Get Involved
Your Own Way

From a few minutes over a coffee, to working alongside practitioners as paid partners — there are different ways for parent carers across Devon to get involved and help shape SEND services. We work hard to remove barriers so everyone can get involved.

Spend just a few minutes sharing your views. 

  • Quick polls and surveys 
  • One word reactions or emoji votes 
  • Social media questions and weekly website prompts 
  • Listening events or friendly coffee mornings in local venues 

Anyone can join. No sign up needed – just dip in when you can.

Visit our “Question of the Week” page to find out more

More detailed feedback to help shape decisions 

You might be asked to:

  • Read a short document and tell us what works and what doesn’t  
  • Join an online workshop to hear a short presentation and share experiences  
  • Try out a form or web page and tell us what’s unclear 

Anyone can join – sign up on our website and tell us any accessibility needs.

Thank you: You’ll receive a gift voucher for each completed activity 

Work alongside practitioners as a paid partner

Training: 2 hour session (online or in person) 
Payment: Real living wage + 10% 
We reimburse reasonable expenses (such as travel or access support) 
Find out more

Visit our current opportunities page to see what is currently available to sign-up for.

Receive our newsletter and updates direct to your inbox.

Join our Ambassador Volunteer Programme

We have a fantastic Ambassador Volunteer Programme connecting parent carers within their own communities and more widely across Devon. This is a great way of hearing from families where they are and being able to signpost to trusted advice and support.

Ambassador volunteers do a wide range of different things, depending on what is happening in their local communities, what their interests are and how much time they can give to the role. Here are some examples:

  • sharing SEND information from DIAS out to their networks, on social media sites or locally at their schools and to their contacts
  • starting and running an SEND support group in partnership with a school
  • supporting parent carer groups or working with an organisation to share information that way

Many volunteers are parents who just want to help other parents find their way to the support they need on their SEND journey. Some volunteers are practitioners who support parent carers and their families in support groups.

Join our Ambassador Volunteer Network

“I became an ambassador volunteer because I want to help other parents to become more confident in finding and getting support for themselves and their children.”

If you’d like to find out more or would like to join the network please contact Abi Gascoyne.

Contact Abi Gascoyne

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