Young people with SEND across Hertfordshire and the East of England had the opportunity to get involved in the first SEND social media takeover day on Wednesday 3 December. The event was organised by Hertfordshire County Council Voices of Hertfordshire and was led by the SEND young experts by experience (aged 19- 25 with lived experience of SEND) to coincide with International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It enabled children and young people with SEND to get their voices heard and drive change in future service design and delivery.
A wide variety of creative content was shared on several Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust social media channels with the theme ‘This is Me’, including drawings, crafts, quotes, and videos which represented children and young people’s experiences and showed how they are contributing to their communities.
In the weeks leading up to the event, Youth Workers at Services for Young People SEND youth work projects supported young people to create content to contribute to the event.
Young people who attend the Stevenage SEND Youth Council contributed these quotes about the challenges faced by young people with hidden disabilities, such as autism, ADHD or anxiety, and how they’ve benefited from joining the project.
“I have autism and what I would like to say to others is you don’t have to identify me with autism, just accept me as I am. I’ve really enjoyed the project and it’s given me the opportunity to get out of the house and socialise with other young people.”
“I have sensory processing disorder, and I’m able to access support via people I call ‘my safe people’, these are Youth Workers and teachers. I’ve gained a safe network of friends from attending the project too and I’m more sociable as a young person.”
“My hidden disability is autism. I don’t always feel confident to advocate for myself. What I love about this project is being in a safe space where I can ask questions and talk about anything I want. I have also made friends and I play sports with them.”
“My hidden disability is autism. I haven’t been able to speak up for myself yet, but I’m learning how to do this. The best thing I could say to another young person who has autism is, you’ve got to believe in yourself more. At the project I feel listened to and respected, the Youth Workers are good listeners.”
In North Herts, the SEND Youth Council raised awareness about bullying by delivering a workshop to younger people from the North Herts SEND youth work project. This involved a presentation and a safe space for sharing experiences. The young people who took part in the workshop said that they enjoyed watching videos and hearing others’ stories, which made them more confident to spot the signs of bullying, understand bullying better, and recognise they are not alone and can talk to a trusted adult for support. They also explored what makes them happy through ‘All About Me’ drawings.
At the Welwyn Hatfield SEND Youth Council and Breakout SEND Project, young people celebrated their identities, creating unique pieces of art expressing aspects of who they are.
The East Herts SEND Youth Council and the Hertford and Ware Youth Participation Group worked together to design tote bags, badges, and fidget toys to sell at the Ware Dickensian Evening on 6 December. They made £40 which was donated to CHIPS, a local charity that works with children with additional needs and their siblings.
Young people at the Three Rivers SEND Project focused on mindfulness, including colouring and making loom bands, while discussing issues that matter to them with SfYP Youth Workers.
The SEND social media takeover day was part of an ongoing effort to ensure that young people with SEND are at the heart of discussions about the services and support they receive.
If you know or work with a young person with SEND, find more details of SfYP’s SEND youth work projects and youth councils and how they can get involved here:
