In 2013, a parent carer forum for Nottinghamshire was established, it was called Nottinghamshire Participation Hub (NPH). At that point, the forum was co-hosted and supported by a local charity, rather than being solely run by parent carers of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities. However, the forum’s establishment marked the beginning of a collective effort to ensure that the voices of parent carers were heard in the County.
NPH began to play a role in shaping and developing the services available to children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). By bringing together the collective voices of parent carers, the forum became a powerful advocate for change, ensuring that the unique needs and challenges faced by these families were recognised. This enabled them to actively shape and improve the support and services they receive.
Over the next few years, the forum grew and evolved. By 2016, it had fully transitioned to being parent carer-led, with all aspects of its operation managed entirely by parent carers themselves. This change allowed those directly affected by SEND to take the lead, ensuring that the forum understood the needs of families in the area.
In 2017, the forum rebranded, changing its name from Nottinghamshire Participation Hub to Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum (NPCF). The new name more clearly reflected its mission and the community it served, making its purpose clearer to families in the area and strengthening its identity within the region.
The forum continued to grow and strengthen its role, reaching a major milestone in September 2022 by becoming a registered charity. This step was taken to enhance the forum’s ability to achieve its goals. Charity status boosts credibility and trust, while providing a governance structure that ensures transparency and accountability. Legally bound to operate for public benefit, all funds are directed toward fulfilling our mission. Additionally, being a registered charity opens the door to many grants and funding sources, potentially allowing the forum to access more resources to better support families in Nottinghamshire.
