeting about the role of SSFV and Reshaping Conversations.
Reshaping Conversations is a special project which is about inspiring change through positive language used by professionals when speaking to parents and carers.
For more information about Reshaping Conversations, please use the link below;
https://www.swindon.gov.uk/…/2996/reshaping_conversations
If you would like our Reshaping Conversation leaflets to distribute to your schools, please do let us know, and we can give you copies of the leaflets.
May 2025 – Breakfast catch up at the Harvester
Swindon SEND Families Voice held another breakfast event at the Harvester today. Great to meet the parents and carers for a catch up and a chance to offload.
May 2025 – Branches
Swindon SEND Families Voice held Branches with a difference. Franclin gave the parents a neck, shoulder and a hand massage which made the parents feel so relaxed, which is what we wanted to achieve.
It was great to see some new faces too. A big thanks to Franclin for coming to Branches.
More details about Franclin’s Hair and Beauty please use the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/franclinshairandbeauty
https://www.instagram.com/franclinshairandbeauty
April 2025 – South West SEND Conference
Swindon SEND Families Voice attended the South West SEND Conference in Exeter, along with NHS England, NNCPF, Swindon Borough Council and all of the South West parent carer forums.
The theme was about Moving on and Growing up. An ideal opportunity to network with all and have the discussions that are needed to make the positive changes we work hard for.
March 2025 – Breakfast catch up at Toby Carvery
Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted another breakfast catch up at the Toby Carvery. Wonderful to see so many parents/carers today.
A great opportunity to meet the SSFV team and know about the services we offer.
March 2025 – Employer Engagement Event Celebrating National Supported Internship day
Today we celebrated National Supported Internship Day.
Swindon SEND Families Voice were invited to celebrate with a fantastic networking event at Lydiard Park, recognising the achievements of our DFN Project SEARCH interns.
The interns, who have a learning disability, autism or both, are gaining hands-on work experience with support from the Council, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and education partners, helping them build confidence and develop skills for paid employment.
Interns shared their experiences and spoke about how the programme has shaped their goals and independence. They were joined by Chief Executive Sam Mowbray and Councillor Emma Bushell, who highlighted how supported internships are helping to build a fairer Swindon.
March 2025 – SEND Event for 6-10 years old at Jungle Kingdom
Swindon SEND Families Voice held a send event for 6-10 years old at Jungle Kingdom over the weekend.
Children and parents had a great time.
March 2025 – Branches held at Coleview Community Centre
A big thank you to our guests Seth Harris-White, Hannah Freeland, Molly Moffat and Becky Cox who attended Branches today.
Seth and Hannah talked about the Short Breaks Statement. Molly Moffat talked about Arfid (slides will shared soon) and Becky Cox talked about the Inclusive Cycling
A big thank you to all the parents who attended. It was lovely to see some new faces.
March 2025- SSFV attended SEND Community Connected’s first Coffee morning
Swindon SEND Families Voice were invited to SEND Community Connected‘s first coffee morning at Kel’s Kitchen along with Kam Bas from Bristol Autism Society and Care on the Move.
A great chance to meet with parents and carers to let them know more about Swindon SEND Families Voice.
March 2025 – Meeting with Will Stone, MP for Swindon North
Swindon SEND Families Voice met with https://www.facebook.com/willstone1990. A meeting that involved discussions about the SEN issues within schools, lack of funding, lack of SEN provisions and shortages on TAs.
Any future PINs events that are due to take place is a great opportunity for Will to hear more stories from families.
Information on the with the concern about the Children’s Wellbeing bill for SEND children was also shared.
We are working towards keeping an open line of communication for any further issues within Swindon for SEND with Will Stone.
February 2025 – SSFV SEND Social Club at the Meadow
Swindon SEND Families Voice held a SEND Social Club session today with a friendship theme about love and care for Valentine’s day.
February 2025 – SSFV SEND Stay & Play at the Meadow
Swindon SEND Families Voice held a Stay & Play session today with a friendship theme about love and care for Valentine’s day.
February 2025 – PINS session with Kirk Anderson at Westrop primary
SSFV held another session for our PINS project with Kirk Anderson delivering a session about Understanding Behaviour at Westrop primary school. Thank you to all who attended.
