19/02/2026
The brilliant Parent Carer Forum for Cumberland are looking for new members!
Welcome to our new and hello from SENDAC, your Parent Carer Forum for Cumberland (Cumbria)💙
Over the last few weeks many new parent carers have joined our page, so we wanted to take a moment to introduce who we are, what we do and let you know about you entitlement to become a member of ours!
👋 Who we are
SENDAC is the recognised Parent Carer Forum for Cumberland.
We are a volunteer led group and everyone running the forum is a parent carer to a child or young person with additional needs/ disabilities who lives in the Cumberland area.
We are not separate from you - we are you.
Most of us joined because we have been through the same systems, the same processes and faced the same challenges that many of you have/are experiencing. We know how worrying, confusing and sometimes heartbreaking those journeys can feel when you’re doing it alone.
We came together because we wanted things to be better, we wanted to make change so other families don’t have to fight the same battles we’ve been through.
✨ Why we exist
Parent Carer Forums don’t provide direct services, but we try and make sure the services that do exist work for your children and young people.
We:
- Bring your experiences and concerns directly to decision makers
- Challenge when things aren’t working
- Push for transparency and accountability
- Help shape new and developing services
- Make sure families are heard at every level.
Everything we do is driven by the lived experiences of parent carers in Cumberland. Your voices give us the evidence, the direction and the power to create change.
🤝 An equal strategic partner
Parent Carer Forums are Completely independent from the Local Authority and the NHS, being in the forum allow parents to bring change from the inside- we are recognised as an equal partner due to the children’s and families act 2014 and we are recognised in the SEND Code of practise 2015.
There is a formal agreement (MOU) between SENDAC, Cumberland Council and Contact which ensures we are invited to:
✔ Steering groups
✔ Workstreams
✔ Interview panels
✔ Co-production meetings
✔️ strategic decision making meetings.
So that Cumberland parent carer voices are always at the table.
We will:
✅ Challenge when things are not good enough
✅ Hold services to account
✅ Push for real, meaningful improvements
Because this is your forum and we are your voice.
Whether you are here for information, reassurance, to share your experiences or to help shape change, you are welcome.
💙 Become a member - the more members we have, the more powerful our voice and the more influence we have to make change! it’s completely free and there’s no commitment:
⭐ FREE Max Card (national SEND discount card)
⭐ FREE SEND training for parent carers
⭐ Regular updates on local SEND services
⭐ Opportunities to share your views and influence change
🔗 Become a member here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QM82XS6
Or scan the QR code below
If you’re not in Cumberland, you can find your local statutory Parent Carer Forum via the NNPCF website 🥰
