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Our Participation Machine



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Our Participation Machine



In collaboration with children, young people, parents and carers we have developed a range of participation opportunities. When we talk about participation, we use it as the umbrella term for all of the different levels of activity that build up to co-production.

All of the activities play a vital role in the participation machine, acting as a cog that keeps the participation machine running. If one part of the machine is missing, it is much harder for the others to operate.


The definitions as set out below were put together through the work of Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) and the diagram shows how our numerous participation opportunities relate to the Ladder of Co-Production. All of the opportunities listed below are in addition to individual and service level participation work. 

Co-production

Co-production is an equal relationship between people who use services and the people responsible for services. They work together, from design to delivery, sharing strategic decision-making about policies as well as decisions about the best way to deliver services. 

Barnsley SEND Community Consortium

The Barnsley SEND Community Consortium is a hub that brings together representatives from parent carer support groups, services and leaders from across the Barnsley Local Area to enable co-production and joint working with all partners.


They work with Local Area Partners on different projects. Some examples of co-production projects the group work on are:
  • The Barnsley All Age Autism Strategy
  • The Barnsley Self Evaluation Framework
  • Barnsley's contribution to the South Yorkshire ICB Partnerships for the Inclusion of Neurodiversity (PINS) project.


Local Offer Working Together

Local Offer Working Together is our co-production group that focuses specifically on developing our SEND Local Offer. Every week they work as part of the team to map out sections of the Local Offer Website. They are also part of the planning and delivery of our Local Offer Live events.

Open to any member of the SEND community over the age of 18 (Under 18s are welcome with an accompanying adult) who has an interest in supporting the development of the Local Offer- Young Adults, Parents, Carers, Family members, current or ex members of staff from SEND services.
The group is run by the SEND Participation Team every Thursday at Wombwell Library 10am-12noon.

They would love to receive feedback on the work they have done so far, you can view the new Health, Disability and Neurodiversity Support section and leave feedback on the form at the bottom of the page. They are particularly proud of the work they did on the Autism Offer Whilst Waiting section and leaflet.

Keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the new Post 16 section they currently have in development. 

Post 18 Voice Group

As a result of what you told us during the delivery of our SEND Strategy, we have been working with a group of young adults to co-design a voice group for those aged 18-25 with SEND.
They have been meeting weekly to design:
  • what they think the group should look like
  • how it should run
  • where it should run
  • what it should do
After meeting with the Head of SEND and Inclusion to finalise their groups Terms of Reference, the group has recently launched: 

Barnsley and Beyond Post 18 SEND Youth Voice Group
Open to young people with SEND aged 18 - 25. The group shares ideas, using their experiences to identify key issues and works with decision makers to make Barnsley better. Held at The Ozone, every Friday 10am - 12pm. 



Co-design

People who use services are involved in designing services, based on their experiences and ideas. They have genuine influence but have not been involved in ‘seeing it through’. 

Barnsley SEND Community Consortium

The Barnsley SEND Community Consortium is a hub that brings together representatives from parent carer support groups, services and leaders from across the Barnsley Local Area to enable co-production and joint working with all partners.

They work with Local Area Partners on different projects They are currently working with young people and services to co-designing the Preparation for Adulthood Service in adult social care.

Find out more

Primary Voice Group

Primary Voice Groups are our system to help children with special educational needs (SEN) and education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) to have a say in improving our local area.


Primary Voice Representatives work with the SEND participation team in school to collect opinions from their classmates. They meet three times a year at Primary Voice Summits to share their ideas and work together to improve support and services in Barnsley.
We currently have 96 Primary Voice Representatives working across 15 schools.


So far, they have helped create Barnsley's EBSA Guidance, Transitions Toolkit, our Self Evaluation Framework and an animation to promote inclusion across South Yorkshire. At the moment they are working to develop a toolkit for schools to use to support the delivery of the messages in their animation.