February 2025 – Branches with Becky Richens
As part of our PINS project, Branches took place this evening with Becky Richens. There was a focus about Mental Health for our children and young people. Lots of discussion along with advice and techniques.
A big thank you to all parents who attended. I hope you found this beneficial.
For more information about Becky please use the link below;
https://www.facebook.com/share/19wESBswm8/?mibextid=wwXIfr
February 2025 – NNPCF & Contact Conference
SSFV attended the National Network of Parent Carer Forums, and Contact – For families with disabled children this week. Lots of discussion and networking for the forum.
February 2025 – SSFV Breakfast catch up event
SSFV held another breakfast catch up event today. It was great to meet with you all. Also lovely to see some new faces too. A big thank you to all who attended.
January 2025 – PINS event with Kirk Anderson
SSFV held a session at Mountford Manor primary for PINS (Partnerships for Neurodiversity in Schools) Project. This initiative is all about empowering schools, families, and communities to better support young people who may be neurodivergent or struggling with their emotional well-being.
Kirk Anderson delivered a session with parents and carers to talk about Understanding Behaviour.
January 2025 – PINS event with Jodie Clarke
Swindon SEND Families Voice held a PINs event with our guest speaker Jodie Clarke.
Jodie Clarke, who is a Children’s Well-being Practitioner & Autism Specialist. Jodie has many years experience of working with autistic children as well as having autistic children of her own. She offers a tailored approach to the families she works with. She will cover topics such as masking and burnout.
Many thanks for all the parents who attended. We hope you found this very useful. For more information about Jodie Clarke please use the link below;
https://www.facebook.com/JodieClarkeWiltshire
January 2025 – PINS event at Greenmeadow primary with Becky Richens
SSFV held another session at Greenmeadow primary for PINS (Partnerships for Neurodiversity in Schools) Project. This initiative is all about empowering schools, families, and communities to better support young people who may be neurodivergent or struggling with their emotional well-being.
January 2025 – PINS Event at Swindon Academy with Becky Richens
SSFV held a session with Becky Richens as part of our PINS (Partnerships for Neurodiversity in Schools) Project. Becky delivered a session with parents and carers to talk about Mental Health. This initiative is all about empowering schools, families, and communities to better support young people who may be neurodivergent or struggling with their emotional well-being.
For more information about PINS please use the link below; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TIspoqgrjq2qN3oRp8e5pqBY90snEykw/view?usp=sharing
For more information about Becky please use the link below; https://www.facebook.com/share/19wESBswm8/?
December 2024 Christmas Party at the SEND Social Club
Swindon SEND Families Voice held a Christmas party at the SEND Social Club tonight. Lots of fun, games and laughter. Thanks to Paul and Ellie from Friends of STEP and Maddie from Swindon SIAS who attended too.
A fun evening for all. Many thanks to all who attended.
December 2024 Christmas party at the SEND Stay & Play
Swindon SEND Families held their Christmas party at the Stay and Play today. Lots of happy children receiving gifts from santa. Thank you to all who attended.
December 2024- Branches
Branches for December took place yesterday evening with our guest speakers -Anna from Care on the Move, Hannah Freeland and Teresa Jones from the Social Care Pathways for the Disabled Children.
A thank you to all parents who attended. We arrange these events especially for you.
December 2024- SSFV Breakfast Event
Swindon SEND Families Voice held their Breakfast event today. A lovely turnout with the parents. A great chance to chat, offload and have some time to meet other parents.
November 2024 – SSFV Christmas Party
Yesterday we had our Christmas party. A chance to relax, enjoy and have fun all around.
A few members were unable to make the event – they were missed.
Thank you to every member of the team you are all a great asset to Swindon SEND Families Voice.
November 2024 – Pins event
Today we held our Pins (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools) event. A big thank you to our guest speakers; Swindon SIAS, Andrew Myrie – Local Offer, Early Years and the SEND Team, who took the time out to talk at the event.
Thank you to all the parents and professionals who attended.
SSFV reps did a brilliant job at running and managing the event.
November 2024 – SSFV at the Carers Rights Day Event
Swindon SEND Families Voice had a stall today at the Carers Rights Day event held by Swindon Carers Centre, at the Punjabi Community Centre.
An opportunity to speak to parents and carers and also the chance to network with other organisations.
