This page is for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Dudley. We want you to be able to find information that is useful to you, know where you can get help and have a say about things that affect you. You know what it is like to be a young person with SEND. We want to listen to you and work with you to make things better. Working together to make decisions and changes is sometimes called co-production.
In 2025, young people with SEND in Dudley took part in a project with KIDS called Making Participation Work.
Young people told us that being listened to is important. They said that good listening is not just about hearing what somebody says. It is about paying attention, taking their views seriously and showing what happens next.
Young people told us they wanted useful information about:
- 🎓 education and their future
- 💼 jobs and volunteering
- 🚌 travelling and getting around
- 🏠 living independently
- 💷 money
- ❤️ health and wellbeing
- 🧑🤝🧑 friends and relationships
- 🎨 activities and things to do.
They also told us that information should be clear, easy to read and not use too much jargon.
We said we would keep working with young people and give them more opportunities to help shape information and services in Dudley.
During 2026, we have continued that work by talking to more young people with SEND across Dudley.
We have asked young people what matters to them, what is going well and what could be better.
One of the big things we have talked about is getting ready for adult life. This can mean thinking about:
- 🎓 what you might do after school or college
- 💼 getting a job
- 🚌 travelling on your own
- 💷 managing money
- ❤️ looking after your health
- 🧑🤝🧑 making friends
- 🏠 becoming more independent.
In June 2026, young people at Dudley College helped us think about the questions we should be asking young people about their future. They shared their own experiences of growing up and becoming more independent.
They talked about things like travelling, cooking, looking after a home, finding work, managing money and bills, looking after their health, socialising and what happens when college finishes.
Young people also told us about things they would like more help or information about. This included money and benefits, going to the doctor or dentist, finding their way around hospitals and understanding some of the words professionals use.
We listened to these ideas and used them to improve the questions we ask other young people.
During summer 2026, we continued talking to young people with different experiences of SEND. Young people helped us think about what we should ask about growing up, preparing for the future and the support that might help.
We have also been looking at how young people can have more of a say in their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and annual review.
We want young people to be able to share their views in a way that works for them. This could mean talking, writing things down or using other ways to communicate.
🔄 What happens after you have your say?
We know that listening is only useful if we tell you what happens next.
When young people share their views and ideas, we want to be able to tell them:
💬 You said...
✅ We did...
or, if we cannot make the change:
ℹ️ We could not do this because...
Our work is continuing. We want to hear from more young people with different experiences of SEND and use what they tell us to help make information, support and services in Dudley better.
In 2026, young people also helped us develop a new way for young people with SEND to meet, share their ideas and have their say.
On 1 July 2026, young people met to talk about what the group should be like.
They chose the name:
Dudley SEND Social Discussion Group
The group is a place for young people with SEND to:
- 👋 meet other young people
- 💬 talk about things that matter to them
- 💡 share their experiences and ideas
- 👍 tell us what is working well
- 🔧 tell us what they think could be better
- 🗣️ help us think about how services and support for young people with SEND in Dudley could be improved.
💬 What can the group talk about?
Young people will help decide what the group talks about.
Young people have already suggested topics such as:
- 🎉 things to do in Dudley
- ⚽ exercise
- 🎮 games and interests
- 🧑🤝🧑 making friends
- 🛡️ staying safe
- 🍳 cooking and food
- 💷 money and saving
- 🏠 moving into your own home
- 🌱 getting ready for adult life.
There may be something completely different that is important to you.
You can help decide what we talk about next.
👥 Who can take part?
The Dudley SEND Social Discussion Group is for young people with SEND aged 13 to 25 who have a connection with Dudley.
For example, you might live, study, work or volunteer in Dudley.
You do not have to communicate in a particular way to have something important to say.
Everyone's voice matters.
Our journey is continuing.
We want more young people with different experiences of SEND to have opportunities to take part.
We also want young people to help us improve this Young Person Hub.
We want to know:
❓ Is the information easy to understand?
🔎 Is anything missing?
💡 What information would help you?
💬 What should we talk about next?
We will keep updating this page so you can see what young people have told us and what happened next.
Young Person-Friendly Resources
This part of the Hub helps young people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) understand how they can get support in school or college.
It explains:
- What SEND means – like having trouble with learning, talking, moving, or staying calm.
- Your rights – you have the right to learn and be supported.
- Help you can get – like extra time in tests, quiet spaces, or someone to help you in class.
- Who can help – teachers, SENCOs (special needs teachers), and support staff.
- Real examples – like using headphones to block noise or getting help with reading.
It’s made to help you feel confident and know what support is there for you in education.
This part of the Hub is full of fun things to do at home. You can choose activities that help you feel calm, happy, or creative. You don’t need special tools – just things you already have at home.
Here are some examples:
- Doodle Your Anxiety – draw your feelings to help let go of worries.
- Snack Creation – mix and match foods to make tasty snacks.
- Focus on Positivity – find good things in your day and feel better.
- Winter Photography – take cool pictures of winter scenes.
- Grounding Exercise – calm your mind and body with simple steps.
- Feel-Good Music – listen to music that lifts your mood.
- Relaxing Body Scan – notice how your body feels and relax.
- Sensory Exploration – explore textures, smells, and sounds.
- Self-Love – think about what makes you awesome and be kind to yourself.
You can do these activities anytime, and they’re made to help you feel good, learn new things, and have fun.
iZone is a website made for young people in Dudley. It helps you find health and wellbeing support, fun activities, and trusted services near you.
What can you do on iZone?
- Explore the Health Wheel – learn about mental health, physical health, emotional wellbeing, sexual health, and more.
- Find activities – like youth clubs, sports, creative sessions, and events happening near you.
- Get support – find help with things like anxiety, relationships, staying healthy, and growing up.
- Discover local groups – like Scouts, tennis clubs, and after-school SEND clubs.
- Learn from stories – follow characters like Oscar and Martha as they deal with school, friendships, and changes in life.
Why use iZone?
It’s a safe and easy way to:
- Find things to do
- Get help when you need it
- Learn how to take care of yourself
- Connect with people and places that support young people
Last updated: 05/10/2026