This page provides information and resources for parents and carers including information on local organisations, local workshops and courses available in Herefordshire.

Supporting your child with additional needs can impact on the health and wellbeing of parents and carers, if you are feeling that things are becoming overwhelming, please contact your GP to discuss support options available for you.

Local support:

Parent Carer Voice Herefordshire – Your voice matters 

PCVH is Herefordshire’s official Parent Carer Forum, made up of parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

🔍 Their Purpose

  • To represent the voices of parent carers in Herefordshire.
  • To influence and inform the planning, development, and delivery of services used by children and families.
  • To ensure services are co-produced, meaning parent carers are equal partners in shaping and evaluating those services.

 How we Work

  • PCVH works with (not for) local authorities, health commissioning bodies, and social care.
  • They are led by a steering group of parent carers who gather and share feedback from the wider community.
  • They collaborate strategically with partners like:

Herefordshire Council, Herefordshire Integrated Care System (ICS), NHS Trusts

How Is Hands Hub Incorporated with PCVH?

  • HANDS (Herefordshire Autism & Neuro Diverse Support) Hub in Hereford is actively offering free events and activities for children, families, and professionals, especially those connected to autism and neurodiversity.

About HANDS Hub

Located at 4 Berrow’s Business Centre, Bath Street, Hereford, HR1 2HE.

Offers a warm, inclusive space for children and families. Provides peer support services and community engagement opportunities.

  • Children’s activity sessions, Parent support groups in conjunction with PCVH Professional workshops, Drop-in advice and peer support
  • A partner organization used by PCVH to coordinate events, share resources, or facilitate communication.
  • Visit the Spectrum room so that you get an overall understanding of Sensory Overload that a person on the Spectrum deals with every day.
  • You can contact them directly for the latest schedule: 📧 Email: info@hands-hub.co.uk

 

Being a parent by Herefordshire Council has information on free local training courses for parents of SEND children & young people.

 

Welcome to the virtual family hub, full of useful tips about health and wellbeing, family life, your child's development and keeping safe. There's information to support the best start in life and a happy, healthy family home.

Children's centre services offer early help in a number of ways to make sure children have the best possible start in life. They offer a range of different services, including Early Help, to help support your family's needs right up until your child starts school. Support and services are available for all the family and carers involved in your child's care, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The services provided at each centre depend on local needs – they are developed in consultation with local communities.

Early Help is about providing your family with the right support at the right time, to meet your needs and help you to achieve lasting positive change in your everyday life. Early help support can be provided if you have a child or young person up to the age of 18 years or up to 25 years old for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Carers information on organisations that can give you information and advice to support you in your caring role.

 

Children’s Services | Crossroads Together offer practical support for unpaid carers who look after someone with a disability or life affecting illness. If you're new to caring or are an existing carer who needs some additional support, you can also access their free CarerLinks Herefordshire information and advice service

Solihull Approach online parenting courses are a series of NICE approved resources for parents and carers who want to learn more about sensitive and effective parenting and building a positive relationship with their child.  This includes a specific course for parents of children with additional needs.

SENDIASS training provide free training to local education, health and social care professionals, children, young people and parents/ carers to increase knowledge of SEND law, guidance, local policy, issues and participation.

SENDIASS support A - Z  

SENDIASS have tried to list all of the local support (available across Herefordshire & Worcestershire) and the national support available for SEND for young people, parents, carers and professionals.

SENDIASS guidance for young people has information about SENDIASS Young Person Advisors and guidance for career options, adulthood, money, mentoring, helpful resources and mental health.

Local offer special educational needs and disabilities provides more information about support that your child could receive in relation to your child’s educational needs, together with other local services and support.

National Support:

Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA). IPSEA provide online and face to face training on the SEND legal framework for parents and carers, professionals and other organisations.