Secondary Voice Group

Following the recent expansion of the SEND Participation Team we are excited to begin working with Secondary Schools across Barnsley, on SEND specific topics, from September 2025. Capturing children and young people’s voice and inspiring a love of participation from across all age ranges.

We are currently working with schools and settings across Barnsley to develop a way to bring our Primary Voice Model to young people of older ages. Information will come through school if a group is being set up where you are.


If you are a school or setting and would like to be involved with our Secondary Voice developments please contact the SEND Participation Team on SENDWorkingTogether@barnsley.gov.uk


Inclusive Voice Barnsley

Inclusive Youth Voice participants work with fellow Youth Council members, Care4Us Council members and council decision makers. They make sure young people with SEND or SEMH difficulties are consulted and can contribute to have a positive impact on change. This ensure services reflect their needs.


Find out more

Consultation

People who use services may be asked to fill in surveys or attend meetings; however this step may be considered tokenistic if they do not have the power to influence or affect change.

Engagement

Compared to the consultation step above, people who use services are given more opportunities to express their views and may be able to influence some decisions, but this depends on what the people responsible for services will allow.  

School Events

The SEND Participation team support parent/carer events in schools and settings, these can be coffee morning/ afternoons, parents evenings or other events throughout the school year. They offer information and signposting to services and encouragement to join other participation opportunities.

Speak to your school to find out about any SEND events they might be attending.

If you are a school or setting and would like the SEND Participation team to support your event, please contact the team on SENDWorkingTogether@Barnsley.gov.uk

PINS Parent/Carer Voice Groups

Barnsley is one member of the South Yorkshire part of the national Partnerships for inclusion of neurodiversity in schools (PINS) project.

One of the key aims of this national project is set up parent/carer groups in schools. Supported by the SEND Participation Team, the aim of these groups in Barnsley schools is to support the building of positive working relationships between schools and parents/carers.

Each group forms in a way that works best for their individual school and works together to inform change within the school that supports the inclusion of children with SEND.


9 parent voice groups were established in the 24/25 academic year in schools across Barnsley with a further 8 groups have been established during the 25/26 academic year.

Primary Voice Group school based engagement

Primary Voice Groups are our system to help children with special educational needs (SEN) and education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) to have a say in improving our local area.


We currently have 96 Primary Voice Representatives working across 15 schools to collect opinions from their classmates. The representatives work with their peers they collect their views and opinions on topics they are working on. When the representatives get together at Primary Voice Summits they all bring their findings and use all of the information from across all of the school to inform their work.


SEND Community Group Engagement

The SEND Participation team attend and support at SEND Parent/ Carer groups all year round. They attend many community groups on a monthly basis and offer information and signposting to services and encouragement to join other participation opportunities.

A number of the groups have also gone on to join the Barnsley SEND Community Consortium.

If you run a community group and would like to chat to the SEND Participation team about attending your group, please contact the team on SENDWorkingTogether@Barnsley.gov.uk


Local Participation Drop-in

Local Participation Drop Ins provide an opportunity for you to meet with the SEND Participation Team in your local area. The drop in moves around the borough, taking place in a different locality every month.


At the drop in you can:
  • Get information about Barnsley Services.
  • Get support to take part in any participation activity currently taking place, such as surveys.
  • Ask questions and keep up to date with SEND developments happening across Barnsley.
  • Find out about other ways to get involved in shaping SEND services.
Someone will be available between 10am - 2 pm, you can drop in at a time to suit you and stay for as long as you like.

Upcoming Locality Drop-ins:

📅Tuesday13th January, Athersley Roundhouse Library
📅 Tuesday 3rd February Goldthorpe Library,
📅 Tuesday 13th April Hoyland Library 

For more information email: sendworkingtogether@barnsley.gov.uk or ring the SEND Participation Assistant on 07733314775

Monthly Participation Drop-in

On the 3rd Wednesday of every month the SEND Participation Team host our Central Participation Drop-In at the Ozone, Barnsley Football Club. Someone will be available from 10am - 12noon 


At the drop in you can:
  • Get information about Barnsley Services.
  • Get support to take part in any participation activity currently taking place, such as surveys.
  • Ask questions and keep up to date with SEND developments happening across Barnsley.
  • Find out about other ways to get involved in shaping SEND services

email SENDworkingtogether@barnsley.gov.uk for more information.  

