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SEND Youth Forum

We what to hear from you! Complete our Hampshire SEND Youth Forum Survey 2026

This Hampshire SEND Youth Forum are a group of young people aged 14 to 25 with SEND.

Read more about the members of the SEND Youth Forum.

The SEND Youth Forum is a place where you can:

  • Share your ideas
  • Talk about your life
  • Help make things better

Your voice matters, and people want to hear what you think.

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The forum is a friendly space where you can:

  • Talk about things that are important to you
  • Work with other young people
  • Share your views with adults who make decisions
  • Help improve services

You can also:

  • Meet new people
  • Learn new skills
  • Build your confidence
  • Have fun

Your ideas help make real changes in Hampshire. 

It’s a friendly group where you can speak up about your experiences and help shape services in Hampshire. Your voice really does make a difference.

You don’t need a diagnosis or an EHCP to join — if you identify as having SEND, you’re welcome. Everyone’s voice matters.

You can join online meetings every two weeks (Wednesday afternoons at 4pm), plus four in‑person meetups a year. You can choose what works best for you.

Email: SEND.Emp@hants.gov.uk or complete this simple webform.
You can ask questions first — the team are friendly and happy to chat.

It’s a friendly group where you can speak up about your experiences and help shape services in Hampshire. Your voice really does make a difference.

You don’t need a diagnosis or an EHCP to join — if you identify as having SEND, you’re welcome. Everyone’s voice matters.

You can join online meetings every two weeks (Wednesday afternoons at 4pm), plus four in‑person meetups a year. You can choose what works best for you.

Email: SEND.Emp@hants.gov.uk or complete this simple webform.
You can ask questions first — the team are friendly and happy to chat.

You can join if you are:

  • Aged 14 to 25
  • A young person with SEND

You do not need:

  • A diagnosis
  • An EHCP

If you feel you have SEND, you are welcome.

Everyone’s voice matters.

You can join if you are:

  • Aged 14 to 25
  • A young person with SEND

You do not need:

  • A diagnosis
  • An EHCP

If you feel you have SEND, you are welcome.

Everyone’s voice matters.

The forum is:

  • Friendly
  • Safe
  • Supportive
  • Inclusive

You can meet other young people who understand what it is like to have SEND.

You can:

  • Share your story
  • Listen to others
  • Support each other

The forum is:

  • Friendly
  • Safe
  • Supportive
  • Inclusive

You can meet other young people who understand what it is like to have SEND.

You can:

  • Share your story
  • Listen to others
  • Support each other

When does it meet?

  • The group meets online (on Teams) once a month
  • There are also face-to-face sessions during the year

This helps everyone join in, wherever they live.

When does it meet?

  • The group meets online (on Teams) once a month
  • There are also face-to-face sessions during the year

This helps everyone join in, wherever they live.

Joining the forum means you can:

  • Have your say
  • Make a difference
  • Help improve services
  • Meet new people
  • Try something new

Your ideas can help shape the future for young people with SEND.

Joining the forum means you can:

  • Have your say
  • Make a difference
  • Help improve services
  • Meet new people
  • Try something new

Your ideas can help shape the future for young people with SEND.

The SEND Youth Forum want people to know that being autistic is not only about things you might find difficult. Autistic people have strengths too, and everyone is different.

Young people from the Hampshire SEND Youth Forum have helped made three videos about autism.

The videos share young people’s experiences and explain:

  • what autism can be like
  • how people can be more understanding
  • what can help autistic young people
  • how adults can give better support

Young people helped create these videos because our experiences and ideas matter.

By sharing what we know, we can help make things better for other young people with SEND.

Take a look at our videos below. We hope they inspire you to want to get involved and join the SEND Youth Forum.

Supporting Autistic Young People

 

Helping People Understand Autism

 

Helpful Strategies Support Resources

 

Please download our autism training guide

If you have any questions about this project, please contact us on haveyoursay@hants.gov.uk 

The SEND Youth Forum want people to know that being autistic is not only about things you might find difficult. Autistic people have strengths too, and everyone is different.

Young people from the Hampshire SEND Youth Forum have helped made three videos about autism.

