EPIC Luton Parent Carer Forum

22/02/2026

We are aware that there is a lot of information circulating at the moment regarding proposed changes to SEND provision.

We understand this may feel unsettling for many families.

We have been informed that the Schools White Paper is due to be released tomorrow. At this stage, these are proposals. This marks the beginning of a consultation process, not immediate change.

Nothing is happening overnight.

As always, EPIC will:
• Review the full details once published
• Share a clear and accessible summary for parent carers
• Gather feedback through surveys and structured engagement
• Host virtual sessions so families can ask questions and share views

Our role is to ensure parent carer voices are heard through formal co-production routes. The most important thing right now is that families feel informed, not alarmed.

If you would like to receive updates directly, join our mailing list or WhatsApp groups.

We are here, and we will continue to represent families across Luton thoughtfully and responsibly.

EPIC Luton Parent Carer Forum
Together, we can make a difference.

26/09/2025

🌟 A big thank you to Community Interest Luton for hosting such a wonderful Afternoon Tea Party in support of Friends of Bright Eyes (FOBE) yesterday! ☕💛

We’ve been proud partners of FOBE since earlier this year, so it was amazing to hear more about the incredible work they’re doing for children and young people with SEND. Their new specialist centre, opened in June 2023, is already making such a difference in our community.

We were honoured to be acknowledged as a Bronze Sponsor and truly grateful for the warm hospitality. 🌸✨

13/09/2025

🏏 Big news for !

A £2.6m investment will bring the UK’s largest indoor cricket dome to Lewsey Park 🎉
Opening in Summer 2026, the dome will provide world-class, all-year-round facilities for schools, clubs & the local community.

Sport England England and Wales Cricket Board Cricket East

🔗 Follow the link in the comments below ⬇️ for the full story.

12/09/2025

08/09/2025

🌟 A big thank you to EPIC Luton Parent Carer Forum for being a Bronze Sponsor of our upcoming Afternoon Tea Party in support of Friends of Bright Eyes! 💛☕️

FOBE provides essential services for children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND), and since opening their new specialist centre in June 2023, they’ve expanded their impact even further.

Your generous support helps make a real difference in our community.
📅 Want to get involved or learn more about sponsorship opportunities?

📧 Email: [email protected]

04/09/2025

03/09/2025

📢 Transport Discussion – Tuesday 9th September 2025

Firstly, apologies for the short notice.
Opportunities like this are hard to secure, so please do make the most of it.

We’re holding a group discussion on SEND Transport:
🗓️ Date: Tuesday 9th September 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
📍 Location: Luton Family Hubs, Luton Central Library, St George's Square, Luton, LU1 2NG
👥 Format: Group session

This discussion will focus mainly on transport, with some colleagues also available who cover Post-16 and transitions.

👉 Please note: this is a group discussion and not the place for personal or case-specific questions. If you need individual support, EPIC can help advocate for you and request a 1:1 discussion afterwards.

✅ If you cannot attend, you can still take part by sending in your questions before the session. All questions will be collated and presented to the panel so your voices are represented.

Booking Confirmation & Questions:
https://forms.office.com/e/4whntC6HKw

Confirmed colleagues attending:
• Paul Britto – Passenger Transport Unit Service Manager
• Deborah Craig – Head of Provision and Services in Education
• Lisa Ellis – SEND Assessment Service Manager
• Emma Shadbolt – Senior Education Officer
• Minno Beech – Senior LDD Personal Advisor

We know transport is a huge issue for many families – please take this opportunity to get your questions heard.

01/09/2025

Autism Central offer FREE sessions run by Peer Educators. These are parents or carers with lived experiences of autism.

🌟 Upcoming Autism Central Events – Join online!

👪 Low Demand Parenting
🗓 02 Sep 2025
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
💡 An online session to help you understand and support sensory differences.

📝 One Page Profiles
🗓 05 Sep 2025
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
💡 Learn how to create a one-page profile to support autistic people.

💬 Parent/Carer Virtual Drop-in
🗓 09 Sep 2025
⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
💡 A friendly online space to chat, share and ask questions.

👉 Book your place or find out more: https://www.autismcentral.org.uk/events

27/08/2025

A Huge Thank You to Lucy Smith

Since April 2024, Lucy Smith has been working with us as an associate from Contact, and her support has been nothing short of transformative. Over the past year, she has helped us refocus and reshape the way we work – from restructuring the team and supporting with recruitment, to strengthening our relationships with local services.

We want to say a huge thank you to Lucy for the time, energy, and insight she’s brought to EPIC. We’re also grateful that she’ll continue working alongside us for a few more months while we build up the capacity we need to meet growing demand and support even more families across Luton.

We couldn’t have come this far without her.

READ the full post here: https://epiclutonpcf.org/a-huge-thank-you-to-lucy-smith/

12/08/2025

As part of National Smile Month (12th May - 12th June), EPIC was pleased to attend a brilliant pop-up event hosted by the fantastic team at Obex Dental Surgery. Held at Luton Family Hubs (ground floor of Luton Central Library), the event focused on making dental health fun and accessible for families with children under 10.

READ the full post here: https://epiclutonpcf.org/national-smile-month/

06/08/2025

EPIC Luton - Coffee Sessions 2025
10:00am – 12:00pm
Wednesday 24th September
Wednesday 22nd October
Wednesday 26th November

READ the full post here: https://epiclutonpcf.org/epic-2025-26-schedule/
In Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Italian, Polish, Punjabi, and English.

06/08/2025

A Fond Farewell and Huge Thanks to Natalie Hodge

We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Natalie Hodge, who recently finished her time as Luton Council’s SEND Engagement & Participation Officer.

Although not part of the EPIC team directly, Natalie worked closely with us behind the scenes, contributing to a number of key projects and joint efforts. Her support was instrumental in shaping the Ask the Expert events, which many of you will know have become an important space for families to meet professionals and get answers to pressing questions.

READ the full post here: https://epiclutonpcf.org/a-fond-farewell-and-huge-thanks-to-natalie-hodge/
In Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Italian, Polish, Punjabi, and English.