Meet Buckinghamshire’s Shout Out for SEND Reps
SOfS Reps are young people who volunteer their own time to represent the young SEND community in Buckinghamshire. They meet monthly to talk about issues facing people with SEND and work together to address them. They also run projects and attend events to try make things better for young people with SEND.
Serena (Co-chair)
Hi! My name is Serena and I’m 18 years old. I was recently home-schooled and studying A-levels (English literature, language and Law), but right now I am not in education or employment (you might see it written as NEET). I have ADHD and autism and I loveee animals, especially cats. I want to work in a career either in policing law or speech and language therapy. I am good at writing. One of my passions is charity work and helping people.
I joined SOfS because I want to help other people like me and have the chance to make life easier for neuro-divergent people. I have been a rep since early 2023. I like how SOfS has a very chilled atmosphere and everyone there is really nice. It’s really important to listen to young people especially when making policies that directly affect us because we need to have input to make these things better. This just doesn’t go for young people. Lots of underrepresented minority groups should be listened to make the world more inclusive and accessible. The one thing I’d like to campaign on with SOfS is working with mainstream schools to make things easier for people with SEND.
Pippa (Co-chair)
I’m Pippa, one of the Shout Out for SEND Co-chairs. I’m 18, autistic and have FND (functional neurological disorder) which causes many symptoms, the main one being functional tics. I developed FND due to trauma I experienced during my time at grammar school due to improper support for my autism and anxiety, especially during my a-levels. I now attend an alternative provision where I’m studying SEND law and having fun getting to be me again.
I love reading, writing, dinosaurs, F1 and public speaking. I’m determined to make the future better for other young people with SEND and am working hard with Shout Out for SEND and other groups to make that change happen. I love being a part of the team that makes such a positive impact and getting to meet so many inspirational young people with SEND.
Chloe
Hi, my name is Chloe I’m 15 years old, I have ADHD and anxiety. I’m looking to train to be a fitness trainer, because I want to help younger people who feel insecure about their bodies, and I can relate to them a lot. I’ve always wanted to help people get to their goals and I love cooking and learning about nutrition.
I joined Shout Out for SEND in March 2024, it seemed interesting, and my school were doing something with them. When I joined, I felt like this was the first ever club that has ever included me and made me feel like I can be myself. I did my first ever conference in June 2024 with Iona and we smashed it! At the events we represented children with SEND to get them the help they need in clubs outside of school. We did two events, shared our views, reported on our research, and taught professionals how to help them.
Being a part of this group and representing the ADHD community has made me feel a lot more confident in my own ADHD. It’s also giving me a better point of view on life as someone who has ADHD and I’ve always wanted to stand up for others and make a difference.
Iona
My name is Iona, I’m 16 and my diagnosis includes but is not limited to: autism (PDA) and anxiety. I love Dungeons and Dragons, acting, dragons, video games and animals!
I’m at a mainstream secondary school but I couldn’t cope in this environment so I do part of my timetable in school and part at home with a tutor. Outside of school I mainly play video games but I also run a DnD club once a week on a Friday. Eventually I’d love to be a full time actor but really I just want to be happy in whatever I do. I’m passionate about equality and inclusion.
I’ve been part of SOfS for over three years. I originally joined to try and socialise more outside of school but over time it developed into a deep passion for wanting to have my voice heard. In SOfS I’ve accomplished many things I wouldn’t have believed possible for me. I wrote and read a speech I made talking about my experiences in out of school provision to people who ran clubs; hopefully developing their understanding and ability to help people like me. I’ve also attended employment forums and obviously many meetings. My favourite thing about SOfS is feeling like I can do something to help others who have struggled like me. I believe it’s vital to listen to young people who have experiences that others may not be aware of so then the world isn’t stuck in one endless loop but rather we can all develop and change.
I want an equal and understanding world that kids can grow up in and not wish they could remove parts of themselves to fit in. Whether that part of themselves be a mental disability, a physical disability or something completely different. I want people to be comfortable being who they are in a way I never could. If that happened, I think the world would be that much of a better place.
Cadence
I am 16 years old and I live in Wendover with my family. I am in Post-16 at my Special School, however I also be spend one day a week at college on a transition day and one day a week doing work experience. I am diagnosed as Autistic and have ADHD but I also have sensory processing disorder and a duplication of chromosome 22q.11.21.