November 2024 – Branches
Branches took place today with our guest speakers from Swindon SIAS, Swindon Borough Council – Andrew Myrie from the Local Offer, Transport Team, Educational Psychologists and Lisa from the Youth Voice too.
A big thank you to all the parents who attended. We arrange these events especially for you.
October 2024- SEND Stay and Play & SEND Social Club Halloween Party
Swindon SEND Families Voice – held a Halloween themed party in the half term for the SEND Stay and Play and the SEND Social Club. This was well attended by our parents/carers but also our children and young people.
A big thank you to all who attended.
Oct 2024 – Branches with Kirk Anderson
Branches for October took place yesterday with Kirk Anderson, who had a great conversation about Autism with our parents and carers. Kirk brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience of SEND.
Thank you to all who attended.
Oct 2024 – SSFV at the Family Information Fair
Swindon SEND Families Voice had the fantastic opportunity to have a stall at the Family Information Fair held at The Harbour Project.
We had the chance to network with various organisations and be able to speak to families who would benefit from our support and signposting.
Oct 2024 – SSFV Breakfast Event
Swindon Send Families Voice held a Breakfast event today. A fantastic opportunity to meet with other parents and carers, to chat and offload.
A big thank you to all the parents and carers who attended. We hope to see you very soon.
Sept 2024 – Branches with Jodie Clark
Thank you to Jodie Clarke, Children’s Well-being Practitioner & Autism Specialist– for attending our Branches today.
A big thank you to all the parents who attended.
Sept 2024 – SEND Social Club held at the Meadow
A great start to the year, a packed SEND Social Club with our young people and carers held on the 13th Sept.
A big thank you to all who attended, it was lovely to see some new faces too.
July 2024 – Branches with a range of speakers held at the Meadow
Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted the last Branches of the academic year. It certainly has been a very busy year. A thank you to our guests from Swindon SIAS, Disabled Children’s Team Swindon Borough Council and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind.
A massive thank you to the parents who attended and also our reps Amina and Hannah who hosted Branches.
July 2024 – Project Search Graduation Ceremony
This evening we held the graduation of our 1st Cohert for Project Search.
It certainly has been a journey. Congratulations to all the graduates and their families. Also a big thank you to projectsearch, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Serco UK, New College Swindon and Swindon Borough Council.
#supporting our young people
July 2024- Headteachers & Education Leaders Conference
Swindon SEND Families Voice attended the Headteachers and Education Leaders Conference all about Raising Aspirations. Great speakers and a fantastic opportunity for us to network.
June 2024 – Breakfast Catch up with Parents
Swindon SEND Families Voice held a breakfast catch up today. It was lovely to meet with the parents/carers, to hear about their experiences and engage with each other.
June 2024 – Conference for SEND Leaders
Swindon Send Families Voice attended the Conference for Send Leaders this week. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to network with schools and other Strategic Partners.
June 2024- SSFV at the Sias drop in at the Central library
Swindon SEND Families Voice were at the Swindon SIAS drop in session today held at the Central library. It was lovely to meet the families that came along.
The next drop in sessions for Sias will be held on; 26th June and 10th July from 12.30-4.30pm
May 2024 – Branches with a range of speakers at the Punjabi Community Centre
Swindon SEND Families Voice held Branches last night, it was lovely to see many parents and new faces too.
A big thank you to our guests Teresa Carter, Tamsin Pearce, Sarah Cummings, School Champions, Dr Annabel Burnley, Leon Allain and Lorraine from Swindon Carers Centre.
May 2024- SEND Social Club held at the Meadow
Our SEND Social Club took place on Thursday evening. Lots of carers attended along with their young people chilling and having fun.
April 2024- SSFV at the Vaisakhi event at the Punjabi Community Centre
Swindon SEND Families Voice had a stall at the Vaisakhi event at the Punjabi Community Centre. A great opportunity to meet the Asian community and other members too.
11th April 2024 – SEND Social Club held at the Meadow
Swindon SEND Families Voice held another SEND Social Club. Lots of young people with their carers. Lovely to see them all having fun during the holidays.
Next one is due to take place on the 9th May 2024.
March 2024 – Branches with a range of speakers at the Punjabi Community Centre
Branches took place today with a range of speakers at the Punjabi Community Centre. A big thank you to all our speakers and our parents for attending. It was lovely to see you all.
