I believe I can bring an open minded, thoughtful and strategic approach to the SEND strategy group and can pull on may years of experience working with SEND children and young people and organisations that try to help support, educate and improve their lives. Working within this area and having personal experience of the barriers that many children and young people face I would like to help improve and transform local area services for children and young people with SEND by acting as a voice and a representative of those people, parents, carers and organisations who need help.

Experience:

3 Years as a Governor of Clare Mount School.
25 Years working with various charitable organisations that have a focus on children, young people and SEND.
Set up CCB Mental Health charitable organisation in 2019 which has a primary focus on mental health of children, young people and, in particular those with an SEND.
Football Coach for CCB Wirral HAF with 4 years working with children and young people with SEND during funded school holiday sports camps.
Have a son, aged 13 who is diagnosed with ADHD.
Wirral Youth Alliance Co-ordinator whose role is to bring together youth led organisations (many who work directly with children and young people with SEND) and to develop resources, information and training for these organisation.
Have just begun Adult ADHD pathway following consultation with GP and NHS.

I bring both professional and lived-experience expertise in SEND. As CEO of The Positivitree, a disabled-led charity supporting families of children with additional needs, I work closely with parent carers navigating education, health, social care and benefits systems. I have strong knowledge of the EHCP process, the Graduated Approach, DLA/PIP and early intervention pathways, alongside experience in delivering peer support and wellbeing programmes. I also work in partnership with Wirral Council, schools, Family Hubs and VCSE organisations, contributing to local strategy through Cradle to Career and the DBV programme. I bring strong communication, collaboration and constructive challenge skills. I have IPSEA send law quals L1/2/3.

I want this role because I am passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND on Wirral. As a professional and a parent with lived experience, I see where systems support families and where barriers still exist. I want to help ensure that the Local Area SEND Strategy and Graduated Approach are shaped by real experiences, not just policy. This role would allow me to represent community voice in a meaningful way, strengthen links between families and decision makers, and support joined up, early help focused change across the system.

I am a lived experience leader who has progressed from beneficiary to volunteer to CEO, which keeps me grounded and accountable to the community I serve. I am committed to co production, inclusion and trauma informed practice. I work with families in some of Wirral’s most deprived areas and bring honest insight from the front line, alongside strategic and systems level understanding. I am collaborative, solution focused and not afraid to have challenging conversations when needed, always with the aim of creating positive and lasting change.

I have a background in supporting young adults with SEND and current role as Advice and Support Officer at Autism Together. I want this role in order to represent Autism Together and contribute to the effective delivery of SEND groups and activities for young people.

My experience of both a professional role supporting families with SEND and experience of a parents of multiple children with additional needs and disabilities. I want to support the development of SEND services to ensure they meet the needs of families.