What we do - Have your say! - Other local and national surveys and consultations

See below for other local and national surveys, consultations, petitions, etc. you might like to take part in.

Help to Inform the Activity Options and Opportunities that Might be Available for Children and Young People with SEND in the Future

This is the final year of the current Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme offer and Wiltshire Council is considering options for the next 5 years. The Wiltshire Short Breaks scheme currently offers three options: Barnardo's Activity Clubs, Scheme Payment, or The Combo. If you have experienced any of these options, Wiltshire Council would welcome your responses via their [short survey].

If you have more than one child with SEND, you will be able to complete a separate survey for each child.

This survey will close on Friday 20th June 2025.

What are Your Experiences of the Wiltshire SENDIASS Service?

Wiltshire Council is inviting anyone who has had direct experience of the Wiltshire SENDIASS service (delivered by Family Action). Feedback submitted to Wiltshire Council through this survey will help to inform future intentions for the delivery of an information advice and support service in Wiltshire.

There are two services in Wiltshire with similar names, but with different responsibilities. Please carefully read the descriptions below, to ensure you feedback about intended service.

SENDIASS provides free, impartial information, advice, and support concerning Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

SENDIS:- This service, operated by the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC), is not the focus of this survey. WPCC’s SENDIS offers a signposting service to training and support available for parents of children with SEND needs.

Wiltshire Council’s survey is specifically requesting feedback on the SENDIASS service operated by Family Action.

Please only complete this survey if you have had a direct experience with the SENDIASS service (Family Action).

Click [HERE] to complete the survey.

Would Some Support from a Volunteer be Helpful to you as a Parent Carer?

Wiltshire Council is inviting all parent carers of primary aged children (with or without SEND) to complete a short survey. The survey has been set up to gather information about how parents would feel about the possibility of accessing volunteer support for families with primary aged children, if it were available.

The survey has just three tick questions plus one question giving the opportunity to suggest other means of support not listed in the survey. To complete the survey, click [HERE].

National Care Responders’ Study to Improve Mental Health Crisis Responses for Children and Young people (CYP) Aged 5 to 18

CAMHS Research Centre within Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust has shared details about their [Care Responders] study.

About the Care Responders Study
The study aims to improve mental health crisis responses for children and young people (CYP) aged 5 to 18 by understanding their experiences and using these insights to strengthen crisis support, minimise unnecessary A&E visits, and inform future mental health policies.

They are looking to engage:-
• Young people (aged 5-18) who have experienced a mental health crisis in the past two years and received support from services such as police, paramedics, A&E, hospital admissions, crisis cafés, or CYP crisis teams.
• Parents and carers who can share their perspective on supporting a young person through a crisis response.

Participation & Compensation
The study involves a one-off interview, which can be conducted online or (in person for Manchester-based participants). As a thank you, both the young person and their parent/carer will receive a £10.00 voucher each for their time and contribution.

For further information or to get involved please email: pcn-tr.care-responders@nhs.net or call: 07521 000486

Are You Interested in Becoming a Health Research Champion?

What is a Health Research Champion?
Research Champions are patients, carers, and members of the public who are passionate about improving health and care. They help raise awareness of research, share opportunities, and support conversations in their own communities.

They also play an important role in helping health and care staff understand the patient experience of research - so research becomes more relevant, human, and inclusive.

What can Research Champions do?
The role is flexible and shaped by what each person is comfortable with. Champions might:
• Talk to friends, family, or community groups about health and care research
• Share resources like [Be Part of Research] or Join Dementia Research
• Help people learn how to get involved in research studies
• Take part in local events or community conversations
• Support training for researchers, or get involved in outreach (e.g. schools, newsletters, or interviews)

There’s no fixed commitment; people can do as much or as little as they like, depending on their time, energy, and interests.

Why does this matter?
Health and care research helps develop new diagnoses, treatments, and ways of working. The more people who are aware and involved, the more inclusive and impactful research becomes. When research reflects the real experiences and needs of communities, it leads to better health outcomes for everyone.

To express your interest in becoming a Health Research Champion, please click [HERE].

Help to Shape the New Integrated Care Centre in Trowbridge

The Community Engagement team at the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) collaborates with councils, local authorities, and other health and care organisations to enhance health services in our local areas.

The BSW ICB Community Engagement team is thrilled to announce an exciting project this year: the construction of the new Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre at Hammersmith Fields in Trowbridge, which will replace the current Trowbridge Community Hospital on Adcroft Street. This state-of-the-art £16 million facility will rejuvenate health services in the town and benefit Trowbridge residents for years to come.

The new facility is expected to open in the first half of 2026 and as construction gets underway, members of the community are being asked for their input into some important aspects of the new building; this includes input on signage, colour palettes and design details in public areas.

To achieve this, there is a proposal to create a public engagement focus group to gather insights from different groups as the construction of the build progresses.

The BSW ICB Community Engagement team is looking for a small, focused group of individuals to meet on a few occasions over a six week period over the coming weeks, in order to progress decisions on a number of design choices and ensure the views of different patient groups are taken into account in these key areas. Your input will be invaluable in making design decisions that reflect the needs of diverse patient groups.

If this is of interest, please email:- bswicb.engagement@nhs.net and someone will be in touch over the coming weeks.

There is more information on the new Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre on the ICB website here:-
• [Health leaders break ground at site of new £16 million integrated care centre]
• [Green light given for multimillion-pound health and care facility in Trowbridge]

Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to a project that will significantly impact the Trowbridge community.