March 2024 – Swindon SEND Families Voice at the SEND Employer Forum
Swindon SEND Families Voice attended the SEND Employer Forum yesterday, serving as a platform for individuals to connect and communicate about the challenges and opportunities related to inclusive employment.
The focus was on Supported Internships and the creation of an action plan around building an Inclusive Swindon.
March 2024- Swindon SEND Families Voice presented alongside Swindon Sias at the SENCO Network Meeting
SSFV presented alongside Swindon Sias at the SENCO Network meeting today about Little Things Matter. We talked about how important small things (reasonable adjustments) make a big difference to our CYP lives at school. It was well received by everyone.
A massive thank you to all the parents who gave us the feedback to be able to present this. We truly appreciate this.
8th February 2024 – SEND Social Club held at the Meadow
Swindon SEND Families Voice held their first SEND Social Club. Lovely to see our young people chilling, making friends and having fun.
Next one is on the 11th April 2024 – look out for details to book your place.
February 2024 – Project Search Interest Event at Swindon College
Project Search hosted there second interest event at New College alongside Swindon SEND Families Voice, New College, Swindon Borough Council and Serco.
February 2024 – Branches with Kirk Anderson
Branches was held yesterday, we had the pleasure of having Kirk Anderson who has a wealth of knowledge and experience who talked about Behaviour. A great insight to this for all.
A big thank you to Kirk and to all our parents who attended.
1st February 2023 – My Future Event held at Swindon College, North Star Campus
Swindon SEND Families Voice team were at the My Future event at New College Swindon- North Star Campus. It was lovely to speak to parents/carers, professionals and most importantly our Young People.
A big thanks to Annie and the team for organising this. You did a great job.
January 2024 – Branches with Jodie Smitten
As Swindon SEND Families Voice hosted there first Branches of 2024 with the amazing Jodie Smitten, Children’s Well-being Practitioner & Autism Specialist. The room was packed and everyone loved it.
Thank you to all the parents who attended. Amina and Hannah for hosting and Jodie Smitten for coming to speak. We hope to see you very soon.
21st December 2023 – Our Send Stay and Play Christmas party is all done!
Thank you to all the parents and carers that attended we hope you enjoyed yourselves! Huge thank you to Santa and his wonderful elves for attending too. You are all amazing! From January our Stay and Play will be held weekly! So please look out for information on times, dates and venues in the new year. A big thank you to Amina and Hannah for making Stay and Play such a big success.
We are now on our Christmas break and will return on Wednesday 3rd January.
The Swindon SEND Families Voice team would like to wish all of Swindon’s Parent Carers and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
For support and information over the next couple of weeks, please join our peer support group The SEND Room:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSENDRoom/
or take a look on the Swindon Local Offer website:
https://localoffer.swindon.gov.uk/content/send-local-offer/landing-pages/swindon-send-local-offer/
November 2023 – Breakfast Catch Up with our parents and carers at the Toby Carvery
Thank you to everyone that came along to our breakfast at the Toby Carvery this morning. Lovely to see such a great turnout.
October 2023 – Sahara Health Fair for the South Asian Community
Swindon SEND Families Voice had a stall at the Sahara Health Fair event for the South Asian community. A fantastic chance to talk to families and raise awareness for SEND in the South Asian Community.
September 2023 – Branches with our guest speakers at Shaw Ridge primary
Branches took place today at Shaw Ridge Community room. A big thank you to all the speakers: Adult Social Care, Local Offer, Send Statutory Team and Early Years.
Lovely to see the parents too. You are the reason we organise events like this.
See you all again at our next Branches which takes places on Thursday 12th October at 7pm. More details to follow soon.
July 2023 – International Food Fair at STEAM, Great Western Hall
Swindon SEND Families had the pleasure of having a stall at the International Food Fair 2023. We had the opportunity to meet many families and enjoy lots of good food too.
June 2023 – The SEND Awards at Swindon SEND Conference
Amina and Hannah pick up a SEND Award for ‘The Best Support Service’ for running our SEND Stay and Play sessions! Jacqui also picked up a SEND Award ‘Above and Beyond’ for all the work she has done over the years!
May 2023 at the Information Day for South Asians with SEND
Our team members Amina and Nausheen attended the Information Day for South Asians with Special Educational Needs.
