Annual Survey

A Message From Rachel –

I thought it would be helpful to explain why we’re running a survey, and how it benefits you. We are not just collecting data for the sake of it! We will use it to make sure that we as parent carers are listened to and so that the right support is available for us and our families.

First of all, we really value your opinions, and we want to know what your concerns are so that we can work to support you as much as possible.

Although it can feel very lonely and isolated being a parent carer, when we talk, we often find out that we are running into similar issues. By identifying common themes, the PCF can make sure that we find ways of supporting us all. This can be through workshops, training and events, and by asking professionals to come and speak to groups of us about our lived expertise and realities. We have just started running Waiting Well Wednesdays at Charlton House in Keynsham and we would like to run more evening and online sessions too if that is what you would find helpful.

Secondly, by gathering your opinions and concerns, we represent our community’s voice in our meetings with the people in the Local Authority, including education and social care, and the Integrated Care Board, which is the health board that covers B&NES, Wiltshire and Swindon. That way, we can feed your concerns into the strategic planning of those services, which will inform (and improve) them going forward.

Finally, a survey gives us the numbers and statistics that give us an effective picture of what parent carers’ needs are, and help us to see where we should focus our efforts to secure funding to provide the services that will help you most. The survey will give us the data we need to help us write a strong bid for funding to enable us to provide that support, whether in partnership with another service, or on our own.

Our survey is an incredibly valuable part of how you as members can help us as the Parent Carer Forum make sure that our families are heard and supported. We belong in our communities so our voices are vital. This is for our children and young people with SEND, us as parent carers, our other children and our communities. Please do take the time to complete it: a lot of the questions are multiple choice and just need a click, but there are also questions which give a space for some comments of your own.

Together we will make a positive difference. Onwards and upwards: cups of tea, tissues and shared coping strategies optional!

Thank you –
Rachel Hale

start survey

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