What we do - Have your say! - Consultations

What will your Child do if the Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme Changes Next Year?

Wiltshire Council is currently looking at recommissioning the Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme from 2026. Financial pressures and increasing demand for this scheme could mean that the offer for children and young people with SEND could look very different in the future. This could bring opportunities for some children and young people who are not currently eligible for the scheme, but it could also mean significant changes for many who have been used to the scheme in its current format for many years.

Don’t let the Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme change without you!
Please come along to one of our face-to-face community engagement sessions to have your say and help shape the future of this important support for children and young people with SEND in Wiltshire.

Sessions will be taking place from 10:30am to 12:30pm in:-

• Royal Wootton Bassett on Wednesday 4th June 2025
• Devizes on Friday 6th June 2025
• Salisbury on Thursday 12th June 2025

These sessions are for parent carers only. Refreshments will be provided and parent carers will be able to claim the following out of pocket expenses: travel/mileage, carparking and childcare.

Booking is essential. Further information including venue details are on the booking form. To book your place, please click [HERE].

Can’t make any of these dates?
A recorded online session will be available after Thursday 12th June 2025 to enable those who can’t make it in person to understand the conversations and considerations, and contribute to the suggestions.

There is also a survey that will remain open until 16th June 2025 - click [here] for further details.

Help to Develop HCRG’s Online Referral Form and Digital Portal

HCRG Care Group, who provide children’s community services in Wiltshire, are developing a digital online referral form and portal for their services. This will enable parents and carers, young people and professionals to refer securely using the online digital referral form. There is also an aspiration that once referrals are submitted, people will be able to visit the online portal to track the progress of their referral.

HCRG Care Group would like to engage with parent carers, to share the draft questions proposed within the new platform and explain how the form will work.

In partnership with HCRG Care Group colleagues, the WPCC is offering a session to gather feedback from parent carers about the type of information and questions being asked in this online form, and to have a conversation about the design of the form.

This will be an online session, via Microsoft Teams, taking place on Monday 10th February 2025 from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

We hope as many parent carers as possible will be able to join and help to shape this piece of work. If you would like to book a place, please contact the WPCC on:- 01225 764647 (option 1), or email: reception@wiltspcc.co.uk. Once booked onto the session, we will send a joining link to all attendees closer to the session.

The WPCC is in conversation with HCRG Care Group regarding the possibility of offering a recorded session for people to be able to view and submit responses, for anyone keen to participate, but unable to attend the live session.