It was attended by GPs, professionals and parents. It was a chance to talk about a subject that is not discussed enough in our South Asian communities.
Thank you to Bal and Taj from Changing Suits for the invite.
February 2023 – Celebrating our 5th Birthday at Branches support group!
December 2022- Branches held with Kate Reynolds
A big thank you for all the parents who attended our Branches last night. It was lovely to see you. Also the wonderful Kate Reynolds- who gave us an insightful talk to Puberty with lots of tips and support for our Send Children and Young People.
November 2022 – Nausheen and Amina attend the Mayor’s event
Swindon SEND Families Voice had the pleasure of holding a stall at the Mayor’s Charity event on Saturday.
We met lots of people and organisations who recognise the Send need. Thank you to Nadia Salam and her team for organising the event and our stall.
We met with the Mayor and Heidi Alexander – who wanted to say a big thanks to our SSFV team for the hard work we do 
.
September 2022 – Branches
A big thanks to our guests, Alison and Emma from the Dingley’s Promise,
Hardeep and Saxone from Project Me – Outreach team,
Andrew Myrie and Emily King from Swindon Local Offer,
Isabel and Lorrraine from Swindon Carers and Hannah Freeland from the DCT Team.
July 2022
Our Participation & Engagement Co Ordinator Nausheen Ali has been busy this morning meeting with families with the Nelson Trust.
April 2022 – Pride of Swindon Awards
We are very excited to announce that we have made it to the final 10 of this years Pride of Swindon Team Awards! 
‘The Pride of Swindon Awards honour the extraordinary personal commitment the people of Swindon give to their community’
Our team are honoured to have worked with the SEND community throughout the pandemic, offering support and a listening ear when it has been needed.
August 2021 – Swindon and Wiltshire Pride
November 2019 – Puberty Workshop
Kate E Reynolds is a local author who came to run a very interesting workshop about Puberty and Relationships in young people with SEND.
Anxiety Workshop – 14th January 2020
Jodie Smitten (link to her facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BehaviourSupportWiltshire/) who is an independent behaviour specialist, hosted 2 workshops about Autism. Nearly 60 parents and carers attended. Here is an example of some of the feedback we received “The event was informative, friendly and relaxed.” “Jodie is very knowledgeable, engaging, very informative.”
February 2019 – Coast with an Educational Psychologist
On 8th February 2019 we teamed up with Coast (put link to their website please https://swindoncoast.weebly.com) and invited Lucy, who is an Educational Psychologist that is also the trainer of the ELSA programme for Swindon. The Clinical Commissioning Group and Swindon Borough Council have funded for 2 Teaching Assistants in every school in Swindon to be ELSA trained. For more information on ELSA’s and why they are helpful to have in our schools please see more information here: https://www.elsa-support.co.uk
July 2019 – Healthwatch Policy Forum
2nd July 2019 Millie and Jacqui travelled to Bristol to attend the Healthwatch Policy Forum to learn how parent carer forums can work more closely with their area’s Healthwatch. It was really useful and informative and we took away lots of ideas!
September 2019 – Branches Support Group in association with Hop, Skip and Jump
In our September group we invited Jo from Swindon Borough Council to come and answer questions about EHCPs.
25th September 2019 – Children’s Services Conference
The Director of Children’s Services asked us to let 250 Swindon Borough Council staff know what ‘A Joined Up Seamless Service’ looks like from a parent carer perspective. We received positive feedback such as “Your presentation was very thought provoking and informative and provided a good context to our work with children and their families. Your tips for what we can do immediately were very well received and there is no reason why we all should not put this into immediate effect.”
25th June 2019 – SEND Summit
We were asked to present to 100 Head Teachers, Sencos and Governors at the SEND Summit. We spoke about the need for change in Swindon. Parents and carers do not feel listened too. If we do not change anything, then nothing will change.
March 2019 – 1st Birthday Health and Wellbeing Event
Swindon Advertiser article about our event: Click here
November 2018 – Sensory and Messy Play
August 2018 – Introduction to Mindfulness and Relaxation
July 2018 – Arts & Crafts Session
July 2018 – Performing Arts Workshop
July 2018 – Presenting at the Life After P Scales Conference
August 2021 – Swindon and Wiltshire Pride
March 2018 – Preparing for Adulthood Workshop at the Steam Museum
