Understanding the Role of the Parent Carer Forum

SSIF • June 5, 2023

A Very Special Coffee Morning

Instead of our usual coffee morning in June we will be hosting a SSIF SPECIAL EVENT  -


Tuesday 13th June 9.30 – 11.30am at SAVS, 1st floor Conference Room, Alexandra Street, SS1 1BW

Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) invite you to a very special coffee morning where you will have the opportunity to meet two leading PCF ambassadors:


Mrunal Sisodia OBE

Co-Chair – National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF)

East of England Lead


Jo Harrison

Strategic Development Co-ordinator (Health & Regional Lead) Essex Family Forum

Chair of Eastern Region of Parent Carer Forums (ERPCF)

NNPCF national representative


Learn about their roles regionally and nationally and how what SSIF does at a local level influences and contributes to their work.


Find out more about what we do, why we do it, the change it can make and why we need you!


Pre-school creche provided by Chaos & Calm.

We really hope to see you there!

Book your free space via Eventbrite

BOOK HERE

SEND Newsletter

March 11, 2026
Have you signed up to the monthly SEND Newsletter yet? 📩 The SEND Newsletter is a monthly e-newsletter from the Southend SEND Partnership, bringing together organisations and services that support children and young people with SEND and their families in Southend. It’s designed to keep you up to date with local information, opportunities and support available to families. We contribute to the newsletter each month too, so it’s a great way to see what we’re sharing alongside updates from other local services. Subscribe here:

SEND Information Day - 16th June 2026

March 9, 2026
Event details SEND Information Day Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the SEND Local Offer Team are pleased to announce the second Southend SEND Information Day on Tuesday 16 June 2026. This is a free event for the Southend SEND community. It is open to parent carers or family members of children or young people with SEND, and professionals. Venue: Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6ER Time: 9.30am to 2.30pm Hold the date - further information to follow soon! For a taste of what to expect at the event in June, read about the 2025 SEND Information Day and watch videos here . Pre-register for the event! You can just drop-in on the day, but why not make things easier and pre-register?! Get advance information about the event direct to your inbox, so you can plan your visit and make the most of your time.

SEND Reform Engagement and Listening Events

March 4, 2026
As Southend’s Parent Carer Forum, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF), we encourage you to share your experiences — your voice really matters in shaping support for our children and young people. We’re hosting informal drop-in sessions at Southend Civic Centre during the consultation period specifically to gather your feedback and thoughts on the proposed changes, so we can reflect the real views of parent carers in our response. Please come along to share your views or ask any questions — we’d love to see you there. The SEND Partnership is also hosting an information Event and will present an overview of the key proposed changes, highlight the areas the government is consulting on, and empower parent carers with the information needed to share their views with confidence. The SEND Partnership will require pre-booking tickets and you can do that here, tickets .
An advertisement for a coffee and chat event

SSIF Coffee Mornings

March 2, 2026
One of our favourite Events is our regular monthly coffee morning, where Parent Carers can get together to share their experiences. Every month we have the Local Offer team with us and invite 1 or 2 additional special guests from for example Health, Social Care, Education and more, to offer guidance and advice. *Please note that the coffee mornings for 2026 will temporarily be held at the Civic Centre and will again return to SAVS in September 2026* Come along and chat to other ParentCarers, get advice from one of our SEND support service guests and enjoy a hot drink with something sweet. Booking is not required.