Suffolk parent carer forum to close after 'damaging allegations'

Why it matters: The forum was the official, statutory co-production partner of Suffolk County Council and the Integrated Care Board (NHS), giving parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) a formal voice in shaping local services.

The details: In a statement from its Board of Trustees, the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) said it was closing "due to circumstances beyond the Trustees control," including being unable to continue receiving the funding that enabled it to operate as the DfE-funded forum.

• The charity is now entering a formal winding-up process, with the Charity Commission "fully informed throughout."
• Redundancy notices have been issued to staff, and any remaining funding will be returned to funders upon closure.
• The closure follows reports from parents of months of silence and cancelled events.

SPCF apologised for not making a public statement sooner, saying this was "due to procedures, some of which are confidential, that needed to be followed."

The trustees also used the statement to clarify their position: "We feel it is important to clarify that the Trustees have always served on a voluntary basis and have never received payment for their time, work or commitment to the charity." They said it was "particularly disappointing that inaccurate and damaging allegations have been circulated," causing significant distress to those who "dedicated their time freely in support of parent carers and their families."

What they're saying: SPCF said: "We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved together and grateful to everyone who has supported us throughout our journey. While much progress has been made, we recognise that there is still a long way to go to ensure that all children and young people with SEND, and their families, receive the services and support to which they are legally entitled.

"We remain committed to the principle that parent carers' voices should be heard, respected and valued."

Contact, the charity which administers the Government funding, said the decision did not "reflect a lack of commitment, effort, or good faith" from those running the group. A spokesperson added: "We have heard and understand that parents are feeling concerned, and we appreciate that clarity on next steps is important. This is a priority for us, and we will share more information as soon as we are able."

The Suffolk Local Area SEND Partnership, which includes the county council and health services, thanked the forum for its work. A spokesperson said: "The forum has played a vital role not only in representing the voice of parents and carers, but also in providing support and constructive challenge to the local area partnership. That challenge has been an important part of driving our shared ambition to improve services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND."

For context: SPCF was set up by parents, carers and family members of children and young people with SEND to consult families and gather their views and experiences of SEND services. It worked with the local authority, education and health services, and the voluntary sector to challenge service providers and improve service quality, while also signposting families to relevant support and hosting SEND events across Suffolk.

What's next: Work is already under way to set up a new forum in SPCF's place. SPCF said it "wished those involved every success in continuing this important work" and would share details of the new forum "as soon as we are able." In the meantime, it directed parents with questions to contact Contact, the charity which administers the DfE funding.

The bottom line: After months of parent concern over silence and cancelled events, Suffolk's official parent carer voice is closing down, with a replacement already in the works but yet to be confirmed.

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