Voice and Influence in Specialist Settings
How students in specialist settings have a voice and influence.
The Voice, Influence and Change Team work in partnership with staff from specialist schools in Leeds to provide opportunities for students to have a voice and influence within the city.
Click here to download our voice and influence offer to schools.
For further information about any of the programmes email VIC@leeds.gov.uk
Highlight Reports
SEND Summit
The SEND Summit provides an opportunity for secondary aged student with SEND to come together to give their views and opinions on service delivery and development as well as finding out about services that are available to them.
The event is a great opportunity for students to meet others, hear about services, visit Leeds Civic Hall and make a difference!
2023/24 Event
On Tuesday 14th November 2023, 36 students from Green Meadows Academy, Brigshaw Partnership, John Jamieson, Oulton Academy and West SILC attended the SEND Summit at Leeds Civic Hall.
Students took part in the Short Breaks Review consultation; Child Friendly Leeds wishes consultation and Youth Activity Fund consultation as well as having the opportunity to visit service stalls to find out what is available to them in the city.
Click here to read the event report.
2022/23 Event
On Wednesday 2nd November 2022, 56 students from Bromfield South SILC, Rodillian Partnership, West SILC, John Jamieson, Oulton Academy, Green Meadows Academy and the Lighthouse School came together at Leeds Civic Hall for the first SEND Summit.
Students took part in a Children's Rights workshop, Health and Wellbeing consultation and Youth Activity Fund consultation as well as having the opportunity to visit service stalls to find out what is available to them in the city.
Click here to read the event evaluation report
SEND Partnership Board Takeover
Each year students from specialist schools and settings takeover the Leeds Area SEND Partnership Board as part of National Takeover Challenge. The takeover is an opportunity for students to speak to board members about the issues that are important to them.
The takeover is supported and facilitated by the Voice, Influence and Change Team. To find out more about the takeover email VIC@leeds.gov.uk
SEND Partnership Board Takeover 2023
11 students from St John’s School, West SILC, East SILC and Future Horizons tookover the Leeds Area SEND Partnership Board on Wednesday 22nd November 2023 as part of National Takeover Challenge.
Students consulted with 99 young people with SEND to find out which of the 12 Child Friendly Leeds wishes is most important to them, and to seek feedback about what we can do in Leeds to achieve this wish.
The top three wishes were shared with the board, and discussions took place about what could be done to work towards achieving this wish in Leeds.
click here to download the full takeover report
SEND Partnership Board Takeover 2022
12 students from West SILC, East SILC and Broomfield South SILC tookover the SEND Partnership Board on Tuesday 29th November 2022 as part of National Takeover Challenge.
Students from our specialist schools and the SEND Youth Forum have developed a resource for the teams and services to share information about the qualities they would like to see in the workers who support them in their everyday lives.
Click here to download the resource
Click here to download the full Takeover 2022 report
SEND Partnership Board Takeover 2021
Five students from John Jamieson and three students from Green Meadows Academy took over the SEND Partnership Board on Tuesday 30th November 2021 as part of National Takeover Challenge.
Students from West SILC tried to join the meeting virtually but due to technical issues couldn’t log on. Kayleigh Thurlow visited nine students at the Powerhouse, West SILC, on Thursday 2nd December 2021 to capture their views and input.
Students presented three asks of the board, the asks came from them speaking to other students in their schools and also members of the SEND Youth Forum. The 3 asks were:
- Ask 1: A Careers Fair for young people with SEND
- Ask 2: Fun Activity Taster Sessions
- Ask 3: Playground Resources
Read our summary report to find out what students asked from the board, and how the board responded.
Compass House
In 2017; 102 students from across the SILCs took part in the Mark Your Mark ballot (largest youth consultation in the UK). From the ten issues the students collectively voted that a Curriculum to Prepare us for Life as the top issue for them. Students took over the SEND Partnership Board (previously Complex Needs Partnership Board) in November 2017 and spoke to the board about what a curriculum for life means to them and how they would like valuable work experience.
The Compass House work experience project was set up in 2018. With support from Leeds City Council, staff from specialist schools across Leeds supported students to come together to plan and open their very own pop up shop for one week during the month of December in Kirkgate Market. Students made all decisions about the shop (known as Compass House) including making all the products to sell.
Due to the success of the project in 2018, this has now become an annual event.
You can follow Compass House on facebook and twitter at CompassHouseLS.
If you would like more information about the Compass House work experience project email VIC@leeds.gov.uk
Evaluation reports
- Compass House 2023 report
- Compass House 2022 report
- Compass House 2021 report
- Compass House 2019 report
- Compass House 2018 report
Other Projects
Give it a Go Event, 6th July 2023
Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Leeds have continuously shared with us how they would like the opportunity to ‘try out’ different sports, groups and activities available to them in Leeds.
Since 2012, Leeds has had a vision to be a child friendly city. 12 wishes were developed by children and young people across Leeds to highlight what their priorities are for Leeds as a child friendly city. The 12 wishes were refreshed in 2022, with one of the wishes having a SEND focus:
Leeds is an inclusive city for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities: Children and young people feel there is more awareness and understanding of different disabilities and that there are more activities and places to go that are accessible to all.
On Thursday 6th July 2023; 69 students with SEND in Leeds attended the Give it a Go event at John Charles Centre for Sport. The event gave young people with SEND the opportunity to try out different activities and sports that are on offer to them in the city, known as short breaks and fun activities.
On arrival at the event, each student received a Leeds Local Offer bag which included a pen, activity booklet that provided information about the activities and how to book onto them after the event and an accessible play spaces booklet. Information about activities available in Leeds and accessible places spaces can be found on the Leeds Local Offer website https://tinyurl.com/ThingsToDoLeeds
The event was funded by the Community Committees and delivered in partnership by the Voice Influence and Change Team, Breeze Leeds and Active Leeds.
click here to read the Give it a Go event summary report
For more information, please contact VIC@leeds.gov.uk