Hull Parent Carer Forum

24/10/2026

What a fantastic night! 🎨🌳

Our Autumn Painting Wellbeing Session was a huge success and a brand-new experience for many who attended. We thoroughly enjoyed stepping away from our daily caring duties to simply get creative, play around with paint, and try something completely different.

For once, the conversations weren't focused on our situations, just pure fun, laughter, and connection.

A massive thank you to Mandi from Blank Canvas for guiding us, with a little help from the spirit of good old Bob Ross! As you can see from the photos, we fully embraced the theme with our Bob Ross wigs.

While everyone took different approaches and had moments of uncertainty, the final mountain landscape pieces turned out absolutely fantastic.

The night was never about producing a professional masterpiece, but rather using art as a therapeutic, social exercise for our own wellbeing, and that is exactly what happened.

Linking our members and our SEND community parent carers together with other local organisations is so important to us. It widens their support networks, introduces new opportunities, and strengthens the overall support they receive.

A huge shout-out to Blank Canvas for teaming up with us to deliver this session. It was wonderful to hear about all the opportunities they offer, including knitting and sewing, family arts and craft sessions, and their Memory Cafe for people with dementia and memory loss, alongside their families and carers.

Blank Canvas offers the opportunity to engage in crafts in a comfortable space away from home, where you can bring your own resources or use theirs. They also shared the exciting news that pottery and jewellery making are coming soon!

Without the support of the partnership between Health Stars and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, and The National Lottery Community Fund we wouldn't have had the opportunity to come together and work in collaboration to put on this workshop for parent carers. Funding for small donations is so vital to our community. 🌟

Take a look at their page and social media, drop in, or contact them if you want to find out more. 😀

21/10/2026

Seeing parents, including those walk this path every single day, stand alongside Anna Maxwell Martin at Downing Street yesterday was a powerful moment. While high-profile support helps amplify the message, it is the relentless work of everyday parents and advocates championing awareness that drives this movement forward.

As someone who has lived through this firsthand with my own child, and as someone who has presented many times on school attendance I always emphasise one key point:
school non-attendance does not discriminate. It affects families from all backgrounds, whether you are a GP, a solicitor, a celebrity, or living in a low-income household, regardless of race, religion, or family setup. Any child and any family can find themselves facing these struggles.
Having experienced the toll it takes on a family, I know how immense the impact is-touching education, social connections, finances, careers, and overall physical, mental, and emotional health.

Research does not support the idea that fines or prosecutions increase attendance; instead, having lived it, I know they simply heap financial and emotional stress onto families who are already struggling and in need of support.

I look forward to viewing the upcoming short film created by Unauthorised Absence Film. Not to understand the reality, because I have lived it, but in the hope that decision-makers, policy creators, and those in power watch with empathy and curiosity.

Real change happens when families are supported, not judged, stereotyped, or penalised.

Amplifying real lived experiences is vital, which is why it was so encouraging to receive a phone call from an ITV reporter yesterday who has been forwarded our recent report on we created with the aim to inform Hull’s new attendance strategy .
The report shares the real-life experiences of our local members and community.

We shared their request to put a call out to parents who wished to share their experiences with them.

Keep an eye out for the coverage on ITV this evening!

As a Parent Carer Forum, our priority is ensuring our collective voices and real-life experiences are heard at every level to drive meaningful change for our children and families.


Links to our report and annual survey are in the comments below

21/10/2026

15/10/2026

Looking for something to do in the build up to Christmas?

There will be crafts and games, and the opportunity to meet other families.

Plus, find out what services we offer here at Kids Yorkshire.

We hope to see you there! 🎅

14/10/2026

Taking place across Hull and the East Riding area, these accessible wellbeing walks are a great way to boost your mental and physical health while meeting friendly, like-minded people🚶‍➡️

Click the link to sign up to the College and find more information: https://humberrecoverycollege.nhs.uk/adult

14/10/2026

14/10/2026

💜 Hull Conversations – Have Your Say on Hull’s SEND Strategy 2027–2030!

We want to hear from Hull's parent carers and families!

Hull's SEND Strategy is being reviewed, and we want families to help shape what happens next.

We know many of you have shared your experiences before and may be wondering whether anything will actually change.

That's why we want to hear what needs improving and what you would need to see happening differently to know things were genuinely getting better for your family.

Feedback from over 500 parent carers has helped identify five areas for improvement:

• Early identification and support for neurodevelopmental needs
• Better support in schools and settings
• Social care and family support
• Transition into adulthood
• Better communication, relationships and trust between families and professionals

Have we got these areas right? Is anything missing?

Senior leaders from Health, Education and Social Care will be there to listen and answer general questions about SEND and local services.

📅 DAYTIME SESSION
Tuesday 10th November
⏰ 11.30am–2.30pm
📍 Goodfellowship, Hull
🥪 Free buffet and refreshments

📅 EVENING SESSION
Tuesday 24th November
⏰ 6.30pm–9pm
📍 Holderness House, Hull
🍕 Free pizza and refreshments

🚗 Plenty of parking at both venues.

💜 Coming alone? Please don't worry! We'll be there to welcome you. You don't have to speak if you don't want to – you're welcome to just listen.

🚗 Transport a problem? Get in touch, as we may be able to help with travel costs.

🤝 Calling local SEND groups and organisations! You're welcome to come along, represent your members or support families attending. Please book your places too!

We'll tag some groups, but please tag others in the comments and help us reach as many Hull families as possible.

Can't attend? You'll also be able to share your views through an online survey link in the comments

📌 Book your FREE place link in the comments

Your experiences matter. Help us make sure the next SEND Strategy reflects what Hull families really need. 💜

The Carers Information & Support Service - Hull
The Hull SEND Local Offer
Hull & District Cerebral Palsy Society
TIC Hull, Lincolnshire & Yorkshire
aScEND Hull
Downright Special
Hull & District Cerebral Palsy Society
Listening Ear 4 u 👂
Life Skills Hub Limited
Hull SEND Information, Advice & Support Service
Kids Yorkshire
@

13/10/2026

The government has published an independent review into the prevalence of and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, led by Professor Peter Fonagy. Despite headlines in the press, the review found that there is no overdiagnosis of these conditions. Instead, it found that the system i...