Unpaid Carers' Survey for Healthwatch BANES, Swindon and Wiltshire

Ella Langron is from Healthwatch Banes, Swindon & Wiltshire (BSW) and is a project research and engagement officer on student placement. Healthwatch exists to be the voice of the patient. They listen to the views and experiences of people using health and social care services in order to help improve them.

Ella is leading a project for Healthwatch BSW into unpaid carers' experiences when the person they care for rejects being given care. She has designed a survey to look at the experiences of unpaid carers looking after people over the age of 18. This is to find out what happens when someone rejects being given care and the impact that this has on their carer, along with hearing views on what it is like to access care on behalf of someone else and the barriers that carers face.

To take part in the survey, please click [HERE]. All responses will remain anonymous.

Thank you for taking part and making your voice heard.

Family Experiences Research - Dingley's Promise

Dingley’s Promise provide education to children under 5 with SEND and support to their families. They work to ensure the voices of children and families are heard and to push for policy change which improves lives. If you have a child aged 0-5 with SEND please complete the short research survey below and Dingley’s Promise will ensure that your voice is heard.
[Family Experiences Research - Dingley's Promise].

Wiltshire CIL - Young Pioneeer Update December 2024

Calling all young people with SEND living in Wiltshire, the latest Young Pioneer Update is out now! Please see the attachment:- December Newsletter full.

Be a part of the change happening in Wiltshire!

Meet new people and find out all the exciting things They’ve done, and how you can get involved after Christmas.

Their Coproduction Team work alongside children and young people with SEND aged 5 to 25 years, enabling them to share their views and work towards future goals. You, (or your Young Person), do NOT need to have a ‘formal ‘diagnosis, and they do NOT need to have an EHCP.

This can be done during Young Pioneer sessions, online/over the phone, meeting in person or with a visit to your school/educational setting, so please contact the team to find out more.

Email: getinvolved@wiltshirecil.org.uk
Call: 0300 1233 442

1. getinvolved #wiltspioneers #innovators
   
2. SEND #disability #disabilityrights #disabilityawareness #disabilitycampaign
   
3. independence #wiltshire
   

Wiltshire Council SEND Youth Forum

Wiltshire Council is looking for young people aged 11 to 24 with SEND to be part of a new Wiltshire SEND Youth Forum.

What is it?
• A space to be heard on the things that are important to you
• A chance to be part of positive change and influence decision about services within Wiltshire Council

Sessions could take place at weekends or evenings with food, activities. Discussions will take place in an informal way through discussions, drawing, writing. Everyone will have a chance to share their thoughts in a way that is accessible and comfortable to them.

If you are interested in being part of the Youth Forum, click [HERE]; this will take you to a short survey where if you wish to join, you can put your details in and you will be contacted with further information.

Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living Pioneers – helping young people with SEND have their voice

The Wilts CIL Coproduction Team works alongside children and young people with SEND aged 5 to 25 years, enabling them to share their views and work towards future goals as Wiltshire’s Young Pioneers. Young people joining the Pioneers do not need to have a formal diagnosis or an EHCP.

Young Pioneers come together for sessions, and there are opportunities to engage with the WILTS CIL Coproduction Team online, over the phone, in person or with a visit to your school/educational setting; please contact them to find out more.

Email: getinvolved@wiltshirecil.org.uk

Call: 0300 1233442

Share Your thoughts on Childhood Vaccinations and the Vaccination Service in Wiltshire

Healthwatch Wiltshire has been asked by Wiltshire Council to gather views about childhood vaccinations and the vaccination service in Wiltshire. Their [survey] takes approximately 7 minutes to complete and your responses will kept anonymous.

Have Your Say on How to Fix the NHS to Make it Work Better for Disabled Children

The government has launched a major consultation on the future of the NHS, inviting everyone to suggest ways to improve our health services.

This is a great opportunity to set out what needs to change to make the NHS work better for our children, including investment in community health services and access to therapies.

The consultation runs until the end of the year and will inform the next NHS 10 year plan to be published in the spring setting out NHS priorities for the next decade. [Find our more including how to respond to the NHS National Conversation consultation].

BANES, Swindon & Wiltshire (BSW) Experiences of Young People’s Transition from CAMHS at 18 years Old – Parent Carer and Young People’s Surveys

Oxford Health Foundation Trust Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Trust Mental Health Service (AMHS) are keen to better understand the experience of young people and their parents/carers as they transition at 18 years of age from CAMHS to AMHS in Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset and Swindon.

The surveys below are for parent carers and young people who have had experience of transitioning from CAMHS at 18 in the last 2 years.

This survey will take 5 minutes to answer. Your input will help shape the future of this important process.

The focus on learning from these surveys will happen in one area at a time starting with Wiltshire and in time moving on to Bath and North East Somerset and Swindon as a fuller picture of need is developed.

The aspiration is that every young person under CAMHS will receive information about a range of options in adult mental health services, be asked their views to add to any adult mental health service referral and receive information on support available for parents/carers.

Responses will be stored and analysed in a group with other responses by a joint CAMHS and AMHS service development team, in order to improve services for young people in the future. It will not be linked to your young person’s clinical records or used to inform their individual care. If you would like to discuss your young person’s individual care please contact their clinician(s).

The surveys will be anonymous unless you choose to provide your details to be contacted to join a focus group or take part in a semi-structured interview.

Please click on the links below or scan the QR code to take part in the surveys:

[Parent carer survey]





[Young people's survey]