SEND Youth Groups
Birmingham RISE Youth Forum
The RISE Youth Forum formerly known as the SEND Youth Forum, launched in February 2020, whereby a platform was provided for 12 young people aged between 12-18 years from mainstream secondary schools in Birmingham.
Underpinning the framework of the forum, is promoting pupil voice and ensuring a platform is provided for the young people to voice their views. It is important that young people are able participate in discussions and decisions about policies and practices, which are affecting their life.
Key principles of the forum are:
- Raising any inequalities felt
- Supporting inclusion
- Raising achievements
- Supporting access to learning
- Providing impact
- Sign post to services and key agencies within the local community.
Our Vision
Children and young people with additional needs in Birmingham will be heard and valued. The forum will contribute to and co-produce services that reflect their wishes, feelings and aspirations for the future. Inclusion and wellbeing services will work in partnership with the forum to co-produce services, processes and systems that support children and young people to move towards the life that they want for themselves.
What we do
We talk to professionals about the issues that affect us so that together we can make positive changes to the lives of young people with SEND. We share our views, and the views of other young people with SEND, on how local services and provisions in schools could be improved.
RISE Youth Forum Membership
To find out more about becoming a Youth Forum Member, Click here
Unfiltered Lives – Wendy and Sam’s story – video
Contact us – youthforum@birmingham.gov.uk
Why the SEND Youth Forum is important to me:
“This forum is important to me because it enables me to identify the different needs children may have in mainstream schools and how they deal with them. We can also discuss any problems we may have and find a solution to make our education life easier and to be treated as an individual rather than be labelled with our special education need.”
Dylan, Year 9 – Autism ADD, and Dyspraxia
“I think it is a huge honour to be part of something so important and to be able to have such an impact where needed, at such young ages! I want to make as much of a difference where I can, and I love to discuss issues, ways to resolve them, and how I can improve the world around me.”
Grace, Year 11 – Dyslexia
“I really enjoy working as part of the SEND Youth Forum because it really inspires me and I am interested to see what more we can do together. We talk about what is and is not going well in schools and we work well collaboratively and talk to one another without feeling uncomfortable. We have a voice where we are able to talk about the outside community and say what we feel is right or needs doing.”
Marium, Aged 16 – Multiple Ephisel Dysplasia
Our aims
- to help to improve understanding of people who have additional needs,
- to work towards reducing misunderstandings about children and young people with additional needs,
- to work to help all young people fulfil their potential,
- to work together to help each other using our own experiences and get the views of children and young people with needs to support and empower them
Members of the forum meet regularly, together with members of the Council’s Inclusion Team and local councillors.