Informing

The people responsible for services inform people about the services and explain how they work. This may include telling people what decisions have been made and why.

Local Offer Monthly Drop In

On the first Wednesday of every month the SEND Participation Team host a drop in session where you can meet SEND Services. You can gain information, advice and guidance from a range of services from across education, health and care.

📍Ozone, Barnsley Football Club, S71 1ET
⏰Between 10am & 12:30pm
📅First Wednesday of every month

For more information email sendlocaloffer@barnsley.gov.uk

Local Participation Drop Ins

Local Participation Drop Ins provide an opportunity for you to meet with the SEND Participation Team in your local area. The drop in moves around the borough, taking place in a different locality every month.

At the drop in you can:
  • Get information about Barnsley Services.
  • Get support to take part in any participation activity currently taking place, such as surveys.
  • Ask questions and keep up to date with SEND developments happening across Barnsley.
  • Find out about other ways to get involved in shaping SEND services.
Someone will be available between 10am - 2 pm, you can drop in at a time to suit you and stay for as long as you like.


Upcoming Locality Drop-ins:
📅Tuesday13th January, Athersley Roundhouse Library
📅 Tuesday 3rd February Goldthorpe Library,
📅 Tuesday 13th April Hoyland Library


For more information email: sendworkingtogether@barnsley.gov.uk or ring the SEND Participation Assistant on 07733314775


Local Offer Live

Local Offer Live is a market place event hosted by Local Offer Working Together, our Local Offer co-production group.
You can gain information, advice and support from a range of services across education, health, care and leisure.


Previously an annual event we have now increased the frequency to twice a year based on positive feedback from previous events.

The last event took place in October 2025.
🗓️ Thursday 23rd October
⌚10am - 6pm
📍 Barnsley Metrodome, Queens Road, Barnsley, S71 1AN

Read about the event here (LINK TO PAST EVENTS OCT 25) 


Our next Local Offer Live Event will be taking place in June 2026, date TBC. If you interested in holding stall please email us at SENDlocaloffer@barnsley.gov.uk 

Educating

The people who use services are helped to understand the service design and delivery so that they gain relevant knowledge about it. That is all that is done at this stage.

Facebook Pages

The Barnsley SEND Local Offer shares information about opportunities for co-production and having your say, alongside all other SEND related opportunities and information, through the Barnsley SEND Local Offer Facebook page here


64.95% of people who filled in the co-production survey told us that they wanted a specific Facebook page for co-production in SEND. This has been created and you can like and follow the SEND Co-Production Barnsley page here. This page only shares opportunities related to co-production and having your say.

Coercion

This is the bottom rung of the ladder. People who use services attend an event about services as passive recipients. Their views are not considered important and are not taken into account.

Click here to find out about SEND Participation Opportunities

AI Search Tool

Use our AI powered search tool to find what you are looking for.

Contact us

Need help?

0800 0345 340 option 5

SENDLocalOffer@Barnsley.gov.uk

Find us on Facebook 

Local Offer Live

Click here to find a summary of past Local Offer Live Events, including services who were in attendance along with their contact details where possible

Get Involved

Click here to see current ways to get involved and have your say

Disabled Children's Register (DCR)

Join the Disabled Children's Register here

Barnsley's Virtual Family Hub

💻 Visit the Virtual Family Hub 

Where you'll find information about Family Hubs & Start For Life, Universal Services, Help with childcare costs and childcare providers, leisure groups, holiday clubs and activities and much more!

Barnsley Local Offer for Care Leavers

Take a look at Barnsley's Local Offer for Care Leavers. (opens as a PDF)