The videos share young people’s experiences and explain:

  • what autism can be like
  • how people can be more understanding
  • what can help autistic young people
  • how adults can give better support

Young people helped create these videos because our experiences and ideas matter.

By sharing what we know, we can help make things better for other young people with SEND.

Take a look at our videos below. We hope they inspire you to want to get involved and join the SEND Youth Forum.

Supporting Autistic Young People

 

Helping People Understand Autism

 

Helpful Strategies Support Resources

 

Please download our autism training guide

If you have any questions about this project, please contact us on haveyoursay@hants.gov.uk 

Join our WhatsApp channel to keep up to date with opportunities to have your say. You must be 13+ (the Community is for young people, parents/carers or practitioners who want to keep up to date).

Join the Hampshire SEND - Have Your Say WhatsApp community

Join our WhatsApp channel to keep up to date with opportunities to have your say. You must be 13+ (the Community is for young people, parents/carers or practitioners who want to keep up to date).

Join the Hampshire SEND - Have Your Say WhatsApp community

The SEND Participation Strategy is about making sure your voice is heard and you help shape services that support you. 

What are we trying to do?

We want to:

  • Work together to make services better for children and young people with SEND
  • Make sure everyone gets a chance to share their views
  • Listen and act on what young people and families say

How can you take part?

You can share your views in ways that work for you, for example:

  • Surveys
  • Meetings
  • Workshops
  • Youth groups

Adults will try different ways so everyone can join in

Who is involved?

Lots of people work together:

  • You (children and young people) – your views help shape decisions
  • Parents and carers – share their experiences
  • Professionals – like teachers, health staff and social workers
  • Community groups – charities and support organisations

Why does it matter?

  • You have the right to be involved in decisions about your life
  • Adults should listen to what you say and take it seriously
  • Your ideas can help improve services for other young people too

👉 This means your experiences and opinions are important.

Download the SEND-Participation Strategy (Easy Read)

The SEND Participation Strategy is about making sure your voice is heard and you help shape services that support you. 

What are we trying to do?

We want to:

  • Work together to make services better for children and young people with SEND
  • Make sure everyone gets a chance to share their views
  • Listen and act on what young people and families say

How can you take part?

You can share your views in ways that work for you, for example:

  • Surveys
  • Meetings
  • Workshops
  • Youth groups

Adults will try different ways so everyone can join in

Who is involved?

Lots of people work together:

  • You (children and young people) – your views help shape decisions
  • Parents and carers – share their experiences
  • Professionals – like teachers, health staff and social workers
  • Community groups – charities and support organisations

Why does it matter?

  • You have the right to be involved in decisions about your life
  • Adults should listen to what you say and take it seriously
  • Your ideas can help improve services for other young people too

👉 This means your experiences and opinions are important.

Download the SEND-Participation Strategy (Easy Read)

How do we move from simply asking for young people's views to truly working alongside them? This Participation Guide has been co-produced by the Hampshire SEND Youth Forum and the Local Area Partnership to help answer that question.

Designed for practitioners, organisations and decision-makers, the guide explores the principles of participation and co-production and provides practical tips for putting them into action. By sharing the voices and experiences of young people with SEND, it aims to support services to create meaningful opportunities for children and young people to influence decisions and shape positive change.

Please download the guide

How do we move from simply asking for young people's views to truly working alongside them? This Participation Guide has been co-produced by the Hampshire SEND Youth Forum and the Local Area Partnership to help answer that question.

Designed for practitioners, organisations and decision-makers, the guide explores the principles of participation and co-production and provides practical tips for putting them into action. By sharing the voices and experiences of young people with SEND, it aims to support services to create meaningful opportunities for children and young people to influence decisions and shape positive change.

Please download the guide

Quick Question Corner is your space to be heard.

You can share your thoughts, ideas and experiences by answering quick questions.

We use what you tell us to help improve support for young people with SEND — so your voice really matters.

Check out this terms Quick Question

Quick Question Corner is your space to be heard.

You can share your thoughts, ideas and experiences by answering quick questions.

We use what you tell us to help improve support for young people with SEND — so your voice really matters.

Check out this terms Quick Question