SPCF
Stockton Parent Carer Forum
We are parents and carers of children and young people with Special educational Needs and/or Disabilities aged 0-25.
Coronavirus Updates
Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives
Stockton Parent Carer Forum is wishing all of the families of Stockton on Tees well, we are thinking of you all in these unprecedented times. We are all working remotely now and may not be able to answer queries as quickly as usual. We will update you all with any information that we get from the local authority here.
March 31st: Open letter from Martin Gray, Director of Children's Services, Stockton on Tees Borough Council available here.
The SEN & Engagement Team at Stockton Borough Council have asked us to remind all parents and carers that they are working remotely. Any communication will need to be electronic via sensection@stockton.gov.uk
Are you, or someone you know sturggling as a result of self isolation measures. If so, Catalyst may be able to help with a variety of support available.
You can talk to one of the team, they will be available 7 days a week, 8am – 6pm.
Please call 01642 524500 or email covidcommunitysupport@catalyststockton.org
Together, we can achieve
We work in partnership with service providers, commissioners and VCSE’s. By sharing our knowledge, and the experiences of families we help in the planning, development and monitoring of services to create better outcomes for children, young people and their families in Stockton On Tees.
Short Breaks Grant
We have loved seeing all of the ways that parents and carers have been spending the short breaks grant this period. Its been a hard time for all our families and we know how vital this has been to them.
We asked for you to provide feedback on the grant and we have collated all of the information and provided a report on this. Click the link below to read this.
MAX Cards Available
The Max Card is the UK’s leading discount card for foster families and families of children with additional needs. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission.
We’ve Got You Covered
Strategy
We have SPCF representatives on strategic and working groups within education, health and care
Support
Find out about organisations in Stockton on Tees that can support you and your family
Resources
Developed by parent carers for parent carers to help them navigate the SEND system
Experiences
Knowing that someone else has walked a path similar to you before provides a light in the dark
Coffee Mornings & Events
Being a parent/carer can be isolating, and sometimes having a chat with someone else in the same boat can make your whole week better.
Occasionally we have guests in to talk about the services they offer, one to one sessions with agencies, but there is always sweet treats!
Knowledge is Power
Being a parent carer of a child or young person with SEND, may mean that you require different tools, knowledge and strategies to help support them achieve their goals and aspirations. Find out about what is available for you and how to get involved
Catch Up
We have lots going on
Read more in our blog to find out what SPCF has been up to
Out of Area
We work regionally and nationally
We provide regular updates from the work going on regionally and nationally here
Meet the team
Hi I’m Becky, I’m a mum of two boys, Zachary my eldest and Nathaniel. Zachary is diagnosed with Asperger’s and sensory processing difficulties and attends a specialist school. Nathaniel is neurotypical. I joined the forum in October 2017 after coming out of work to support my child when his placement at school broke down. After a period of home-schooling Zachary, I found myself having to research and work tirelessly to get him into a school setting that could meet his needs.
I believe that if you can find a role that helps your personal development, helps your family and helps the community then you’re really fortunate. That is what the forum does for me, I wanted to be able to give back to other parent carers to ensure that they have a voice and that services that are delivered are meeting the needs of children and young people within Stockton On Tees. When I’m not volunteering at the forum or doing stuff for the children, I love photography, travelling and scrapbooking.
Hi I’m Becca, auntie to Edward. Sometimes, being a parent carer can become your whole identity; mum to, dad to, grandparent to. I love being auntie to Edward, I quickly realised that having a child with SEND came with a requirement to be parent, carer, PA, manager, advocate and many other roles. Whilst this is true for every parent of a child, we do this whilst navigating a world that is not always set up to enable our children and young people to succeed. Now, as part of the forum I have an identity for me.
I joined the forum, I guess by accident. There was a notice on Facebook asking for volunteers, and for the first time in 5 years, I found my self with some free time. I had never heard of a parent carer forum and when I arrived, the only skills I felt I had to offer was being good with computers. Apparently that wasn’t the case! I love being part of the forum, it provides me with an opportunity to have a positive impact on the services that children and young people with SEND and their families access.
Hi, I’m Fiona and I am mum to two boys and step mum to a teenager.
I wanted to become part of Stockton Parent Carer Forum because when I first received my sons Diagnosis I did not know what I was doing or where to go next. SPCF sign posted me in the right direction which made life just a little easier and I want to be part of that and give back.
Hi, I’m Lyndsey and I am the events co-ordinator here. I have two boys who both have SEND. In my other work, I meet lots of families who have children and young people with SEND and was shocked to find out that they were in the dark about all of the services available to them. I joint SPCF to try and reach as many people as possible to stop them feeling isolated and alone.
My name is Amanda, I have 5 children. It is my 10 year old son who has multiple SEN needs. We have had to move mainstream schools until we found one willing to listen to our concerns. We have since gone through the EHCP process & he now attends a specialist provision.
I understand how lonely this journey can be, if I hadn’t plucked up the courage to go along to a SPCF coffee morning or one of the other community activities with my children I wouldn’t be strong enough today to get the right provision to meet my children’s needs.
I joined the Forum as I love to help people. I’d like to help other families in the Stockton area on their journey to getting everything their children and young people are entitled to and make sure that those services are good enough to ensure that our children and young people have the best starts in life to enable them to achieve their own goals and aspirations in the future and be all that they can be
Want to be more involved?
Join the conversation
Newtown Community
Resource Centre
Durham Road
Stockton on Tees
County Durham
TS19 0DE