Working to improve SEND provisions across Cumbria

Who are SENDAC?

SENDAC is not a support group in the traditional sense—although we fully recognise the importance of peer support, and we’re always happy to signpost families to trusted local groups, charities, and services that can offer the help they need. Instead, SENDAC is an independent, parent carer–led organisation known as a Parent Carer Forum. We are run by, and for, parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) across the Westmorland & Furness and Cumberland local authority areas.

Our primary role is to be the collective voice of SEND families. We do this by reaching out, listening, and gathering views, experiences, and feedback from families across Cumbria. Whether things are going well or have been difficult, your voice matters. We use what you tell us to build a broad picture of how local services are working for children and young people with SEND—from education and health to social care and beyond.

What makes Parent Carer Forums like SENDAC different is that we work strategically and independently. We are not part of the local authority or the NHS, but we work with them, as equal statutory partners, to make sure that parent carers have a genuine voice at the table where decisions are made. This means we are able to bring your lived experiences directly to local leaders and service commissioners, helping to inform, shape, and influence the services your families need.

Over the last few months, SENDAC has been working hard to build and strengthen constructive relationships with key decision-makers in both Westmorland & Furness Council and Cumberland Council, as well as with representatives from the NHS—including Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and North East and North Cumbria ICB. These strong working relationships are essential to making sure that the parent carer voice is not only heard but also respected and acted upon.

We take part in a wide range of workstreams, strategic boards, and improvement programmes across both local authority areas, covering everything from the development of new services and local area SEND inspections to transitions, short breaks, and educational health and care plans (EHCPs). Our work is directly informed by what parent carers tell us is most important to them—particularly through our Annual SEND Survey, which helps us set clear priorities for the year ahead.

Our mission is to create positive change by working together with families and professionals. By doing so, we aim to ensure that every child or young person with SEND has the opportunity to thrive, and that families feel listened to, understood, and supported.

If you’re a parent carer of a child or young person with SEND in Cumbria, we invite you to get involved—whether that’s by sharing your story, responding to surveys, attending events, or joining us as a member. Every voice adds strength to the collective, and together, we can work towards services that meet the real needs of our children and families.