My plans for the future include working for a Formula 1 Team such as Mercedes or McLaren and to live independently. My hobbies and interests include watching Grand Prixes, playing video games, going for long walks in the countryside and listening to music.
I started SOfS back in May 2023, I joined SOfS because I thought I wanted to make friends, but I stayed because I liked being a part of something important and having my voice heard. During my time at SOfS I have been involved in a Youth Voice Matters conference in Birmingham and a Youth Summit at the Waterside theatre (where I undertook my young inspector role). My favourite thing about Shout Out for Send is the different projects I’m a part of, seeing new places, learning I’m not alone, meeting the SEND community and finding more opportunities in life.
It is important to listen to young people because they know what modern life is like for the youth today and have some fresh ideas about what can be done. I feel like SOfS is a good opportunity for people with SEND to interact with others in the community and make positive change happen. One thing I would like to campaign about is safeguarding for SEN people and support for any anxieties or problems they may have without singling them out negatively and eliminating any negative loopholes in any SEN support system.
Louise
My name is Louise, I am 22 and I have just finished my degree in education studies. I currently work in a lived experience role in the children and young people’s mental health policy and implementation team at NHS England as well as being a co-investigator on a research study. I do freelance content creation (@neurodivergent_lou) speaking and writing on all things neurodivergence, co-production and mental health. In my limited spare time, I love shopping, coffee, and nights out. In the future I would like to move out.
I joined Shout Out for SEND around four years ago because I felt frustrated about our experiences as SEND young people and not listened to. During my time, I have spoken at conferences, attended lots of meetings, fed back to the council, and created videos on key experiences. In the future, I would like to hear more about the difference that our feedback as young people is making, as from my perspective, it doesn’t always feel like there is enough meaningful change. I would like to campaign for all schools to receive regular and lived experience led training on autism.
Will
Hi, my name is Will and I do business at college and I am trying to set up a youth club within the college.
My plans for the future are to either become a youth worker or a carer because people like that have inspired me.
I joined Shout Out for SEND when I was 12. Shout Out for SEND is a great opportunity to get your voice heard and help others in a similar situation. As part of Shout Out for SEND I have attended the Youth Voice Matters conference in Birmingham conference with other 200 young people, and the SEND Employment Forum. In September 2024 I did my first talk at a conference in front of lots of headteachers and SENDCos and it went really well!
Rachel
Hi, my name is Rachel. I am 17 and my special interests are golden retrievers and gymnastics. I only started gymnastics at the start of this year ( when I found the courage to join a club) and it was the best decision ever! Not only do I love learning new skills myself, but I also love working as a gymnastics coach at my gym and helping others learn new skills too! I love to encourage the gymnasts and celebrate them as individuals, helping to create an environment where they feel they can be authentically themselves: as I believe this is so important above everything.
I created my social media account @rachelc1ark in order to advocate, inspire and encourage people to unmask and show that it is okay to be your true self and to never give up! After struggling with an eating disorder, and other mental health struggles, I want to show others there is hope! I have also worked with the NHS as an expert by experience to improve eating disorder services for autistic people, such as working for the PEACE pathway in the NHS and also doing filming for PEACE BOB’s website. Also on the note of acting… I recently worked with a national autistic charity acting for a huge campaign video! I absolutely LOVE this, being on set or in my gymnastics club is my fave place and where I feel free and happiest.
I met with some of the SOFS staff last year, but as I struggle to join new environments, I only managed to come to my first meeting this year. I am so glad I did! Everyone was so supportive, friendly and welcoming and I felt so relaxed and not judged in the slightest. It has been so amazing to connect with other neurodivergent people where you can be entirely yourself! I look forward to upcoming projects and participation alongside other inspiring, likeminded people!
Willow
Hi. My name is Willow. I’m 16 and I am at college studying video game art and design. I’m Autistic and have ADHD. I’m passionate about gaming, being creative and advocating for disabled and LGBTQIA’s individuals.
I joined SOfS in 2023 as I wanted to make a difference to the experience of school for Autistic and ADHD individuals as mine has not been positive. I have attended forums with County Councillors and professionals to advise them on the views and challenges for young autistic people and also talked to students. I helped deliver a workshop at Bucks Youth Summit on SEND and we covered topics about disability history and what reasonable adjustments are.
It is important to listen to young people as they are ones having the experiences and are aware of what can help them the most and if they are not, then young people that are, can advise and help them to speak.
It is important to me to campaign for more understanding and acceptance for disabled children and young people and to have our voices heard.
