Local Offer Live!

Learn about the services that can support families with children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25 years in Portsmouth.

14 service providers and organisations from across the city will be exhibiting at Central Library, offering information and advice to help families.

Hear from local experts who will present information on the latest trending topics in SEND, helping you learn more about service developments in the sector:

• Progressing through primary to secondary education (transitions) (10.30am)
• An introduction to the neurodiversity team (1pm)

Representatives from community groups will also be on hand to answer your questions throughout the day.

Lily and Lime will be offering attendees discounted vouchers to enjoy food and drink from their café on the third floor.

There is no need for a ticket – just turn up on the day! If you have any questions about the event, please email portsmouthlocaloffer@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Meet our exhibitors

Appletree Support
Appletree support children and young adults with complex health conditions as well as we support a variety of different behaviours. This support is both within the client’s own home or out in the local community.

CAMHS
Solent Child and Adolescent Mental Health Cervice (CAMHS) and Mental Health Support Team (MHST) services offer support and intervention to children/young people between the ages of 5-18 years whose risks, needs and functioning are impacting on their mental health. They work closely with young people, families and partner agencies to improve the mental health of young people in Portsmouth and Southampton.

Chichester Festival Theatre
One of the UK’s flagship theatres, Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) offers epic shows and exciting musicals alongside compelling, intimate dramas and world premieres. A team of knowledgeable and trained staff run the access list. They tailor bookings for customers with disabilities to meet their needs and ensure that their experience at the theatre is as enjoyable as possible. With a 40% discount for people with disabilities and their companion, both theatres are fully accessible and offer a range of access performances and services.

Connors Toy Library
We provide toys and resources for families with children with additional needs to use within their own homes to support learning and development. Our outreach provision support families 1:1 with children aged birth to age 4 wishing to attend a Toy Library session to meet other families, make friends and become part of their local community.

Creative Advances
Creative Advances provide support for adults with learning disabilities and autism. Whether the individual has mild or complex learning disabilities, we aim to create support packages that are tailored to the individual’s needs. We can accommodate a range of needs such as physical disabilities, learning disabilities, behaviours that challenge, communication barriers and sensory needs.

Dynamite
Make is a training centre for adults with learning disabilities over 18 years old. We train in catering, customer service, retail and product placement. We have an arts and crafts department which makes gifts and homewares. Dynamite is a co-production group for 14 – 25 year olds. We meet socially once a month and tackle issues within the city.

Home-Start Portsmouth
Home-Start Portsmouth is a local family support charity. We exist to enable local parents to be the best they can be by offering emotional and practical help through trained volunteers, both in family homes and out in the community. Support is available for families that are experiencing a whole range of difficulties: isolation, multiple births, depression, and bereavement to name a few.
A range of stay and play groups are also run in the Family Hubs and are open to all. We do have a specialised group for families with additional needs. Volunteers, who are often parents themselves, are trained and supported by experienced co-ordinators who are there to guide and advise them throughout.

Inter Activ
Operating as a charity in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire, Enable Ability’s long-standing reputation for supporting disabled people spans over 70 years. Our Inter Activ Social Enterprise is based at Landport Community Centre and aims to support adults with mild to moderate learning difficulties and disabilities to gain meaningful employment.
Our skills-based pathway promotes wellbeing and independence, whilst working towards a fulfilling and inclusive lifestyle. We have 5 workstreams: computer repair shop, café, website management and marketing, ‘what’s it like’ virtual tours and arts, crafts and gardening. We upskill maths and English, and participants can also attend other bespoke training courses.

Neurodiversity Team (0-19)
Our team consists of consultants, psychologists, clinicians, family support workers, therapists and business support. Our aim is to provide a needs led pathway for children and young people who are struggling at home and/or in their educational setting due to neurodiversity. By improving early identification and support we will reduce the need for an assessment and diagnosis.

Portsmouth City Council Vision and Hearing Team
PCC Vision and Hearing Team support children and young people from birth to age 25 who have a hearing and/or visual impairment. We work with them at home (for early development) but also in settings e,g. nursery through to college. We are a team of teacher advisers, communicators (who provide British Sign Language support), HLTA for visual impairment and a habilitation specialist (who provides mobility, life skills and support to build independence).

Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association
Portsmouth DSA improves lives and outcomes by providing some of the UK’s best specialist services. We work hard to raise awareness, champion inclusion and celebrate diversity because when people with Down syndrome are given opportunities to participate and be fully included, the whole community benefits.

Portsmouth Parent Board
Portsmouth Parent Board are a group of passionate parents and carers who volunteer as members of the Board. We work with, but independently from, Portsmouth City Council. We are a bridge between the community and Children and Young People’s services, and we want to make services the best they can be for parents and carers.
We meet at monthly board meetings to discuss projects and listen to people from services across the city which we give feedback on. We review things like the language to make sure it is parent friendly. We like to speak to our local community and find out parent’s views. We also run surveys and focus groups to gather a wide range of opinions. We use this information when we attend council led meetings. It allows us to bring a parental point of view that professionals may not have considered. We share important local information on events and services on social media and also use this to get opinions from local parents. Every parent’s journey is different and we want to make sure all voices are heard and considered.

Portsmouth Parent Voice
Helping parent carers of young people aged 0-25 with additional needs and disabilities to shape and improve local services. Portsmouth Parent Voice are the nominated Parent Carer Forum for Portsmouth and provide a range of services, support and advocacy for children with SEND and their families. We are proud to be central to the city’s strong coproduction approach to all of the SEND work.

Portsmouth SENDIASS
Portsmouth SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)  is available to parent/carers of children and young people with SEND between 0-25yrs and to young people aged 16-25 with SEND. The support and advice we provide is impartial, confidential and free. We will listen to your concerns about special educational needs, disability, EHC plans and other educational queries. We will listen to your views and explain your options, rights, and responsibilities. We can help you prepare for meetings, feel more confident to express your views, and support you to resolve disagreements.
We aim to empower parents/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities so they can take an active and informed role in their child’s education and development.

Solent NHS Children’s Therapy
Our services include: physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and children’s podiatry. All children are different and develop at different speeds. Some children find learning certain skills more difficult than others and they may need specialist assessment and advice from one of our therapists. Our Children’s Therapy Service team works closely together to support children and young people who need specialist help from one or more of our therapy services. Our vision is that all children and young people are provided with the skills they need to take part, as effectively as possible, in everyday situations and are supported to reach their full potential.

Solent NHS Trust – Children and Family Services
Can you help us develop our service? At Solent NHS Trust, we want to build ‘One Big Front Door’ for children’s community health, so that it is easier for families to get the advice and support they need when they are concerned about their child’s development. You can help us by telling us how you would look for support if you were worried about a child’s development.

Stand Up Portsmouth
Stand Up is run by volunteer parent carers and hosts a variety of activities and events, including:

• Stay n play sessions every Friday for the whole family, offering a safe non-judgemental environment and a chance for parents who are struggling to chat to others in the same situation.
• Weekly exclusive swimming session, which is the only chance a lot of families get to take their disabled children and their siblings to a pool.
• Monthly exclusive soft play session, giving families the opportunity to enjoy a mainstream activity without worrying about their child’s behaviour in any way!
• Exclusive activities and events such as Halloween parties and Christmas parties.