Youth Groups and Activities
Become a Young SEND Ambassador
About the Young SEND Ambassadors
The Young SEND Ambassadors are a youth group who represent and advocate for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They meet a couple of times a month to discuss their thoughts and views that help to create change, ensuring that the youth voice is at the heart of ISEND services.
Projects for the Ambassadors
Previous and current projects include:
- Representing East Sussex County Council at a national level at the Council for Disabled Children Youth Voice Matters conference in Manchester
- Being involved in recruiting staff at East Sussex County Council
- Co-producing the East Sussex SEND Strategy
- Sitting on the Commissioning and Monitoring Board to help decide how we make budget decisions in ISEND
- Being a member of the SEND Strategy Governance Board
- Having opportunities to regularly talk to Senior Leaders in the Education Division
- Work collaboratively with other youth voice groups such as the Youth Cabinet and Children in Care Council
Upcoming projects include:
- Presenting and facilitating workshops at the Inclusion Conference
- Visits to i-go providers
- Developing a Q&A webinar with ISEND staff for other young people with SEND
The group also offers the opportunity to meet other young people who have experienced being involved within the SEND community.
For more information about becoming a Young SEND Ambassador, please email SEND.Participation@eastsussex.gov.uk
You can also visit our Instagram page.
Other SEND Youth Groups
There are various other SEND Youth Groups across East Sussex that children and young people can get involved with:
- Amazing Future Youth Group provide peer support for young people (aged 14-25) with additional needs in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
- Funky Teens are a group of young people (aged 13-19) with physical or learning disabilities who get together for various group activities. Find out more about:
- Nik Naks Youth Group are a youth group for young people (aged 19-24) with mild to moderate learning disabilities.
- Chailey Heritage Foundation provide education and support for children and young people with special educational needs. They offer lots of different services for children, young people, and their families.
Activities and Events
This site has a page which signposts to other services, making it easier for children and young people to find activities and events both online, and throughout East Sussex:
i-go
i-go: The Children and Young People’s Additional Needs Register is a register and free leisure discount card for 0-25’s with additional needs living or studying in East Sussex. This could include learning, physical, or social, emotional and mental health needs. A diagnosis isn’t always necessary.
The i-go leisure discount card gives you exciting offers from i-go partners at leisure centres, attractions, activities and clubs, and accessibility information to help you plan your visit.
East Sussex Local Offer, on 1Space
Part of the East Sussex Local Offer includes a SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many activities and events for children, young people, parents and carers throughout East Sussex:
Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms
Some of the terms used on this website are explained on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.